innovation, resources
Diamond Beach, One of Iceland’s Peculiar Gems to Discover
Millions of people travel to Iceland every year to experience some of the best landscapes in the world. If you clicked on this article, there is a high probability that you are curious about different places to see when in Iceland, likely because you’re planning to visit. Still, even if you aren’t, this article will help you clear some doubts about one particular destination, Diamond Beach.
Locally named Eystri-Fellsfjara is a blend of what Iceland best offers, glaciers, black sand beaches, coastal horizon with magnificent sunsets and sunrises, mountainous backdrops, and with a cherry on top, its close proximity to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, time to adventure ourselves in this piece of heaven on our planet!
Situated in the southern coast of Iceland, Diamond Beach is famous for its peculiarity, glaciers or rather diamond shaped glaciers or ice blocks are often the protagonists of Instagram pictures and posts, acclaimed by some to be the most famous beach in the country, it’s hard to pass on this one of a king destination.
It is deep in nature as it is basically in the middle of no urban centres, and being located on the southern tip of the country makes this beach quite distant from the major urban centre, Reykjavík, it is about 231 miles or 372 kilometres from Iceland’s capital.
Driving from the capital for about five hours, you will be rewarded for your wait when you reach this destination, so don’t worry about the distance because, as you are likely aware, the route is filled with beautiful picturesque spots along the way.
Diamond Beach is an integral part of Vatnajökull National Park and is situated inside the Breiðamerkursandur glacial outwash plain. You can be relieved; Diamond Beach is fortunately conveniently located on Iceland’s Route 1, the main road in the country. Indeed, it circles the country, making it the perfect road if you ever plan to do a road trip in Iceland.
This site is a great stop on this road for travellers. Especially due to its near location to Jökulsárlón, where famously one of the scenes of the movie ‘A View To Kill’ of James Bond’s cinematic saga was set, many tourists come to this place to revive one of the many sets of Roger Moore’s acts as James Bond.
So why not do 2 in 1 and stop in this place to experience the spectacular Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón?
The Natural Treasure of Diamond Beach
Many of the beach’s main protagonists, the diamond shaped chunks of ice, are the result of a long process of falls of chunks of ice from the glaciers found in the nearby Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon that are driven onto this beach by ocean currents. Some of these chunks of ice have even surpassed the millennia mark, 1000 year old glaciers!
The black sand is also the result of long processes of the forces of nature at play, these carry their colour because of their volcanic nature. Sea, volcanic sand, ice blocks are the blend that you can find on this picturesque site, a unique siting that is hardly challenged.
Every single day, the climate likes to alter some small things about this beach; every single day, the setting is unique.
Why?
Because some ice chunks have melted, and some may have found themselves on this beach. Daily, the position of an ice chunk changes, the reach of the ocean differs, and the size of the sand varies, which in itself makes it even more special.
Your stay on this beach and the moments you spent mesmerised by this amazing site will be deeply unique to you and the other individuals that were present alongside you in that particular moment; the way you’ve seen this beach will always be different from other people’s perspectives when they experienced this site. Diamond Beach is like life; experiences come and go; they hardly repeat themselves the way you’ve remembered them.
For several of Iceland’s beloved species, such as the great skua and the Arctic tern, Diamond Beach is a key breeding location. A national conservation area, too. Moreover, Diamond Beach and its nearby neighbour, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, are ideal places to spot seals, especially around winter; sometimes orcas can also be spotted from this beach.
Ultimately, if you love birdwatching, this beach is also a reason for your visit. As mentioned beforehand, the Arctic Skua is the ‘star’ of this beach in terms of wildlife.
Challenges and Sustainability Efforts
Like many other tourism spots, sustainability is a key question. Climate change is a big issue concerning Diamond Beach. Indeed, the increase of global temperatures will have a worrying impact on this beach, the arctic region of the world has been one of if not the most impacted area by this phenomenon, glaciers are melting faster on a daily basis, which increases sea levels, this already is affecting millions of beaches around the world, and Diamond Beach is no exception.
Most Importantly, ice and glaciers are what make this beach unique of its own, the extinction of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon itself will make this beach just another volcanic beach like any other in the country. Wild species like the Orcas are already considered as endangered species in some countries, remarkably the United States, climate change affects the environment that these species need in order to survive and illegal or excessive fishing is a great threat for species like whales, and orcas are no exception.
While this case is not Iceland’s, more and more concern is growing about the orca population in the country.
Indeed, Iceland’s sustainability efforts have been tremendous in keeping a lot of these wild species alive. Like it was referred previously, orcas are a notable example, while they are endangered in many countries, the orca population in Iceland is thriving with almost 1 thousand killer whales identified these last few years.
The main challenge for the country is mass tourism, so be careful when planning on flying to the country, policies have been put in place to limit traffic in certain locations where an overflow of tourists could cause damage to the preservation of natural habitats, therefore have caution when visiting.
If you’re ever planning to visit most of the places including Diamond Beach choose the seasons in accordance with your desires, do you desire to experience the place when it is at its most impressive moment but filled with tourists or in a lower season where you can experience it fully by yourself, the choice is yours, nevertheless don’t forget to include Diamond Beach on your plans!
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, Diamond Beach’s natural wonder is in line with the natural treasure that Iceland is, but its peculiarity is what’s intriguing; it’s the reason why whenever planning to visit this beautiful country, it deserves a reserved spot on your wishlist. From its unique diamond-shaped ice chunks to its volcanic black-coloured sands, with the sunset posing on the horizon, isn’t there a more picturesque site?
Diamond Beach’s twinage with the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon makes it even more appealing to visit; the wildlife you’ll encounter will mesmerise you, so write it down Diamond Beach might be your ideal spot to be one with nature.
