Skútustaðagígar
North Iceland · Pseudocrater walk
Walk among the pseudocraters beside Lake Mývatn.
- 45 min visit
- 10 km from Mývatn · Reykjahlíð as the crow flies
Craters made by steam
These rounded craters formed where flowing lava met wet ground, creating steam explosions.
The craters at Skútustaðagígar have an unusual origin. They formed as hot lava spread over wet ground and explosive steam broke through it. They are called pseudocraters because they were not vents bringing fresh lava up from deep below the surface.
From the visitor paths, look for the repeated bowls and rims. A quiet lakeside scene records a meeting between water and intense heat. Around Mývatn, the same lava flow could make very different shapes depending on what lay beneath it. The area is also protected wetland, so enjoy the craters and birdlife from the paths and leave the ground undisturbed.
Sources: northiceland.is, ust.is
