Emerging as a tongue of the Vatnajökull, it ends in two lagoons, famous Jökulsárlón and smaller and less known Breiðárlón.

[1][2] As the icebergs break away from the tongue of the glacier, they drift slowly to the mouth of the lagoon and eventually join the ocean.

It was near the ring road until 35 years ago before retreating rapidly and forming the Jökulsárlón lagoon.

[1][4] During the Little Ice Age between 1600 and 1900 AD, with cooler temperatures prevailing in these latitudes, the glacier advanced to about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the coast at Jokulsa River.

[9] According to another study, a scarp capped by the Breiðamerkurjökull lobe of the larger Vatnajökull glacier was formed into terraces and barriers, enclosed by lagoons, on the east coast.

On the northern side the Jökulsá river or lagoon emanating from the Breiðamerkurjökull, has its outlet to the sea and it has formed sand gravel barriers and the glacier front has retreated by 3 km (1.9 mi) in the period from 1945, 1965 and 1998.

[11][12] The accident sparked a discussion on the potential dangers of ice cave tourism in the country,[13][14][15][16] including within the Icelandic Government.