Things to do near Lake Myvatn, Iceland... This is one of our favorite regions! Despite, there are no fjords or icebergs as at Southern Iceland, but the landscapes here are just unreal. And now the top 5 most unusual and memorable sights in the area of Lake Myvatn!
Content:
- 5 - Hverfjall Crater
- 4 - Hverir Geothermal Area
- 3 - Pseudo craters of Skutustagagigar (Skutustagagigar)
- 2 - Dimmuborgir Lava Field (Dimmu Borgir)
- 1 - The smoking lava of Leirhnjukur
- Bonus video about the Myvatn region!
Lake Myvatn and the best activities in the surrounding area
The area around Mývatn is one of my favorite places in Iceland. I like all the geological features and the feeling as if you are on another planet. Lake Myvatn is located in the north of Iceland.
- From Akureyri to Myuvatna = 1 hour 10 minutes drive
- From Reykjavik to Myvatn = about 6 hours drive
- Egilsstadir - Muvatn = 2 h 15 min.
Below you will find 5 of the most interesting places around the lake and in the surrounding area, although in fact there are many more. If organized tours in the Lake Myvatn region are more suitable for you, then there are a lot of them :)
5 - Hverfjall Crater
Hverfjall is a circular crater about 140 meters deep and 1 km in diameter, which was formed as a result of an eruption. It is easy to spot it if you move around Lake Myvatn. The slopes of the crater are completely bare, there is a path along the edge of the crater and there are several possible climbing options. It is one of the largest preserved craters, and the sight of it makes you realize the power of volcanic eruptions. Plus the view of the surrounding area is pretty good.
4 - Hverir Geothermal Area
Hverir is a geothermal area located at the base of Mount Namafiel, with mud pools, steam vents, cracked mud and fumaroles. Some people who have visited Yellowstone or Wai-o-tapu are disappointed with Khwerir. Personally, I really liked the sharp contrast with the mountains and the atmosphere of being on another planet because of the bare surrounding landscape. And from Khverir you can climb the mountain, where the Namafiel thermal zone is located, and then a boiling and steaming valley will spread at your feet!
3 - Pseudo craters of Skutustagagigar (Skutustagagigar)
There are famous pseudo craters in Skutustagagigar on Lake Myvatn. They were formed when lava entered a large lake, trapping wet sediments underneath. Later eruptions formed craters. What makes them interesting, is that they have beautiful shapes, round and smooth. And if you're lucky, you'll be able to get beautiful reflections on the lake. And it's also a place that many people usually miss, so you'll be one of the few who will see the pseudo craters live.
2 - Dimmuborgir Lava Field (Dimmu Borgir)
There are many lava fields in Iceland, but none of them look like Dimmuborgir. There are such unusual and complex forms of lava here that they have served as a reason for creating many stories with elves, trolls and other mystical creatures. This is a place where you can unleash your imagination and spend hours imagining the shapes in these stones. The lava pillars are impressive. And if you travel in early autumn, then the dark color of the lava formations will be diluted with bright autumn colors.
1 - The smoking lava of Leirhnjukur
Leirhnyukur is a geothermal zone partially composed of a lava field that is still smoking 30 years after the last volcanic event. It also includes a rhyolite hill that rises 50 meters above the surrounding lava field. This geothermal zone is not the most colorful and not the largest, but here you can walk through a giant steaming lava field, which is almost nowhere else could be possible. Just do not stop at the rhyolite mountain, go further and you will realize that this place is special!
More about Lake Myvatn and the Diamond Ring ->
