Myvatn is the location of the most recent geothermal (aka- lava explosions) activity in Iceland. In the Middle Ages, it was known as the gateway to Hell. There are still tons of hotpots, and smoldering lava flows in this little northern town.
Stora-Viti: a huge cynlinder cone- a past volcano. The bottom freezes with ice in the winter- here it is thawing out. It took over an hour to walk around the whole thing.
Geothermal plants that power all of Iceland- you never run out of hot water in Iceland, although it sometimes comes out smelling like sulfur :)
Hotpots on the back side of the cylinder
Leirhnjukur- the most recent lava flows in Iceland- anything black in the pictures is lava.
The lava fields go on and on for hundreds of miles, while the ground is still smoking- the picture doesn't do it justice- but if you look at the ground, you can see the smoke coming up still.
This was a little church that was right in the path of the last lava flow (in 1700-something). The pastor had the congregation in the building praying, and the lava went right around the church and into the lake- within feet. You can see the original stone base of the church, and how close the huge lava flow is.
View from top of the valley- those are little cylinders all throughout the lake.
We had lunch at The Cowshed- where the restaurant is attached to an actual cowshed, and you get to watch them milk the cows as you eat! Haha- then they bring you out fresh milk, straight from the source.
Lava Peaks in Dimmuborgir
View in Hotori park
Moss grows everywhere due to the intense snow.
Lava fields out in the lake
Cylinders in the lake at Skutustadgigar
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