Diamond Beach - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Diamond Beach

Iceland

A black sand beach where glacial fragments wash ashore and look like sparkling diamonds. 

View all photos
Sharing a parking area with the Jökulsárlón lagoon, Diamond Beach is reliably scattered with chunks of ice that have recently fallen from a glacier and drifted out to sea. bthrockmorton (Atlas Obscura User)
142
145
Top Places in Iceland
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon
Grindavík, Iceland
Svartifoss
Iceland
The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft
Hólmavík, Iceland
 See All
This entry is a stub
Help improve Atlas Obscura by expanding Diamond Beach with additional information or photos.

They say that diamonds are forever, but the sparkling gems that give this volcanic black sand beach its name could melt away in the right conditions. The “diamonds” of Diamond Beach are chunks of ice from Breiðamerkurjökull, a nearby glacier. Diamond Beach is located across the road from Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s largest lagoon.

When ice calves from the glacier, the chunks float in the lagoon, flow down a stream that passes under Iceland’s Ring Road, and float out to sea. Some of them wash ashore in pieces as large as a car.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Iceland in Winter: Northern Lights & Geothermal Marvels

A land of folklore and myths on a backdrop of remarkable natural wonders.
Book Now
glaciers ice beaches
Community Contributors
c
Added by
caitlingeneva
t
b
Edited by
tbobpage, bthrockmorton
Published
January 25, 2024
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Jökulsárlón
2.19 miles
Karl og Kerling
13.34 miles
Hvannadalshnjúkur
15.17 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Iceland

Jökulsárlón

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.
Two stones just out of the ground.
Jökulsárgljúfur, Iceland

Karl og Kerling

Legend has it these two stones are petrified trolls.
Hvannadalshnjúkur in the springtime.
Iceland

Hvannadalshnjúkur

Climbing Iceland's highest peak on the rim of the Oræfajökull volcano.
Iceland's youngest turf church.
Iceland

Hofskirkja

This fairytale-like structure is the last turf church ever constructed in Iceland.
Related Places
Iceland

Heinabergslón

A little-known, yet charming glacial lagoon.
Skarpnäcks Gård, Sweden

Jättegrytan i Skarpnäck (Skarpnäck Giant's Kettle)

This hole formed by a glacier is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in Stockholm.
Siachen Glacier.
India / Pakistan

Siachen Glacier

This disputed mass of ice is home to the highest battleground on Earth.
An iceberg drifts down Iceberg Alley.
Newfoundland and Labrador

Iceberg Alley

Hundreds of enormous icebergs drift through this waterway every year.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web