Kerið Crater

Kerið

Golden Circle

Kerið's walls drop sharply — about 55 meters from rim to water — and the contrast between the dark red volcanic rock and the opaque turquoise lake at the bottom is one of the more striking natural scenes on the Golden Circle. The crater measures roughly 270 meters long and 170 meters wide: large enough to impress, small enough to walk around in 20 minutes. A well-maintained path circles the rim, and a separate trail descends to the lakeshore. Unlike many crater lakes that fill from rainfall, Kerið's lake likely sits at the natural water table level. The crater is around 6,500 years old — geologically young by Icelandic standards. Björk once performed a concert on a floating platform on the lake, a detail that tells you something about both the acoustics and the Icelanders. Kerið sits on Route 35, about 15 km north of Selfoss, and fits neatly into a Golden Circle day without backtracking. There is a small entrance fee, free parking, and basic facilities on site. Afternoon light tends to bring out the red of the crater walls best.

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