Vast, varied and spectacular, Vatnaj枚kull National Park was founded in 2008, when authorities created a megapark by joining the 8300-sq-km Vatnaj枚kull ice cap with two previously established national parks: Skaftafell in southeast Iceland and 闯枚办耻濒蝉谩谤驳濒箩煤蹿耻谤 in the northeast. The park measures over 14,100 sq km, occupying approximately 14% of the entire country, and its boundaries encircle a staggering richness of landscapes and some of Iceland's greatest natural treasures, created by the combined forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity.
The entirety of the Vatnaj枚kull ice cap is protected, including countless outlet glaciers and glacial rivers. There are incredible rock formations around 脕sbyrgi canyon, waterfalls such as Dettifoss and Svartifoss, the storied Lakag铆gar crater row, Askja and other volcanoes of the highlands, and an unending variety of areas where geology, ecology and history lessons spring to life. Vatnaj枚kull National Park has been nominated for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage list.
Hiking trails and 4WD routes can get you to remote gems, but you don't have to go far to sample some of the park's highlights 鈥 worthy diversions (and awesome vistas) can be accessed from a standard Ring Road journey of the country, and there's a smorgasbord of tour offerings. The park operates five major visitor centres at Skaftafellsstofa, 骋补尘濒补产煤冒, 厂办补蹿迟谩谤蝉迟辞蹿补, 厂苍忙蹿别濒濒蝉蝉迟辞蹿补 and 骋濒箩煤蹿谤补蝉迟辞蹿补; and there are camping grounds within the park.
Access to the park's lowland and northern areas is straightforward. Things get more complicated accessing the glaciated and highland areas.