Krafla

North

The Krafla Fires of 1975 to 1984 produced nine eruptions and left a lava field that still steams in places today. At Leirhnjúkur, a marked boardwalk winds through the most recent flows — the ground is warm underfoot in spots and fumaroles vent sulphurous gas between the black and rust-coloured rock. It's one of the few places in Iceland where you can feel the volcano's heat directly. The second focal point is Víti, an explosion crater on the caldera rim with a milky blue-green lake inside. It formed during the Mývatn Fires of 1724 to 1729 — the name means "hell" in Icelandic. A short path circles the rim with views down into the crater; swimming is prohibited, as the water is geothermally active. The Krafla geothermal power station is nearby, with displays on how volcanic heat becomes electricity. Both sites are reached via paved road off Route 1 near Mývatn, with small car parks at each. Budget two hours to walk both properly. Open year-round and free to visit.

Book & Explore

The links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep this guide free. See our about page for how we keep recommendations independent.