Ice Cave Beauty
June 19, 2018
Photographers: Álvaro Pérez; Jose Manuel Pérez
Summary Authors: Álvaro Pérez; Jim Foster
The ice cave shown above was the highlight of our trip to Iceland this past winter. In fact, it was one of the most remarkable places we've ever visited. Caves and similar ice formations can be created wherever liquid water flows through the ice. The astonishing shapes that result vary every year. Subsurface streams eventually hollow out an interior space, sometimes forming spherical or even egg-shaped areas. If rays of sunlight penetrate the cave's ceiling, amazing blue colors are produced by the natural illumination. The ceiling ice, though thin enough to allow sunlight in, is sufficiently thick to absorb the longer wavelength red and yellow colors. The icy beauty is indescribable. Photo taken on February 15, 2018.
Photo Details: Sony A7R II camera; Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35.