Iceland's Glaciers Have Been Retreating Since 1900 — And That’s Not Necessarily a Bad Thing

Glaciers in Iceland have been retreating steadily since around 1900. To many, this seems like a clear sign of environmental crisis and irreversible damage. But history tells a more complex story: when Norse settlers first arrived in Iceland in the 9th century, the glaciers were significantly smaller than they are today.

Geological and archaeological evidence shows that during the settlement period, Iceland was in a relatively warm climatic phase. The land was more forested and habitable, and there is little indication that the glaciers were a dominant part of the landscape. Major glacier expansion didn’t occur until the Little Ice Age, between roughly 1300 and 1850, when global temperatures cooled considerably. If Norwegian Vikings had first arrived during the last 200 to 300 years instead of the relatively warm 9th century, it's unlikely they would have chosen to settle Iceland year-round. The harsher climate, colder winters, and shorter growing seasons would have made permanent settlement far more difficult.

The glacial retreat we are seeing now is, in part, a return to the conditions that existed before the Little Ice Age. That doesn’t mean climate change today should be ignored—but it does mean we should understand it in the context of long-term natural patterns, not just short-term alarm.

Glaciers are a natural part of Iceland’s identity and ecosystem. But smaller glaciers don’t automatically spell catastrophe. In fact, retreating glaciers expose new land, open access to geothermal zones and bedrock, and can even provide new opportunities for research, land use, and renewable energy.

The key is to approach these changes realistically and historically—not just through sensational headlines. Climate has always changed. The question isn’t whether glaciers will retreat, but how we adapt to those changes intelligently and sustainably.