Spectacular Godafoss and Lake Myvatn (6 Hours)

Located just 100 kilometers away from the Arctic Circle, Akureyri is Iceland’s Northern Capital and the fourth-most-populous town in Iceland. The biggest city outside of the Greater Reykjavik region by population. You will find the populous, bustling city of Akureyri, with its thriving industries from shops, cafes, and museums, at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord. Akureyri is the little big city in Iceland. It is large enough to offer a rich selection of entertainment, art, and culture, yet small enough to be very personal and close to nature. It‘s easy to be fascinated by Akureyri with it‘s brightly painted wooden houses, cozy bars, and steep streets leading down from the hills into the friendly city center. Even the traffic lights are cute, with stoplights in the shape of red hearts. The area where Akureyri is located was settled in the 9th century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1786. Allied units were based in the town during World War II. Further growth occurred after the war as the Icelandic population increasingly moved to urban areas.

Dimmuborgir, or the Black Fortress, is a dramatic expanse of lava in the Lake Mývatn area. Steeped with folklore, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to north Iceland. Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago; the Lake Mývatn area is highly volcanic, as can be further seen in nearby locations such as the geothermal Námaskarð Pass, the hot spring cave Grjótagjá, and the dramatic Krafla fissure. As lava flowed across the area, it passed over a lake, causing it to boil. This both quickened the cooling of the lava and caused pillars of steam to shatter parts of it. After it solidified, Dimmuborgir area became defined by large stacks of rock and many caves and caverns, caused by bubbles of intense steam. As such, many have compared Dimmuborgir to a medieval castle, with its many hidden chambers and its rising towers.

Godafoss Waterfall is one of the most beautiful sights in Iceland. Located just off the Ring Road, no one should pass this beauty without a visit. Plan a visit to the ‘waterfall of the gods’ on your Ring Road adventure in Iceland! Goðafoss is one of Iceland’s true pearls and one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. Its fed by the river Skjálfandafljót which runs in a 7000-year-old lava field from the Trölladyngja volcano. Tröll translates to troll in English so it’s safe to say that the area is nothing if not mystical. It’s understandably been an inspiration to many of Iceland’s best folklore tales.

Hverir Iceland is one of the most out-of-this-world sites on the island. It is a place where you feel connected to the power of the planet. At the foot of the Namafjall volcanic mountain, the Namaskard geothermal area displays fumaroles, large mud pools, steam vents and a bare orangy-red landscape. A unique sight!

Mývatn is a shallow lake situated in an area of active volcanism in the north of Iceland, not far from Krafla volcano. It has a high amount of biological activity. The lake and the surrounding wetlands provide a habitat for a number of waterbirds, especially ducks. The lake was created by a large basaltic lava eruption 2300 years ago, and the surrounding landscape is dominated by volcanic landforms, including lava pillars and rootless vents (pseudocraters). The effluent river Laxá is known for its rich fishing for brown trout and Atlantic salmon.

Námaskarð is a powerful geothermal area about 5 km east of Reykjahlíð nearby lake Mývatn. The area has enormously powerful hot springs and geothermal activity. There you can find a lot of clay and sulfur geothermal sites that have boiled the area and literally transformed the rock in the area and make it uniquely colorful, the sulfat acid transforms the rock composition. In the old days the owners of the land were mining the sulfat from the area at Námaskarð (Mining-pass) and exporting it. In the year 1563 the King of Denmark acquired the area that had previously been owned by brothers living in Reykjahlíð and made them great income. The area is popular among tourists who want to learn about geothermal energy and geothermal activity.

The Mývatn Nature Baths are a set of geothermally heated pools and steam baths found in the Lake Mývatn area. They are about two kilometers east of the village of Reykjahlíð, and a fantastic example of Iceland’s hot spring culture. The Mývatn Nature Baths are centered around a large lagoon, which has a temperature of about 36 to 40 degrees Celsius (97 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). The water here is packed with minerals, particularly sulfur, which is said to be good for respiratory and skin problems.