Iceland

Let yourself be impressed by the island of ice and fire.

Seltún Geothermal Area

Seltún Geothermal Area

In an area of rifts created by the separation of the North Atlantic Ridge (which runs through Iceland) lies the large geothermal area of Krýsuvík.
In an area of fissures created by the separation of the North Atlantic Ridge (which runs through Iceland) lies the large geothermal area of Krýsuvík and within the same area lies the impressive geothermal field of Seltún, where volcanic vents, mud pots and hot springs have formed over millennia. The result of the geothermal activity is a landscape seemingly painted bright yellow, red and green as a result of the interaction of sulphur with the other minerals in the ground.The volcanic and geothermal activity in Krýsuvík has also resulted in several maars (craters formed when superheated groundwater causes an explosion) throughout the area.The impressive lake Grænavatn has formed in one of these maars. However, the largest lake in the Krýsuvík area is Kleifarvatn, with a depth of 97 metres. Interestingly, the surface area of Kleifarvatn shrank by 20% after a major earthquake nearby in 2000, but the cracks formed by the quake have since filled in and the lake is regaining its size.