Lake Mývatn

Lake Mývatn is the most popular tourist destination in North Iceland. The name Mývatn translates to midge (mý) lake (vatn). Situated on the way between Akureyri and Egilstaðir, the lake area impresses with its volcanic landscape and diverse nature. Especially if you come here during the summer months of June and July, you will encounter a considerable amount of midges around the shallow lake.

You can find an information centre on the north-eastern shore in Reykjahlíð, which is also an excellent base for exploring the area. The Mývatn Nature Baths, a man-made naturally heated lagoon, invites for a relaxing bath with beautiful views of the lake area nearby. 

Also, only a short distance away is the out-of-space-like hot spring area of Námaskarð with its hot sulfuric bubbling mud pools and steam vents.

Close by is Krafla with its impressive crater landscape. Krafla is a volcanic caldera and about 10 km long. Its highest peak reaches up to 818 m, and it is 2 km in depth. There have been 29 reported eruptions in recorded history. Víti crater is probably the best known of the explosion craters in the Krafla fissure because of the beautiful bright blue water at the bottom of the crater.

One of the most popular natural tourist sides is Dimmuborgir, which translates to "the dark city", and is a large area of unusually shaped lava rock formations and volcanic caves and pillars. Follow one of the many paths that take you around the vast lava field. From here you can even go for a longer hike to Hverfjall Mountain, a volcano crater with approximately 1 km in diameter and a hiking path that follows around the edge of the crater. You will have a spectacular view of the whole Mývatn area from here.

On the south-western side of the lake, you find Skútustaðagígar, an impressive chain of pseudocraters. A lovely path will take you along the chain of volcanic craters with a view of the lake.

The area around the lake has a vivid birdlife and therefore is also a popular destination for bird watching. If you like to take a closer look at the birds, but with less effort, then we recommend a visit to Sigurgeir's Bird Museum. The museum located at the north-west of the lake has an extensive bird exhibition and an exhibition about biota in Lake Mývatn. It also tells the story of how people in the area used the lake for transport and survival.