- Address: 54 km from Husavik, Islndiya;
- Average depth: 2.5 m;
- Area: 37 km²;
- Height of the surface above sea level: 288 m.
In Iceland, there are many places that the people of this country can be proud of because of their pristine and breathtaking beauty. Lake Myvatn is one of those points on the map of Iceland, attracting travelers from all over the world.
Myvatn - one of the most bizarre places on the planet
From desert craters to turbulent mud pools and geothermal caves, the area around Lake Myvatn in Iceland is a microcosm with natural wonders. The landscapes of Mivatna are so unusual that they are associated with scenery for fantastic films.
Myvatn is the sixth largest lake in Iceland: it stretches for 10 km, its width reaches 8 km, and the total area is 37 sq.km. The lake does not differ much in depth - it does not exceed 4 m. Myvatn is notable for the fact that it contains about 40 miniature islands, formed also from lava. The lake is surrounded by picturesque pastures on one side and lava fields on the other.
About 2,300 years ago in this northern region of Iceland there was a powerful eruption of the volcano Krafla, which lasted several days in a row. Lake Myvatn is sometimes called the crater of a volcano, but it is not. It arose because of the floods of red-hot lava, which created a "damper" around the territory of the eroded and once frozen lava.
In this area, rare birds live, and in the neighborhood with the lake, picturesque waterfalls rustle. By the way, one of them - Dettifoss - is considered the most powerful among all its European counterparts. Mivatn (Mývatn) in translation from Icelandic means "mosquito lake". There are a lot of mosquitoes and mosquitoes here, but the wonderful beauty of the lake is crossed out by small inconveniences. Despite the fact that these insects do not bite, tourists are recommended to use mask-bandages for the face.
Sights of Lake Myvatn
Lake Myvatn itself is considered a tourist attraction in the north of Iceland. However, next to it there are several objects that are of great interest to tourists. The eastern banks of Mivatna are decorated with black pillars of lava of unusual shapes. This place is called the park of lava formations Dimmuborgir , which in translation means "dark castles". From a distance the pillars really resemble a fortress and give the northern landscape a mystery.
30 km to the north of Mivatna are some of the most beautiful waterfalls not only in Iceland, but also in Europe: Godafoss , Dettifoss , Selfoss . Next to the lake is the National Park of Ausbirga , and on its western bank there are pseudo- craters Skutustadagigar and an old small church built in 1856. But the main attraction of Lake Myvatn can safely be called the Northern Blue Lagoon.
While visiting the Myvatn district, tourists can go for a bike ride, go on a pedestrian tour, ride a horse, visit a local museum.
Myvatn district, located in the north of Iceland, has a modern infrastructure for the reception of travelers: there are comfortable small hotels, campsites, restaurants with a national cuisine and cozy cafes.
Thermal Resort on Lake Myvatn
Around Lake Myvatn there are many geothermal springs, the water temperature in which is kept in the range of 37-42 ° C throughout the year. 20 years ago, well-equipped geothermal indoor baths with a natural pool appeared in this area. The water in it is painted in an amazing milky blue color: it contains a lot of sulfur and silicon dioxide. The adoption of such warm baths under the open sky helps to get rid of diseases of the skin, joints and bronchial asthma. A geothermal resort on Lake Myvatn is called the Northern Blue Lagoon. Unlike similar bathhouses "Blue Lagoon" near Reykjavik , the cost of visiting here is almost two times lower.
| | | |
Geothermal baths on Lake Myvatn in Iceland are equipped with the necessary infrastructure - spacious modern dressing rooms, a small cafe, and in the pools there are wooden jacuzzi. Also on the territory of the lagoon there are two Turkish and Finnish saunas.
How do I get to Lake Myvatn in Iceland?
Myvatn is located 105 km from the city of Akureyri , 489 km from Reykjavik and 54 km from the small port city of Husavik , from which it is easiest to get to the lake by road.