Askja

Highlands

Askja is a caldera system in Iceland's central highlands so remote and otherworldly that NASA brought Apollo astronauts here in the 1960s to practice geological fieldwork before the moon landings. Inside the main caldera, Öskjuvatn lake occupies a nested depression that collapsed during the catastrophic 1875 eruption and is more than 200 meters deep — Iceland's deepest lake. Beside it, Víti crater holds a small pool of milky-blue geothermal water at around 20–30°C. Swimming is sometimes permitted; check with rangers on arrival. Reaching Askja requires a 4x4 on F-roads through black sand desert. The route may include river crossings, and roads typically open only from late June to early August. From the Vikraborgir parking area a marked trail of around 2.5 km leads to the calderas; budget three hours comfortably. First-time visitors often join a super-jeep tour from Akureyri or Mývatn, which removes the navigation uncertainty. Those driving independently should check road conditions at safetravel.is beforehand and carry extra fuel, water, and warm layers regardless of the forecast.

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