The Fires of Mývatn
A massive volcanic caldera system in North Iceland, famous for the dramatic "Krafla Fires" eruptions and its turquoise Víti crater lake. The area remains highly active with extensive geothermal features.
The turquoise Viti explosion crater, 320 meters wide, was formed during the 1724 eruption that began the Myvatn Fires. Its name means "Hell" in Icelandic, reflecting the violent forces that created it.
Today the geothermal lake fills the crater with milky blue-green water, creating one of North Iceland's most photographed natural wonders. A short walk from the parking area leads to the rim.
A five-year eruption episode that dramatically reshaped the landscape around Lake Mývatn and created some of the area's most iconic features.
Nine years of dramatic volcanic activity that reshaped the landscape and provided invaluable scientific insights into volcanic processes.
The Krafla Fires were among the most studied eruptions in history, revolutionizing understanding of rifting processes and magma chamber behavior. Scientists documented ground inflation/deflation cycles linked to magma movement in real time.
Leirhnjukur lava field - still steaming from the 1975-1984 Krafla Fires. Marked trails wind through colorful sulfur deposits and active fumaroles.
The 60 MW Krafla geothermal power station taps into wells drilled up to 2,200 meters deep, extracting superheated steam from the volcanic system below. It supplies a significant portion of North Iceland's electricity.
Construction began in the 1970s but was repeatedly disrupted by the Krafla Fires eruptions. The plant eventually opened in 1977 and has operated successfully since, demonstrating how Iceland harnesses its volcanic energy.
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