Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters
Today was a packed day, as there are lots of sites to visit all around the Lake Myvtan area. We started by visiting the Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters that are in the lake itself. These aren’t actually volcano craters, but lava formations caused by steam exploding through lava as it ran over wet areas of ground.
Dimmuborgir
More lava formations – this is a large, collapsed lava tube, making interesting structures and caves.
There was also a nice view-point at the car park looking back over Lake Myvtan
Viti crater lake
Next we drove over to the Krafla volcano area, next to Myvtan. First stop was the blue lake that fills the Viti explosion crator.
Leirhnjúkur Lava Fields
Just down the road from the Viti crator was the start of a walk around the Krafla area. The trail starts by going around a red rhyolite hill called Leirhnjúkur, past some bubbling geothermal pools.
Then it leads to a big steamy lava field from the most recent eruption of Krafla (1975-1984)
The path ends by heading back up over the top of Leirhnjúkur.
Hverir
Final stop in the Myvtan area, and completing the ‘diamond circle’ sites was Hverir. Hverir is a geothermal area at the base of Namafjall, complete with mud springs, steam vents, fumaroles and a really strong sulphur smell!
After having a walk around, it was then time to leave the Myvtan area and drive to our next hotel, with a couple of stops on the way.
Viewpoint
Studlagil Canyon
We took a detour off of route 1 down a long steep gravel road to visit Studlagil Canyon. The canyon and its interesting basalt rock formations were only revealed in 2009 when a new hydroelectric power station reduced the water level of the river. We unfortunately only had time to visit the viewing point on the east side. If we had had the time (and energy – it had already been a long day!) we would have done the longer walk along the west side for better views further down into the canyon.
Rjúkandifoss
Back on Route 1 and right next to the road is the tall waterfall Rjúkandifoss
Egilsstaðir Viewpoint
We ended the day with eating take-away pizza whilst at a viewpoint looking down over the town of Egilsstaðir, where we were staying for the night.
