Svinafellsjokull, a glacier in the Vatnajokull National Park, is one of the locations used in the filming of new movie "Interstellar."
'Interstellar's' Iceland —
Svinafellsjokull, a glacier in the Vatnajokull National Park, is one of the locations used in the filming of new movie "Interstellar."
Barry Neild/CNN
Most of the on-location Iceland scenes in "Interstellar" were filmed on the Svinafellsjokull, a huge tongue of ice that's part of the country's largest glacier.
Svinafellsjokull glacier —
Most of the on-location Iceland scenes in "Interstellar" were filmed on the Svinafellsjokull, a huge tongue of ice that's part of the country's largest glacier.
Barry Neild/CNN
In "Interstellar," astronauts played by Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway land on a bleak planet in the far reaches of space. In reality, it's Iceland.
On another planet —
In "Interstellar," astronauts played by Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway land on a bleak planet in the far reaches of space. In reality, it's Iceland.
Courtesy Warner Bros
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mountainguides.is%2Fday-tours%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Icelandic Mountain Guides </a>offers two-hour tours of Svinafellsjokull. Hiking boots, crampons and an ice ax are standard issue glacier walking kit.
Ice walking kit —
Icelandic Mountain Guides offers two-hour tours of Svinafellsjokull. Hiking boots, crampons and an ice ax are standard issue glacier walking kit.
Barry Neild/CNN
A crew of up to 350 people worked on the "Interstellar" glacier scenes, bringing with them a giant model of a spacecraft. Other than a new parking lot, there's no trace they were here.
Cinematic view —
A crew of up to 350 people worked on the "Interstellar" glacier scenes, bringing with them a giant model of a spacecraft. Other than a new parking lot, there's no trace they were here.
Barry Neild/CNN
The glacier is constantly shifting shape as it pushes down the mountain and melts and freezes under warm daylight and freezing nights.
Shifting scenery —
The glacier is constantly shifting shape as it pushes down the mountain and melts and freezes under warm daylight and freezing nights.
Barry Neild/CNN
Crevasses opened up by friction as the ice moves down the mountain can penetrate to the bottom of the glacier -- at this point up to 50 meters deep. Further up, the glacier can be up to a kilometer deep.
Deep crevasses —
Crevasses opened up by friction as the ice moves down the mountain can penetrate to the bottom of the glacier -- at this point up to 50 meters deep. Further up, the glacier can be up to a kilometer deep.
Barry Neild/CNN
The Svinafellsjokull glacier pushes forward between 25 and 30 meters each year, but summer melting currently causes it to retreat 40 meters.
Advance and retreat —
The Svinafellsjokull glacier pushes forward between 25 and 30 meters each year, but summer melting currently causes it to retreat 40 meters.
Barry Neild/CNN
Melting ice can create holes, known as moulins, that plunge down through the glacier. Some are big enough to climb through.
Ice hole —
Melting ice can create holes, known as moulins, that plunge down through the glacier. Some are big enough to climb through.
Barry Neild/CNN
The glacier appears marbled where crevasses have opened then closed again as the ice moves down the mountain. The dirt is morraine -- debris torn up by the glacier.
Marbled snow —
The glacier appears marbled where crevasses have opened then closed again as the ice moves down the mountain. The dirt is morraine -- debris torn up by the glacier.
Barry Neild/CNN
Tramping up and down sheer ice slopes in crampons is best done using a bandy-legged walking techniques, straight backs and small steps.
Ice walking —
Tramping up and down sheer ice slopes in crampons is best done using a bandy-legged walking techniques, straight backs and small steps.
Barry Neild/CNN
Icelandic glacier guide Tomas explains how the topography of the frozen landscape is created. "This," he says, gesturing to the vast expanse of ice, "is my office."
Glacier guide —
Icelandic glacier guide Tomas explains how the topography of the frozen landscape is created. "This," he says, gesturing to the vast expanse of ice, "is my office."
Barry Neild/CNN
Ice that's been under immense pressure due to the weight of the glacier is blue in appearance. Nearer the surface it becomes whiter as the melting process adds more air into the mix.
White and blue ice —
Ice that's been under immense pressure due to the weight of the glacier is blue in appearance. Nearer the surface it becomes whiter as the melting process adds more air into the mix.
Barry Neild/CNN
To the east of the Svinafellsjokull glacier lies Jokulsarlon, an otherworldly glacial lagoon that's home to skua seabirds and seals.
Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon —
To the east of the Svinafellsjokull glacier lies Jokulsarlon, an otherworldly glacial lagoon that's home to skua seabirds and seals.
Barry Neild/CNN
Jokulsarlon is formed from meltwater from the nearby Breidamerkurjokull glacier. It's possible to take amphibious <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ficelagoon.is%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">boat tours of the lake</a> throughout most of the year.
Among the icebergs —
Jokulsarlon is formed from meltwater from the nearby Breidamerkurjokull glacier. It's possible to take amphibious boat tours of the lake throughout most of the year.
Barry Neild/CNN
Jokulsarlon has starred in two "Bond" movies as well as "Tomb Raider" and "Batman Begins."
Frozen film set —
Jokulsarlon has starred in two "Bond" movies as well as "Tomb Raider" and "Batman Begins."
Barry Neild/CNN