Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (David Kloberdanz)
While most of us will immediately conjure ideas of escaping this cold season for sun-washed beaches and palm trees, there is one European island that oozes winter vibes year-round: Iceland.
Along the southwestern coast of Iceland is Breiðamerkursandur, or Diamond Beach. This outwash plain is covered in volcanic black sand and sits at the mouth of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Ice is constantly calving off the massive glacier, roughly five kilometers inland, and floating through the lagoon only to get trapped in the sand at Diamond Beach.
In photos submitted by reader David Kloberdanz, the incredible bright blue glacial ice is slowly making its way across the water. As it melts, the glacial ice loses its blue tint but retains a crystal-clear sparkle and gem-like structure. These ice chunks are a stark contrast to the blank sand and their diamond appearance gives the beach its name
Diamond Beach , or Breiðamerkursandur (Icelandic) (David Kloberdanz)
