Lake Myvatn is my favorite part in Iceland. Not really the lake itself (except for the pseudocraters) but all the amazing geological wonders that surround it. It is a place where you feel connected to Earth. And on the geothermal site of Hverir I sometimes felt like was not even on our planet!
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INFO & PLANNING TIPS - HVERIR
Hverir is a geothermal area with at the foothill of Namafjall. Features include colorful sulphurous mud springs, steam vents, cracked mud and fumaroles. It is also called Hverarönd.
Some say that compared to Wai-o-tapu in New Zealand or Yellowstone it is rather average but personnaly I disagree. I have not seen Yellowstone but I have visited Wai-o-tapu. It does have many more goethermal features with intriguing colors but the surroundings are a lush forest. Although there is more to see, I think Hverir and its bare landscape makes the experience surreal which is what I love. If it weren’t for the other tourists, I would have felt like I landed on another planet.
This is why it is one of my top 5 places to visit in Myvatn and one of my favorite stops on the Ring Road.
TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Hverir Geothermal Area
Getting to Hverir
- On Road, 6km drive East of lake Myvatn (town of Reykjahlíð) after a pass.
- Hverir is well indicated on the South side of the road
Visiting Hverir
- From the parking area there is a short flat loop that leads you close to various geothermal features
- It can be done in just half an hour or you cans pend time admiring the bubbles in the mud pool and stay for an hour.
- Attention to the sulphur smell – it is not recommended to stay too long. Note that although I suffer from allergies and all, I had no special difficulties while visiting Hverir.
- Large parking lot
- I don’t remember seeing toilets but I might be wrong
Hverir is included in the Travel guide Experience Iceland that I wrote to help you plan your road trip around Iceland and make the most of your time.
The site of Hverir
Hverir is not a big site but offers many features very close from one another. It is a the foot of a beautiful dark mountain.
Below are some wide shots of the scenic area, its bare landscape and the fumes emanating from the fumeroles.
Some impressive cracks are everywhere on the land creating interesting photographic effects:
I think the shot below is my favorite (equal with the cracks above). I love the contrast of the blue-gray mud pools with the dark orange of the moutain in the background. Surreal!
A lot of fumes! But do not worry that much, look at the next pictures and you will see that they actually area concentrated and not in the whole area:
The first time I sent the picture below to my mom, she freaked out! She was already worried that I was in Iceland with all those volcanoes but then she became scared that I would be swallowed by the Earth. This crack was actually not that big 🙂
Close-up photos of some geothermal features
One of the great things to do in geothermal area is to photograph some of the features up close. Especially the mud pools which some times create crazy shapes: Like a heart... (great timing, don't you think?)
Or its side view...
The small cracked mud bubble inside the cracked hole:
You must have realised it by now, I love photographying cracked surfaces... So here is a last one!
I love that spot so much, that I want to share other sites with more photos:
- Hverir photos by Volcanic springs
- Hverir photos with snow on Namafjall by Iceland for 91 days
Want to see more of Iceland's beauty?
Discover more things to do and places to see in Iceland in my online Iceland Destination Guide.
Surreal landscape, don’t you think?
Love Iceland so much, these are great photos!
Claire,
I am reading through many of your posts at the moment as I am planning a trip around September 2016 with my little one and other half. What kind of lens did you use for these pictures if you don’t mind me asking? And also, we are planning to stay near Lake Myvatn for atleast 2 nights. Is there anything you would highly recommend in the area? We are keen to do the natural bath in the area, and Krafla crater is also on the list. I want to see some areas with geothermal activity.
Hi Sue
Thanks for your comment.
I was using my usual Canon 7D with a Canon EFS 18-200mm lens.
The Myvatn lake area was my favorite around Iceland. I think the Hverir geothermal area, the pseudocraters, the Dimmuborgir crazy lava shapes and the still fuming Leirhnjukur lava field were the best. Truly feeling on another planet!
Enjoy your planning!