North Iceland Volcanoes

Víti

Askja

Massive caldera in the highlands with a crater lake you can swim in - Víti, which means 'hell.' The water is warm and milky blue. Getting here is an adventure - F-roads, river crossings, lunar landscapes. Apollo astronauts trained in this area.

Herðubreið

Queen of the Icelandic mountains. A beautiful table mountain formed under glaciers. Not technically a volcano you can enter, but volcanic in origin. The oasis at its base is striking. Tough but rewarding to reach.

Krafla

Active volcanic system near Mývatn. Had nine eruptions in the late 1970s-80s. You can walk across still-warm lava fields and peer into the Víti crater. The geothermal area here powers a big chunk of Iceland. Very accessible.

Leirhnjúkur

One of Iceland's many volcanic systems. Some are famous, some are quiet. They all contribute to the geothermal energy and dramatic landscapes.

Vikraborgir

One of Iceland's many volcanic systems. Some are famous, some are quiet. They all contribute to the geothermal energy and dramatic landscapes.

Gígur

Þríhnúkagígur is a dormant volcano in the volcanic system of Brennisteinsfjöll near Reykjavík, Iceland. Covering a 3,270 square metres (35,200 sq ft) area and a depth of 213 meters (699 ft), it has not erupted in the past 4000 years. It was discovered in 1974 by cave explorer Árni B. Stefánsson, and opened for tourism in 2012. It is the only volcano in the world where visitors can take an elevator and safely descend into the magma chamber. The magma that filled the chamber has drained away, revealing the void beneath the surface.

Fremrinámar

One of Iceland's many volcanic systems. Some are famous, some are quiet. They all contribute to the geothermal energy and dramatic landscapes.

Þeistareykjarbunga

Volcanic heritage site. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. Features like this are why.

Heidarspordar

Iceland (northeastern) Fissure vent Confirmed Eruption

Kollóttadyngja

Kollóttadyngja is a shield volcano in the Ódáðahraun lava-field in Iceland. Its height reaches 1,177 metres, and it has a diameter of 6–7 km. The summit crater is 800 metres in diameter, but only about 20–30 metres deep. In its centre, there is a bowl about 150 metres in diameter with a depth of about 60–70 metres.

Mælifellshnjúkur

Mælifellshnjúkur is a mountain on the inner western side of Skagafjörður, Iceland. It is 1,138 meters tall, It is one of the most prominent and best-known of Skagafjörður's mountains, towering over those nearby. The peak is allegedly visible from ten counties. It also offers a good view, and is a popular spot for hiking, given that the climb is relatively easy.

Tjornes Fracture Zone

Iceland (northeastern) / Submarine / Eruption Observed

Búrfell á Mývatnsöræfum

Volcanic heritage site. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. Features like this are why.