Category: volcanoes

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

The best of my hikes near Lake Mývatn was up to the Krafla Power Station. Especially since I had no idea what was going on here, at the time …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Krafla is a caldera of about 10 km in diameter with a 90 km long fissure zone… Its highest peak reaches up to 818 m and it is 2 km in depth. There have been 29 reported eruptions in recorded history. …

You can hike close.

End of day, I headed for the new Mývatn Nature Baths, promoted as the Blue Lagoon North.

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Leirhnjúkur is a lava field close to Lake Mývatn in the north of Iceland. A loop of up to 5km in length is a popular day hike.

There was still a bit of snow, early in June.

You must be careful where you step. You might get a hot foot if you step off the boardwalk.

The colours of Hell … and bizarre volcanic oddities, make for an entertaining walk.

See more photos from this day hike.

Hverir is a geothermal field to the east of Reykjahlid, to the side of the ridge known as Namafjall. The area is quite active, with mudpots and sulfurous puddles bubbling and steaming away. You will also see plenty of boiling springs, fumaroles and vents. The area naturally smells very heavily of sulfur, and you can often be engulfed in the steam clouds. A series of pathways meander through the area, which are roped off. Do not wander outside these areas as the area can be very dangerous. …

Iceland Attractions

more photos

Yet another of the excellent short walks close to Lake Mývatn

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

What’s a pseudocrater?

… a volcanic landform which resembles a true volcanic crater, but differs in that it is not an actual vent from which lava has erupted. …

They are pretty good fakes.

The best examples of pseudocraters are found near Lake Mývatn (lake of MIDGES) and on Mars.

see more photos from this short day hike

The Yellowstone National Park of Iceland is near Lake Mývatn (lake of MIDGES) in the North, an area of active volcanism.

Like Yellowstone, this area could blow up any time.

There are a dozen great day hikes to choose from. You could link them together – I met a British couple doing this – or drive trailhead to trailhead, as I did.

A short walk from the Information Centre is Hverfjall.

This one last erupted 2500 years ago. Whew.

It’s an easy walk up and around the rim. Weather permitting.

My photos.

Last summer I again squandered my chance to get to Iceland for the first time. I felt even worse after following Alastair Humphreys’ adventures there.

It’s looking good for me to go June 2011.

The first week I’ll rent a vehicle and drive the island dayhiking.

Following that I’ll trek the hotsprings of Laugavegur. Possibly Fimmvörðuháls. And more in that region.

No eruptions this Spring, please.

Leave a comment if you’ve any advice for me.