Hverfjall, also spelled Hverfell, is a tephra ring crater near the eastern shore of Lake Myvatn in North Iceland. The crater is about 1 kilometre across, about 140 metres deep, and formed in an eruption about 2,500 years ago. It is part of the Krafla volcanic system.
Hverfjall at a glance
Hverfjall is a tephra ring crater. Hverfjall is also spelled Hverfell. The crater is about 1 kilometre across. The crater is about 140 metres deep. Hverfjall formed in an eruption about 2,500 years ago. It is part of the Krafla volcanic system. The Myvatn area is a volcanically active region of craters, lava fields, and geothermal ground.
Where Hverfjall is
Hverfjall is near the eastern shore of Lake Myvatn in North Iceland. It is on the eastern side of Lake Myvatn. See Lake Myvatn.
How the tephra ring formed
Hverfjall is a tephra ring, built from loose fragments thrown out when rising magma met groundwater and exploded. Tephra from the eruption was scattered across the Myvatn area. A landslide during the eruption disturbed part of the southern rim, so the ring is not a perfect circle.
Walking to the rim
A marked path climbs to the rim. A trail runs around the crater edge with views over Lake Myvatn and the surrounding landscape. The climb to the rim is on loose volcanic gravel. Visitors are asked to keep to the marked paths to protect the crater. The crater lies close to the Dimmuborgir lava field. See Dimmuborgir.
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