The Solheimajokull ice tongue is part of the Myrdalsjokul ice cap which is the 4th largest glacier in Iceland and which rests on the active volcano, Katla. The tongue is 8km long and between 1 and 2 km wide. The average thickness is around 270m but it reaches 600m at its thickest. It is currently retreating at a rate of around 100m per year.

The deep blue colour results from the absorption of red and yellow light following scattering within the ice crystals. Dark grains of volcanic rock are also distributed throughout.