Lake Mývatn

About Mývatn

Lake Mývatn lies in North Iceland, about 100 km east of Akureyri, the main town of the north, and right on the Ring Road (Route 1). That makes it an easy stop for anyone travelling the north, and a natural base for the Diamond Circle.

Mývatn formed around 2,300 years ago from a large basalt lava eruption and is shallow, rich in birdlife and surrounded by volcanic features rather than being a single sight in itself. The name means "midge lake", after the swarms of small, harmless midges that appear around the water in calm summer weather; they are a nuisance more than a danger, and a headnet solves the problem.

The area around the lake concentrates an unusual amount of geology in a small space: pseudocraters formed when lava flowed over wet ground and steam explosions punched through the surface, the dramatic lava field and rock formations at Dimmuborgir, the tuff crater Hverfjall, and boiling mud pools and fumaroles at Hverir and Námafjall on the road to Krafla.

Krafla, the volcanic system northeast of the lake, has erupted repeatedly in recorded history, most recently in the 1975–1984 Krafla Fires, and its crater lake Víti still shows the bright blue-green colour typical of Icelandic volcanic craters.

There is a lot to do and see around Lake Mývatn in a small area: soak in the nature baths, walk through the lava at Dimmuborgir, climb the rim of Hverfjall, watch the birds on the south shore and drive up to Krafla. The sights below are the ones we send people to first.

Quick facts

A volcanic landscape shaped by fire

Much of what visitors see around Mývatn was formed within human memory of Icelandic geology: the Mývatnseldar (Mývatn Fires) of 1724–1729 opened the Krafla fissure and created the crater Víti, while the more recent Krafla Fires of 1975–1984 produced fresh lava flows that are still bare and black in places. Fewer than fifty years separate some of this lava from the present day.

The lake's rich birdlife, including more species of breeding duck than almost anywhere else in Europe, is closely tied to the volcanic chemistry of the water, which supports large populations of midge larvae that in turn feed the birds. It is one of the reasons Mývatn is a protected conservation area as well as a geological one.

How to get to Mývatn

The sights around Mývatn are spread over a wide area, so plan on driving between several stops rather than walking everywhere from one car park.

Things to do and see around Lake Mývatn

A loop around Mývatn takes in several very different volcanic landscapes, a geothermal lagoon and some of the best birdwatching in Iceland.

Wear sturdy shoes at Hverir and Dimmuborgir, and keep to marked paths; the ground in geothermal areas can be unstable and scalding just below the surface.

Best time to visit Mývatn

Safety and practical tips

• Bring a head net for calm summer days if midges bother you; they are harmless but can be dense near the water.
• Do not step off marked paths in the geothermal areas at Hverir; the crust can be thin over scalding ground.
• The Mývatn Nature Baths are a quieter, cheaper alternative to the Blue Lagoon and a good way to end a day of hiking.
• Fuel up before heading out around the lake, since fuel stations are limited to Reykjahlíð village.
• Allow a full day if you want to properly cover Dimmuborgir, Hverfjall, Skútustaðagígar and Hverir.
• The weather in North Iceland is unpredictable. Dress in layers and bring waterproof clothing, even in summer.
• Go to the nature baths in the evening, after the day's walking, when the light is best.

Facilities and accessibility

Reykjahlíð, on the lake's northeast shore, has fuel, a small grocery shop, restaurants, cafés, a visitor centre and hotels. Toilets and small cafés are available at the main sights, including the Nature Baths.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

DimmuborgirLava rock formations on the lake's east sideHverfjallTephra crater with a path up to the rimNámafjallGeothermal area east of the lakeGrjótagjáSmall lava cave with a geothermal poolKrafla and Víti craterVolcanic system north of the lakeGoðafossWaterfall on the way from AkureyriSkútustaðagígarPseudocraters on the south shoreLeirhnjúkurSteaming lava field in the Krafla areaHúsavíkWhale watching town on the north coast

Where to stay near Mývatn

Reykjahlíð, right on the lake, has the widest choice of hotels and guesthouses in the area, with Akureyri a good alternative if you want a larger town with more services.

Mývatn FAQ