Mývatn
Lake Mývatn, thanks to its serenity, birdlife, and volcanism are one of the most amazing natural attractions in the country. The name Mývatn comes from a special type of flies that can be found in this area.
The rest of the fauna is rather complex as we can find for example thirteen different duck species, no other place in the whole world has some many at the same spot. Furthermore, the vegetation and the plentiful food make the area a happy home for voles, mice, and rats and Iceland’s only “top predator” the mysterious arctic fox. However, you might be having a hard time finding these creatures since they are excellent at hiding and they change the hue of their fur according to the season.
Mývatn is also a geothermal region, the energy itself is being harnessed or being utilized at the local spas, such as the Mývatn Nature Baths, which is a must-have sight. Remnants of the geothermal activity can also be found at the Krafla caldera, which had 29 eruptions in the recorded history, or at the notorious Víti volcano, which is translated to English would simply mean “hell”.
The other attractions are definitely worth your time as well. Many visitors stop at Hverfjall which is a dormant tuff ring volcano and an easy hiking path, offering a breathtaking view of the whole lake. When we reach the top, we can already spot the next important step, the “Black Fortress”, Dimmuborgir.
This lava rock formation resembles the ruins of an ancient fortification and according to local legend it connects earth with the infernal regions and even Satan himself landed here when he was cast from the High Heavens. In addition, according to Icelanders, the country’s most brutal and vile trolls, Grýla and his husband Leppalúði and their thirteen children live here as well. The children, the Yule Lads are beloved and feared trolls who come out around Christmas time to terrorize the local population. The matriarch Grýla is said to be eating children, not to mention her gigantic, black pet, the Yule Cat. Whenever you are visiting this haunted area, you will always feel like that a pair of eyes are watching you from behind the rocks. Lastly, Dimmuborgir was featured on “Game of Thrones” as well, just like the nearby Grjótagjá, which is a small lava cave with a beautiful geothermal hot spring.
If you prefer some otherworldly attractions, you should stop at Námafjall geothermal area too, at Hverir you can admire the boiling mud pots and their many colors, which are the result of the dominant sulfur, that you can always smell in the air.
Before continuing your journey to Akureyri, the “capital of the North” or East-Iceland, you can always stop at Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in the country and the most powerful waterfall in Europe. However, since it can be a rather unpredictable sight, always follow the instructions and never cross the fence to get closer to this natural wonder.