Lake Myvatn is a shallow lake in North Iceland covering about 37 square kilometres, with an average depth of about 2.5 metres. Its name means midge lake. The lake formed about 2,300 years ago.
What and where Lake Myvatn is
Lake Myvatn is in North Iceland. It covers about 37 square kilometres and has an average depth of about 2.5 metres. The name means midge lake, after the midges that gather there in summer.
How the lake formed
Lake Myvatn formed about 2,300 years ago. A large basaltic lava eruption dammed a river and created the basin.
Pseudocraters and islands
Lake Myvatn has about 50 small islands. Many of them are pseudocraters, formed by steam explosions when lava flowed over wet ground.
Pseudocraters look like volcanic craters, but they have no magma conduit beneath them. That difference explains why they resemble crater shapes without being built above a direct magma passage.
A haven for birdlife
The lake supports an unusually rich mix of waterbirds. This birdlife draws birdwatchers from around the world.
Seeing Lake Myvatn in North Iceland
Lake Myvatn is part of North Iceland's landscape, with a shallow basin, small islands, and birdlife all tied to how the area formed. The lake also anchors a cluster of sights within easy reach: the lava pillars of Dimmuborgir, the lava cave at Grjotagja, the steaming ground of Namafjall Hverir, and the warm Myvatn Nature Baths, with the waterfall at Godafoss on the road back toward Akureyri. For trip ideas in this part of the country, compare options here: North Iceland tours.
Build a sensible route
Before setting off, use the Driving Distance Calculator to compare Lake Myvatn in North Iceland: What to Know with the other places you plan to visit.
