Lake Myvatn and The North
Bubbling mud flats, volcanic craters, newborn lava fields, and grassy shoals teeming with waterfowl are among the sights of the striking Lake Myvatn region, one of the most geologically active and stunningly beautiful areas in Iceland. The lake is a national conservation area and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Its name means “Midge Lake,” after the hordes of gnats that breed in the shallow waters, but the pesky insects – perfect food for fish – support the best trout and salmon fishing in Iceland. There are also more species of duck here than anywhere in Europe.
The heavy volcanic activity in the region during the last few thousand years accounts for its extraordinary land formations and geology. Dimmuborgir, on the East side of the lake, is a badlands of lava pillars, some of which reach 65 feet in height. Just north is Hverfjall, a smooth, stadium-shaped volcanic cone that formed during eruptions 2,500 years ago. Some of the most bizarre attractions in the region are the mud pits of Haverarond, which are so hot that they actually boil. Far cooler are the waters of Viti, an explosion crater nearby, or the Myvatn Nature Baths, northern Iceland’s answer to the Blue Lagoon. Another unforgettable sight near Myvatn is Eldhraun (“fire lava”), an absolutely barren lava field where the Apollo 11 crew came in the late 1960s to train for their impending moonwalks.
The North
The north of Iceland is home to many exciting towns and natural wonders. North of Lake Myvatn is the town of Husavik, the whale watching capital of Iceland. On the other side of the peninsula is Asbyrgi canyon, now a national park, where legend has it that the Norse god Odinn’s horse set its foot, creating the canyon’s horseshoe shape. Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, is also in this area.
To the west of Akureyri, the town of Hofsos has a popular museum on Icelandic emigration to North America during the 19th century. The beautiful town of Siglufjordur boasts a renowned herring museum, one of the region’s best attractions. The town of Hvammstangi has a brand-new seal museum, from where you can begin your own self-drive tour of various popular seal watching point along the peninsula.
Skagastrond on Skagafjordur is home to the nation’s only country music radio station and country saloon-style restaurant, Kantrybaer. The region is also where the Saga of Gréttir the Strong occurred.
In the fall, the rettir in an increasingly popular activity for visitors. This is the occasion when the sheep which have been wandering freely in the mountains are collected to be kept indoors for the long winter.
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