Travel Information to Iceland and Polar Ice Caps

Nov. 13, 2006 — -- Glacier Lagoon, Iceland -- known by Iceland natives as Jokulsarlon -- is located in the southeast part of the country.

While the lagoon is not a polar ice cap, scientists believe it was created when an ice cap melted.

Getting There

From the east coast of the United States, Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik is about 2,600 miles away, approximately a 5½-hour flight. From the west coast of the United States, Reykjavik is about 6,617 miles away, approximately a 13-hour flight. Icelandair, the national carrier, has regular and direct flights to Europe and the United States. Once you have landed in Reykjavik, you can board a helicopter for a two-hour flight to Jokulsarlon.

Weather

Iceland's climate is quite mild considering its latitude, thanks to the warm Gulf stream. The best time to visit is late May to early September. The average daytime temperature around the coast during these months is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. On clear summer days, you have 24 hours of daylight and even the midnight sun near the Arctic Circle. However, the weather is extremely changeable and unpredictable so you should always be prepared for the unexpected.

Exchange Rate

One U.S. dollar is equal to 67.630 Iceland Krona.

For more information on tourism in Iceland, visit icetourist.is.

Unlike Iceland, Antarctica and the North Pole are polar ice caps. You can fly to destinations in the general region, but to actually fly into each location, you should find a tourism operation that can charter a flight.

For more information on traveling to Antarctica, visit abercrombieandkent.com and travelantarctica.info.

For more information on travel to the North Pole, visit quarkexpeditions.com and auroraexpeditions.com.au.