Mývatn in Suður–Þingeyjarsýsla in the north-eastern corner of Iceland, is not only one of the most visited tourist destinations in Iceland. The area by and around the lake, which is the fourth largest in the country, is world-renowned for its unique bird life and great and remarkable volcanic activity. One of the best known and most prosperous salmon fishing rivers in the country, Laxá in Aðaldalur flows from Mývatn. By the lake, there are a number of places that not only attract tourists, but are unique nationally and globally, such as Dimmuborgir, the pseudo craters by Skútustaðir, Hverfjall, Námafjall, Hverarönd and Leirhnjúkur. The lake itself exists in its current form after a volcanic eruption in Lúdentsborgir and Þrengsbotnar 2000 years ago. Five hundred years before, Hverfjall, which leaves a strong and beautiful impression on the landscape round Mývatn, had erupted in one big explosive eruption. The last eruptions at Mývatn are Kröflueldar, nine small eruptions, from December 1975 to September 1984. Tourism in the Mývatn region has been exemplary in recent decades, as the area cab be visited all year round. From Mývatn, there are 500 km to Reykjavík, almost 100 km to Akureyri, and just over 50 km to Húsavík or Dettifoss.
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
Iceland 2019/2022 : A7R III, A7R IV : FE 1.4/50mm Z, FE 1.8/135mm GM, FE 1.2/50mm GM
