Lake Mývatn

Lake Mývatn in north Iceland is one of the country’s great natural wonders — a shallow, nutrient-rich lake formed by a volcanic eruption 2,300 years ago and now ringed by an extraordinary variety of geological features. Pseudo-craters dot the southern shoreline; the Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth rises to the east; Hverfjall, a near-perfect tephra crater, looms above the northern shore; and the Námaskarð geothermal area seethes with mud pots and fumaroles just over the ridge. The lake itself teems with midges (mý) that attract over 15 species of nesting ducks — the greatest duck diversity in Europe.

Visitor highlights include the bizarre lava pillars of Kálfaströnd, the sweeping view from the Hverfjall crater rim, the hot-spring bathing at Mývatn Nature Baths (a less expensive and less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon), and the surreal walk through Dimmuborgir’s cathedral-like lava columns. The area is active: the Krafla geothermal power station and the dramatic Vítí explosion crater are a short drive north-east.

Mývatn is about 100 km east of Akureyri on the Ring Road. The village of Reykjahlíð on the lake’s northern shore has guesthouses, a supermarket, and petrol. The best months to visit are June through August when birdlife is at its peak and all roads are accessible, though the ring road around the lake is paved and open year-round.