Kötlujökull

The outlet glacier Kötlujökull originates from the eastern side of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Ice from a large part of the Katla caldera supplies Kötlujökull, where it passes through a breach in the caldera between the peaks of Hábunga and Kötlukollar. After that the outlet glacier spreads and comes down to the lowland between the mountains Sandfell and Hafursey.

Kötlujökull was formerly known as Höfðabrekkujökull but is now almost exclusively called Kötlujökull and the Höfðabrekkujökull name is now used for a large deposit of sand that formed southeast of the farm of Höfðabrekka in the glacial outburst floods from Katla in 1721 and 1755. Like most glaciers in Iceland, Kötlujökull has retreated extensively in recent years and the glacier snout is usually very dark due to sediments in the ice.

The glacier is perhaps best known for the fact that most jökulhlaup that have come from Katla and Mýrdalsjökull glacier in the last 1100 years have passed through the glacier. The glacier is also known for its beautiful ice caves and the beautiful landscape near the glacial snout.