“Lake Myvatn is named for the midges — 'my-vatn' literally means 'midge lake' — that swarm it so thickly in summer they get in your eyes, ears and mouth.”
About Myvatn
Myvatn formed in a major volcanic eruption around 2,300 years ago, and the area has remained geologically restless ever since, with the nearby Krafla system erupting repeatedly into the 1980s. The lake's rich birdlife, especially its ducks, has made it a protected nature conservation area, and farms have worked its shores for centuries.
Overview Lake Myvatn is a shallow volcanic lake in the north ringed by some of Iceland's strangest geology: pseudocraters that look like miniature volcanoes, the twisted lava pillars of Dimmuborgir, bubbling mud pots and steaming vents at Hverir, and the geothermal Myvatn Nature Baths. Its name means 'Midge Lake' — and in summer the midges swarm in clouds thick enough to get into your eyes and mouth.
Its name means 'Midge Lake' — and in summer the midges swarm in clouds thick enough to get into your eyes and mouth.
A Volcanic Hub The area is one of the most geologically active in the country. The Krafla volcano and its caldera lie nearby, and the warm, mineral-rich Nature Baths are the north's quieter answer to the Blue Lagoon.
The Experience
You drive a loop past pseudocraters at Skutustadir, the black lava sculptures of Dimmuborgir, and the otherworldly orange-and-grey mudflats of Hverir, where the air smells of sulphur and the ground hisses. The Nature Baths offer a warm soak with a view. In summer, a head net is not a joke — the midge clouds are relentless near the water.
Why It Matters
Myvatn is the geothermal and volcanic showcase of north Iceland, packing pseudocraters, lava fields, mud pots and a geothermal spa into one compact area. It is the hub of the Diamond Circle and a key site for understanding the island's living volcanism.
Myvatn is the geothermal and volcanic showcase of north Iceland, packing pseudocraters, lava fields, mud pots and a geothermal spa into one compact area.
Why Visit
Nowhere else concentrates so many volcanic features around one lake, and the Nature Baths give you the Blue Lagoon experience with a fraction of the crowds. Pack a midge net for summer, and give the area a full day to take in Dimmuborgir, Hverir and the baths.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Carry a midge head net in summer — the swarms by the water are genuinely overwhelming.
- 2
The Myvatn Nature Baths are the north's calmer, cheaper alternative to the Blue Lagoon.
- 3
Don't miss Hverir's sulphur mud pots and Dimmuborgir's lava formations a short drive away.
- 4
Allow a full day; the lake loop and surrounding volcanic sites reward slow exploration.
