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Skutustadir Iceland – Intriguing Myvatn Pseudocraters

Last updated on September 22, 2019 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

The Pseudocraters at Skutustadagigar of Lake Myvatn are one of my favorites geological features in Iceland. Let me explain to you why the Skutustadir craters are not 'real ones' and give you some tips to plan your walk around the pond and on some of them.

Skutustadir Iceland Lake Myvatn Pseudocraters
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About Skutustadir Iceland - the Lake Myvatn Pseudocraters
PLANNING TIPS - Skútustadagígar pseudocraters Iceland
Skutustadir Walk Map
Walking up the first Myvatn pseudocrater at Skutustagigar
The geology behind the Skutustadir craters
Walking along the Stakholstjorn pond and the shores of Lake Myvatn
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About Skutustadir Iceland - the Lake Myvatn Pseudocraters

Skútustadagígar is the area South of Lake Myvatn around the pond Stakholstjorn where the famous pseudocraters can be found (see next section to understand why they are not real craters). The Skutustadir Farm is named after an ancient hero called Viga-Skuta and allows us to get up close and climbs some of those beautiful shaped pseudocraters.

Skutustadir Myvatn Iceland

Skutustadir Pseudocraters, Iceland

The Skutustadir pseudocraters made it to my list of the 10 best landscapes in Iceland and my top 5 things to see in Myvatn.


PLANNING TIPS - Skútustadagígar pseudocraters Iceland

How to get to Skutustadir

  • Lake Myvatn is in the North part of Iceland along Road 1, over 1 hour drive from Akureyri
  • The Skútustadagígar Pseudocraters walking path is on the South section of Lake Myvatn

The pseudo-craters are included in both travel guides that I wrote to help you plan your road trip around Iceland and make the most of your time: 

ssmall Road trip Iceland Travel Guide cover

8 Maps, 100+ locations
110+ photos
LEARN MORE

Cover Ring Road travel guide Iceland

2 Maps, 30 stops, 10 detours
70+ photos
LEARN MORE

Visiting Skútustadagígar pseudo-craters Myvatn

  • Large carpark, and across the road is a cafe, a station and toilets as well as a hotel/restaurant
  • The easy walk around the pond can be done in 1 hour (see map below). Some pseudocraters can be climbed, others are protect and cannot be approached
  • I think the beginning of the hike has the best views on the West side
  • I recommend the use of a fly net in summer. The area is famous for those annoying bugs especially so close to the water. I had some in September but it was bearable.
  • And Check out my complete article with detailed suggestions and tips on what to wear and pack for Iceland to stay warm and comfortable

Accommodation in Myvatn

Not far is the Dimmuborgir Guesthouse, one of my favorite places to stay in Iceland (I booked myself and paid entirely for my stay). Right next to the lake and with the Hverfjall crater in the background... perfect! Check out photos and book

Or choose your own lake Myvatn accommodations


Skutustadir Walk Map

Below is the map of the path that takes you all the way around the Stakholstjörn pond to see most of the pseudocraters:

Map Lake Myvatn pseudocraters Skútustadagígar

Skutustadir Walk Map


Walking up the first Myvatn pseudocrater at Skutustagigar

I started the walk around the pseudocraters early morning I was lucky that the wind was down and got rewarded with beautiful reflections.

Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 1

The first crater you encounter can be circled. See the people below, it gives you and idea for the size of the pseudocrater:

Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 2

From the top of 2 pseudocraters, you get nice views of the area and sometimes the company of sheeps

Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 3
Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 4
Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 5

The geology behind the Skutustadir craters

Here is the information I found at the Myvatn visitor center where thay have very nice displays:

“The planet Mars has recently found to harbour a large groups of craters that seem to have formed by steam explosions as glowing hot lava flowed over frozen ground. Such “pseudocraters” from on Erath as lava runs over wet sedimenet or into the sea. Most of Eearth’s pseudocraters are in Iceland and they are rare elsewhere. Scientific interest in them has increased after the Mars discovery. The pseudocrater by lake Myvatn are among the largest and most beautifully shaped on Earth.

The Myvatn pseudicraters were formed as lava entered a large lake (a precursor of Lake Myvatn), trapping its wet sediment underneath. First, many eruptions take place and a platform of fine-grained material is built up. Later, a few eruption vents take over, the water supply diminishes and well-shaped crater cones develop on top of the platform. The molten lava moves like a thin sheet inside a strationary crust. The lower crust breaks and the hot lava makes contact with the water-logged sediment underneath triggering violent steam eruptions. The lava continues to flow inside the crust envelope and feeds the steam eruptions.

Now the craters are covered by grass because midges fertilize the soil when they die.”


Walking along the Stakholstjorn pond and the shores of Lake Myvatn

After that I walked by down and continue on the path along the pond. Apart from the flies this is a very enjoybale walk. However the first part had the best views as you can see in the pictures.

Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, iceland Photo 6
Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 7
Lake Myvatn pseudo-craters, Iceland Photo 8
Beach Lake Myvatn Skutustadir

Note: If you don't want to book everything yourself, consider booking a Self-Drive Tour Package (see my article to help you choose)


Want to see more of Iceland's beauty?

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Tourism Iceland Travel Guide

What do you think of those prefect shapes?

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Travel Guide Iceland : Plan your visit to lake Myvatn pseudo-craters

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Indie says

    November 10, 2018 at 4:43 AM

    Hi Claire

    Thank you for the details and the map ! Beautiful pictures and helpful article ! I have a few questions:

    1. Is it easy to figure out which pseudo craters can be climbed and which are protected ?
    2. Does the walk around lake Stakholstjorn take an hour without climbing psuedocraters ?
    3. If we climb 1-2 pseudocraters, how long will the loop around lake Stakholstjorn take?
    4. The west side is the first parking lot near Kirkjumyn ?

    Thanks in advance !
    Indie

    Reply
    • Claire, the Travel Planning Geek says

      November 10, 2018 at 10:31 AM

      Hi Indie
      1. Yes it is is, the paths are clear
      2. Depending on how many pictures you take 🙂 1h with the climbing (they are not tall)
      3. 1h / 1h1(
      4. yes

      Reply
      • Indie says

        November 10, 2018 at 4:09 PM

        THANK YOU ! Really appreciate all the details in your blog.

        Reply
  2. Joanna says

    December 26, 2018 at 3:03 PM

    Thanks for the map – verrry helpful!

    Reply

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