The South east is dominated by Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. This huge glacier offers sights of water in all forms. From the impressive layer of ice to icebergs, lagoons, rivers and steam in the geothermal areas under itself and close by.

The landscape around the glacier is also unique with the popular Skaftafell national Park and the colorful mountains of Lónsöraefi. Höfn is the only larger town in the area. Here comes some more information about some of the intresting places.

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Kirkjubæjarklaustur (or just Kirkjubær) (pop.150) is the only centre of population in this sparsely populated area of the country. It lies by the huge lava field that came from the volcano Laki 1783 in which is considered having been the largest eruption on Earth in historical times. 

A lot of interesting tours can be taken from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. In summer there are daily buses to Skaftafell-Vatnajökull, Eldgjá-Landmannalaugar, the beautiful green landscape at Núpstadarskógur and the Lakí craters. Not far off the main road on the way to Lakí lies the ravine Fjadrárgljúfur.

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Skaftafell  is one of the most popular spots among campers. This is a National Park in a green area in the mountains on the southern edge of Vatnajökull. The park offers great sceneries with the nice waterfalls, fabulous views of the glacier and Icelands highest mountain, Hvannadakhnúkur (2119m). 

One of the most beautiful places in the park is at the waterfall Svartifoss. The name (Black fall) comes from the black basalt colomns behind the falls, making it even more beautiful. 

From Skaftafell it is also possible to go on bus-tours to the iceberg lagoon Jökulsárlón, to the green, exciting mountain scenery at Núpstadaskógur, and the Lakí  volcanic craters.

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Jökulsárlón is one of the most interesting  places on Iceland and definately one of the things noone should miss. Here, in a much bigger scale than anywhere else in the country ice bergs from Vatnajökull float in a lagoon created by the glacier itself. 

It is is possible to take boat tours on the lagoon with the special boats with wheels. They simply drive into the water. It's a great experience to sail around in the lagoon, and a superb photo opportunity. When the weather is clear you'll get a great view of the glacier in the background. 

It is possible to go to Jökulsárlón on day tours from both Skaftafell and Höfn and then you will also have a chance to go up on the glacier itself and take snow-scooter trips on the ice.

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Höfn and Djúpivogur are the only larger communities in this part of Iceland. They both depend on fishing but tourism is growing, especially around Höfn.

Höfn is a fairly young town with 1800 inhabitants that offers sightseeing trips to intersting and beautiful places like Vatnajökull, Skaftafell and Lónsöræfi.

From Djúpivogur (pop.400) there are boat trips to Papey Island where Irish monks once lived before the settlement.