Highlights: The Reykjavík Capital Area is the country's largest and most populated city and currently home to 211.282 people, that's two-thirds of the entire Icelandic population!
Although it's one of the smallest capital cities in the world, it's still big enough to fit in six super-sized districts, with Reykjavík as the largest having a population of 121.230. Each district has its own elected council that governs the community and is responsible for the execution of legally determined projects.
Vatnajökull National Park was established in 2008. It includes the national parks in Skaftafell (est. 1967) and Jökulsárgljúfur (est. 1973) along with the Vatnajökull ice cap itself and extensive areas around it.
Vatnajökull National Park is characterised by diversity on all fronts, be it landscape, biosphere, cultural remains or service levels. For simplification, however, it may be placed into two categories: uninhabited highland areas with limited services and lowland areas with higher service levels.
The park‘s visitor centres are all located in lowland areas. Each of them has an exhibition about the park‘s nature and cultural heritage. Each also has a souvenir shop with special emphasis on local handicraft and products.
In 2018, Vatnajökull National Park was nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The nomination [PDF - 28 MB]is currently being reviewed by UNESCO.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the most famed and visited attractions in Iceland. Floating on the lagoon are enumerable icebergs that have broken off the resident glacier, creating an ever-changing scenery of incredible allure.
The river Jökulsá connects the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that these icebergs eventually drift out to sea where they are polished by the waves before floating back to the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur. The name ‘Diamond Beach’ thus comes from the white ice on the black sand appearing like gemstones or diamonds, as they often glisten in the sun and sharply contrast their jet black surroundings.
The Diamond Beach is a strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.
Here, the icebergs which fill Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon wash up on shore, standing dazzling and defiant in stark contrast to the black sand beach. It is, therefore, a favourite amongst photographers, nature-lovers, and wildlife-enthusiasts. Many seals call this beach home, and it is one of the best places in the country to see orcas from the shore.
Safety at the Diamond Beach
The Diamond Beach is a safe place for any responsible traveller; unlike at Reynisfjara, another South Coast black-sand-beach, sneaker waves and rip currents are not notorious for whisking unwitting tourists out to sea. However, there are still dangers to consider.
The main one of these is the icebergs themselves. Under no circumstance should you climb upon an iceberg, due to their slippery surfaces and sharp edges.
This is especially the case if the iceberg is at all in the water, as it could flip and trap you underneath, or else be pulled out to sea by a current with you on it.
The risk of injury and illness in the form of hypothermia is so great that extortionate fines exist to deter any ‘rebels’ looking for a thrill-seek. These have only come about due to serious incidents, to protect not only tourists at the lagoon but guides and staff who may feel obligated to embark on a dangerous rescue if they see someone at risk.
Scenic landscape, favorable weather conditions and a selection of hiking trails make Skaftafell an ideal destination for those who like to enjoy outdoor activities in Icelandic nature.
Short and easy trails lead to waterfall Svartifoss and glacier Skaftafellsjökull, but for those who want to reach further out, the Morsárdalur valley and Kristínartindar mountain peaks are perfect in terms of distance and labour. Skaftfell is also the perfect base camp for those who seek to climb Iceland‘s highest mountain peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur.
In 1967, Skaftafell National Park was established, but in 2008 it became a part of the newly established Vatnajökull National Park.
Vestrahorn, Vesturhorn or Stokksnes, these are all names for this same place. The area is approximately a ten-minute drive away from Höfn. The Horn area is below Vestra-Horn, a 454-meter-high mountain. It is an interesting geological site composing of un-stratified plutonic rock, mostly gabbro but with some granophyre. East of the mountain is a strange-shaped outcrop called Brunnhorn that stretches out to sea.
One of the first settlement farms in Iceland was Horn, Built by Hrollaugur, son of Rögnvaldur earl of Møre in Norway. Hornafjörður Municipality and several natural sites are named after the settlement farm. In the Second World War, the Horn area became a base for the British army and later a NATO radar station was set up at Stokksnes, south of Horn. At Stokksnes you can feel the power of the Atlantic Ocean as the waves hit the rocky shore with massive force.
Vestrahorn is a photographer’s paradise. Come here to photograph the dramatic landscape, or just sit and enjoy the vast beauty. A very beautiful unspoiled natural site.
The shore features stunning lava dunes, that are constantly being shaped by the natural forces of water and wind. Down towards the sea, it is possible to get perfect reflections in the wet sand. Seals also tend to hang out on the stretch of sand, so if you’re lucky you can catch a picture of a lazing seal as well.
FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a magnificent and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The canyon has sheer walls, and is somewhat serpentine and narrow. The bedrock in Fjaðrárgljúfur is mostly palagonite from cold periods of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old. The river Fjaðrá has its source in the mountain Geirlandshraun and falls off the heath edge in this stunning canyon until it makes it down into Skaftá river. Fjaðrá has changed a lot in the course of time. Today Fjaðrá is often rather low in water and therefore hikers can safely choose to walk inside the canyon. However, wading is necessary fairly often. Deep in the canyon there are waterfalls so one needs to walk the same way back. Most people choose to walk along a walking path up on the canyon's edge while simultaneously enjoying the view above the canyon.
Formation of the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
It is believed that Fjaðrárgljúfur formed at the end of the last Ice Age, about nine thousand years ago. When the glacier retreated, a lake formed in the valley behind a hard resistant rock. The run-off from the lake flowed to where Fjaðrárgljúfur is today. Glacial rivers from the glacier's edge carried a lot of sediment into the lake and the river which ran from it dug itself down into the rock and down onto the palagonite in front of it. Because the cascade has been so large, it was powerful in digging out the canyon. Eventually the lake filled with sediments and the river's strength dwindled. When the lake filled up completely, the river began to dig itself into the sediment layers which it had previously left in the valley. Fluvial terraces on both sides in the valley give an indication about the original height and location of the lake while a deep channel in the palagonite serves as a silent reminder to the power of nature.
Hveravellir (The Hot Spring Fields) is a very interesting low temperature area at the northern edge of the lava field Kjalhraun. It is a popular stopover with tourist huts, a meteorological watch (was occupied the whole year until 2009) and a man made bathing pool. The old route across the lava field continued through the thermal area, which is also frequently referred to in the Sagas. Attraction: The Bony Mound. The hot spring area has been protected since 1965 and people are kindly asked to stay on the boardwalk across it.
The thermal activity can also be seen in the lava field, where there are steaming chasms.
Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll peaks.jpg
The peaks of the Kerlingarfjöll area, close.
Highest point
Elevation 1,477 m (4,846 ft)
Coordinates 64°39′N 19°15′WCoordinates: 64°39′N 19°15′W
Geography
Kerlingarfjöll is located in IcelandKerlingarfjöllKerlingarfjöll
Location of Kerlingafjöll within Iceland
Location Iceland
Kerlingarfjöll is a 1,477 m (4,846 ft) tall mountain range in Iceland situated in the Highlands of Iceland near the Kjölur highland road. They are part of a large tuya volcano system of 100 km2 (39 sq mi). The volcanic origin of these mountains is evidenced by the numerous hot springs and rivulets in the area, as well as red volcanic rhyolite stone of which the mountains are composed. Minerals that have emerged from the hot springs also color the ground yellow, red and green.
The area was known formerly for its summer ski resort, but this was dismantled in 2000. Since 2000, Kerlingarfjöll has been operated as a highland resort, offering accommodation and food services to guests in the area.
It was on March 17 in 2017 that the Iceland Monitor wrote that Kerlingarfjöll Mountains and geothermal area were being turned into a nature reserve. Although parts of the place already had protection, after made into reserve, all the whole 367 square kilometres are to be under the protection of the state of Iceland. Earlier, there had been thoughts of using the 140 degree Celsius hot springs as a geothermal power plant. It had already been popular of course with hiking and the tourists.
There are not many waterfalls in the Icelandic highland that have become popular or major attractions. One of the reasons is the relatively short time that the Highland in Iceland is open, only from the middle of June until late September. That doesn't mean that Iceland lacks spectacular waterfalls in the Highland. Waterfalls like Fagrifoss, Ófærufoss, and Sigöldufoss are good examples. One of the beautiful waterfalls in the Highland is Gýgjarfoss located near the Highland Road Kjalvegur or Kjölur Nr. 35, just by the road Nr. F347 leading to Kerlingarfjöll and Hveradalir. The waterfall is in the river Jökulfall which has its source in the glacier Hofsjökull, and the mountain ridge Kerlingafjöll along with many small spring-fed rivers. Eventually, the river joins the mighty river Hvítá that provides the stream for our most spectacular waterfall Gullfoss.
Gýgjarfoss has spectacular surroundings
Although the waterfall is only about 5 meters high and around 20 meters high, it is fed by a powerful source which has an impressive volume. The flood can vary depending on the season with more volume during spring and early summer. Sometimes on a warm day the flood is much more in the afternoon than in the morning. The surrounding area around Gýgjarfoss is quite impressive with the mountains in the background and the fascinating gorge downstream. It is a wonderful place for photographers.
LANDMANNALAUGAR - NATURE RESERVE
Landmannalaugar derives its name from a hot pool that rises from under the Laugahraun lava field. Landmannalaugar has been a stopping point for people for centuries, and the mountain shepherds on Landmannaafréttur have stayed there while herding sheep off the mountain for as long as there have been reports of such travel.
Many beautiful mountains can be seen from Landmannalaugar: Barmur, Bláhnúkur, Brennisteinsalda, Suðurnám and Norðurnám. There are considerable deposits of rhyolite, obsidian and rhyolite lava in the area, and the Landmannalaugar landscape is famous for its colourfulness and unique environs.
The start of one of the most popular hiking trails in Iceland, Laugavegurinn, is at Landmannalaugar. The trail proceeds along Hrafntinnusker, Álftavatn, Hvanngil, Emstrur and ends in Þórsmörk.
Ferðafélag Íslands (the Iceland Touring Association) provides facilities, such as showers and accommodation, for travellers at Landmannalaugar. In addition, there is a horse rental and a small café operated during the summer.
The most “renowned or infamous” volcano of Iceland, Hekla, is situated on a 25 miles long volcanic fissure. The volcano itself is about 3 miles long and about 5000 feet high. It is estimated to be 6000-7000 years old and the life expectancy of such central volcanoes is about 100.000 years according to geologists. Presumably, the number of Hekla’s major eruptions is close to 20 during historic times and minor eruptions in its vicinity about 25. The first documented eruption in 1104, devastated the inhabited valley Thjorsardalur and other areas further inland. One of the vastest eruptions in the year 1300, split the mountain apart. The booms were heard in the northern part of the country and the plume and ashes created such darkness there, that no one dared to go fishing. Farms collapsed during the earthquakes and the following famine demanded many human lives.
This eruption lasted a whole year. In 1510, Hekla emitted its products over such great distances, that a heavy stone caused a fatal casualty 28 miles away. During a major eruption in 1693, 14 craters were active simultaneously. This eruption devastated 50 farms for a while. Still another major eruption in 1766, which lasted two years with intervals, showed 18 craters active at the same time. The eruption of 1845 lasted 7 months. In 1947, the eruption lasted 13 months uninterrupted. At that time the plume reached the height of 20 miles. About one km³ of tephra, which covered about 40 km² of land, was produced. One fatal casualty among the scientists on the spot occurred. In 1970, a minor eruption devastated large grazings in the central highlands and fluoride poisoning was experienced.
Minor eruptions
Other minor eruptions took place in 1980, 1981, 1991 and the most recent one started at 18,15 on February 26th 2000. The 7 km long volcanic fissure was active in the beginning and the lava flows ran down the eastern slopes. Within one hour of the eruption they had reached the surrounding lowland areas and the lava production was considered rather large in volume. This eruption seemed to behave similarly to the 1991 eruption in the beginning. The next day the southeast part of the fissure remained active and the lava continued flowing, a branch of it to the southwest. Lava was flowing in a wide stream down the northwest shoulder in the direction of the Skjolkviar (1970 eruption). The plume was carried to the north the first day and the second day to the south-southeast across the Myrdals Glacier to the sea and the power of the eruption dropped to 90%. It reached an altitude of about 13 km in the beginning. On the third day, the eruption still diminished to 5% of its initial power and the plume stretched towards southeast. Fine ash powder was spotted on Svalbard. Officially the eruption ended on March 8th. Hekla is among the best known volcanoes of the world.
Many Europeans believed that Hekla was one of two known entrances of Hell (+Stromboli). Many extraordinary and dreadful legends about the volcano existed and no one climbed it until 1750, when two naturalists ventured to the top. Up there, they could not find anything to substantiate the legend and since then, the mountain is frequented by all kinds of people. The easiest way up is from the north. On a fine day, the view from up there is simply unbelievable.
HAIFOSS
The waterfall Háifoss is situated near the volcano Hekla in the south of Iceland. The river Fossá, a tributary of Þjórsá, drops here from a height of 122 m. This is the second highest waterfall of the island.
From the historical farm Stöng, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Hekla in the Middle Ages and reconstructed, it is possible to hike to the waterfall along the Fossá (5 to 6 hours both directions). Above the waterfall, there is also a parking lot, so the hiking can also be made in the other direction.
Ljótipollur is an explosion crater and crater lake in the south Highlands. Its name means ‘Ugly Puddle’, despite the fact it is an incredibly beautiful site. It is part of the Veiðavötn volcanic area.
Ljótipollur is located in the southern highlands, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. It is most easily reached by those who go to Landmannalaugar, and take the four-hour hike to it and back.
Landmannalaugar is a highland oasis, open throughout the summer months, with colourful rhyolite mountains and hot springs. It is a hiker’s paradise, marking one end of the Laugavegur trail that ends in Þórsmörk. Though this journey takes four days, Ljótipollur is a perfect example of a hike within Landmannalaugar that can be done within hours.
Those in Landmannalaugar who wish to take a shorter hike should take those to Mount Brennisteinsalda or Mount Bláhnúkur.
Ljótipollur is a beautiful feature, with blue waters, green vegetations growing up and down its slopes, and vividly coloured red lava rock surrounding it.
Bláhylur / Hnausapollur
Lake Hnausapollur is on of two crater lakes of the Veidivotn System south of River Tungnaa. The other one is Lake Ljotipollur.
The access by car is easy and the anglers have to walk down a steep scree inside the crater and back up again with the catch. Lake Hnausapollur is situated just north of Mt Tjorvafell and Lake Frostastadavatn, only a stone’s throw away from the mountain track between Sigalda and Landmannalaugar. Permits are sold at the lodge at Landmannahellir or on the internet.
Hjalparfoss is a beautiful, two stepped waterfall near the confluence of Rivers Thjorsa and Fossa in the Thjorsa Valley. The surrounding area is called Hjalp (Help), because the travellers across the Sprengisandur Route found great help in reaching a vegetated area to graze their horses after a long journey in the barren interior.
As elsewhere in the valley, the signs of the eruptions of Mt. Hekla are very prominent by the waterfall, ashes everywhere
The National Energy Authority has spent much time and money to turn the valley green again with excellent results.
Sigöldugljúfur used to be a river way, but when the hydro electric damn Sigölduvirkjun was built, the water from the waterfall Sigöldufoss was directed into the damn, forming the "Valley of tears" where countless waterfalls meet and fall together down the cliffs and into the river below.
Once every 5 years the damn closing the canyon is opened up for maintenance and then Sigöldufoss is visible again, for only a week.
Lake Frostastadavatn rests in breathtaking nature and is surrounded by black lava fields and colourful rhyolite mountains. It covers around 2,5km2 and lies at 573 meters above sea level. Access to the lake is very good, road are both on its north and east sides.
Like other lakes in this area it is rich of trout and therefore popular by fishingmen as well as hikers who wants fresh catch of the day on their dish at dinner time.
Katla is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland. It is situated to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Its peak reaches 1,512 metres (4,961 ft) and is partially covered by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The system has an area of 595 km2 (230 sq mi). The Eldgjá canyon is part of the same volcanic system.
The caldera of the Katla volcano has a diameter of 10 km (6.2 mi) and is covered with 200–700 metres (660–2,300 ft) of ice. The volcano normally erupts every 40–80 years. The flood discharge at the peak of an eruption in 1755 has been estimated at 200,000–400,000 m3/s (7.1–14.1 million cu ft/sec), comparable to the combined average discharge of the Amazon, Mississippi, Nile, and Yangtze rivers (about 266,000 m3/s (9.4 million cu ft/sec)).
The name Katla derives from the word ketill ("kettle"), referring to the form of the volcano. Katla is also used as a female first name.
It is thought that Katla is the source of Vedde Ash,[8] more than 6 to 7 cubic kilometers (1.4 to 1.7 cu mi) of tephra dated to 10,600 years BP found at a number of sites including Vedde in Norway, Denmark, Scotland and North Atlantic cores.
Sixteen eruptions have been recorded for Katla since 930. The last major eruption started on 12 October 1918 and lasted for 24 days. It was likely a VEI-5 level eruption. The 1918 eruption resulted in extending the southern coast by 5 km due to laharic flood deposits. Its present dormancy is among the longest in known history.
Minor eruptions occurred in:
2011 – VEI-1?
1999 – VEI-1?
1955 – VEI-1?
Major eruptions occurred in:
1918 – VEI-4
1860 – VEI-4
1823 – VEI-3
1755 – VEI-5
1721 – VEI-5
1660 – VEI-4
1625 – VEI-5
1612 – VEI-4
1580 – VEI-4
934 – VEI-5
Locations of caldera rim and previous eruptions
Most of these eruptions resulted in glacial floods. The severe fissure eruption in 934 was one of the largest lava eruptions in the past 10,000 years. Before the Hringvegur (Iceland's Ring Road) was constructed in 1974, people feared traversing the plains in front of the volcano because of the frequent jökulhlaup (or glacier bursts) and the deep river crossings. Especially dangerous was the glacier outburst that followed the eruption of 1918.
Present day activity
Schematic cross-section from west to east across the Eyjafjallajökull and Katla volcanoes. Magmatic intrusions are drawn in red, rhyolitic domes and the cryptodome in yellow; glaciers are shown in light blue.
Katla has been showing signs of unrest since 1999, and geologists have concerns that it might erupt in the near future.[15] Particularly, monitoring has been intensified following the March 2010 eruptions of a smaller neighbouring volcano, the Eyjafjallajökull glacier.[16] The eruption of this nearby long-dormant volcano in March and April 2010 prompted fears among some geophysicists that it might trigger an eruption at the larger and more dangerous Katla. In the past 1,000 years, all three known eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull have triggered subsequent Katla eruptions.
Following the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptions, on 20 April 2010 Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson said "the time for Katla to erupt is coming close ... we [Iceland] have prepared ... it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption".
Increased earthquake activity has been noticed on Katla since the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull, but no other signs of an imminent eruption have been observed. These quakes are located mainly on the northwestern rim of the caldera. On 9 October 2010, a sudden rise in harmonic tremor was observed in the stations around Katla, a sign of a possible impending eruption.
As of 2010, volcanologists are continuing to monitor Katla, aware that any eruption from Katla following an eruption from Eyjafjallajökull has historically occurred within months of the latter. The Icelandic Meteorological Office updates its website with reports of quakes both at Eyjafjallajökull and Katla.
2011 activity
In 2011, geologic activity led many to speculate that a very small subglacial eruption had taken place. In June 2011, harmonic tremor was again detected at Katla volcano. A few days later, an earthquake swarm took place in the caldera, indicating magma movement inside the volcano, leading to increased fears of an eruption in the near future.
On 8 and 9 July, another spike in harmonic tremors occurred, as a small eruption of Katla took place. Cracks formed on the Glacier, as well as a cauldron. Icelandic media reported a small subglacial eruption might have started. On the morning of 9 July, a glacier flood was reported in the river Múlakvísl, and also later in the river Skálm. The bridge across Múlakvísl was destroyed as well as other parts of the road, Route 1, on the Icelandic ring road. Helicopter pilots flying over the glacier also reported cracks in the glacier. Scientists monitoring the activity said speculation that it was caused by a "very small" subglacial eruption lacked confirmation by visual or seismic evidence.
2016 and 2017 activity
Tremors were detected under Katla in late August 2016.
A "Specialist Description" describing the activity on 29 August 2016 noted that:
There was "a seismic swarm in Mýrdalsjökull on the 29th of August with two events in the northern Katla caldera rim measured at magnitude 4.5. These are the biggest earthquakes in Katla volcano since 1977. Earthquake eruption checks confirmed that most earthquakes occurred between 0:40 and 1:50 PM. The big earthquakes were about thirty seconds apart at 1:47. They were followed by more than 50 aftershocks until 15:12 PM, when there was an earthquake of magnitude 3.3 and then the cycle and seismic activity in the region reduced again. No unrest was measured along these earthquakes. The geothermal has decreased in the following week and is now negligible."
Update Written by a specialist at 11 Sep 16:38 GMT "Today, shortly before 14:00, a small earthquake swarm began in Mýrdalsjökull. The largest earthquakes of the swarm were of magnitude 3.3 and 3.0 at 16:12 and 15:57. More than 10 smaller earthquakes were detected in the swarm. All of the earthquakes were shallow and located in the caldera of Katla volcano. It is not unusual for seismic swarms of this type to occur in this area."
In February 2017, seismic activity at the volcano continued.
Mýrdalsjökull, Icelandic for "(the) mire dale glacier" or "(the) mire valley glacier") is an ice cap in the south of Iceland. It is to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller ice cap Eyjafjallajökull. Between these two glaciers is Fimmvörðuháls pass. Its peak reaches 1,493 m (4,898 ft) in height and in 1980 it covered an area of 595 km2 (230 sq mi).
The icecap of the glacier covers an active volcano called Katla. The caldera of the volcano has a diameter of 10 km (6 mi) and the volcano erupts usually every 40–80 years. The last eruption took place in 1918. Scientists are actively monitoring the volcano, particularly after the eruption of nearby Eyjafjallajökull began in April 2010. Since the year 930, 16 eruptions have been documented.
The Eldgjá, a volcanic eruption fissure about 30 km (19 mi) long, which erupted in the year 936, is part of the same volcanic system.
Before the Hringvegur (the main ring road round the island) was built, people feared traversing the plains in front of the volcano because of the frequent jökulhlaups (glacial floods) and the deep rivers to be crossed, although the road is still vulnerable to major events. Especially dangerous was the glacial flood after the eruption of 1918 when the coastline was extended by 5 km (3.1 mi) by laharic flood deposits.
Mýrdalsjökull is an exceedingly wet location, with models suggesting it receives more than 10 metres of precipitation annually.
ELDGJA CANYON
Between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Landmannalaugar, the eruptive fissure Eldgjá is to be found. Eldgjá is a 40 km long eruptive fissure, 600 meters wide in many places, and up to 200 meters deep, formed in a gigantic eruption in 934. From Eldgjá, extensive streams of lava have flowed through Landbrot and Meðalland, reaching sea at Alviðruhamrar in Álftaver. The lava-field is believed to cover 700 km², which makes it one of the vastest lava-fields on earth since the last ice age. Eldgjá is believed to belong to the same crater system as Katla. Eldgjá is a unique natural phenomenon and is listed as natural remnants.
Eldgjá is a part of a volcanic fissure that stretches from Mýrdalsjökull almost to Vatnajökull. Eldgjá is about 8 km long, 600 m wide and up to 150 m deep. It was formed in the year 939 during one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Iceland in historical times. Eldgjá‘s main attraction is the waterfall Ófærufoss, located a short walking distance from the area‘s car park.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur - Skaftárhreppur
Kirkjubæjarklaustur was known in olden times as "Kirkjubær" (Church Farm) and was an important farming estate. It is one of the most tongue-twisting words to pronounce of any location in Iceland. Kirkjubæjarklaustur has developed into a village, the only centre of population in the district, with about 150 inhabitants. Kirkjubæjarklaustur, often abbreviated to "Klaustur", is centrally located in the district. Roads radiate from Klaustur in many different directions and the Ring Road runs through the district. The Laki road, just west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, leads into the highlands. The circular Landbrot / Meðalland road serves the southern part of the district. The Fjallabak roads (north and south) lead from the Ring Road into the interior via Skaftártunga. The Álftaver road is a circular route serving Álftaver on Mýrdalssandur.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is the only place between Vík and Höfn which offers services, including a fuel station, a bank, a post office and a supermarket. Nearby tourist attractions include the Laki craters, the Eldgjá and Skaftafell. An attraction close to the village is Kirkjugólf (Church Floor), a natural pavement of basalt. These are basalt columns down in the earth, eroded and shaped by wind and waves, but only the top can be seen, and they, as the name suggests, have the appearance of a paved church floor. It is a protected natural monument. This lava formation has similar origins as the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. All these attractions contribute to the popularity of Kirkjubæjarklaustur as a stopping point for tourists.
Skaftárhreppur
Skaftárhreppur district is the centre of the south of Iceland and the perfect location to stay while taking daytours to see many of Iceland's bestt known natural treasures, Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Langisjór lake, Eldgjá fissure, Laki craters and Reynisfjara black beach to name but a few. This is an area where saga meets lava and is easily accessible all year round. Through the app Locatify Smartguide you can find two audio-guides "The Laki eruption 1783-1784" and "Klaustur trail" and learn about more about the history of the area. The district is part of Katla geopark and the gateway to the western part of Vatnajökull National Park.
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