Lakes and reservoirs in Iceland

Icelandic Lakes and Reservoirs

Iceland's diverse water bodies range from the massive Þórisvatn reservoir to the tectonic rift lake Þingvallavatn, situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This collection features volcanic crater lakes like the geothermal Víti, the bird-rich eutrophic waters of Mývatn, and man-made reservoirs such as Blöndulón. These sites showcase unique geological phenomena, including glacial runoff, geothermal activity at the Blue Lagoon, and coastal rock pools like Brimketill, providing insight into the island's volcanic and hydraulic landscape.

Icelandic Lakes and Reservoirs — Map

Bernello / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Mývatn

This eutrophic lake (meaning of high biological productivity) takes its name from a large number of midges that occupy this area during…

Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Thingvallavatn

Þingvallavatn, anglicised as Thingvallavatn, is a rift valley lake in southwestern Iceland.

Ásgeir Eggertsson / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Thórisvatn Lake

Þórisvatn is the largest lake of Iceland, situated at the south end of Sprengisandur highland road within the highlands of Iceland.It is a…

Gumol / CC-BY-SA-3.0

D

Langisjór

Langisjór is a lake in the western part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland.

Christian Bickel / CC BY-SA 2.0 de

E

Apavatn

Apavatn is a lake in southwest Iceland. With a surface area of around 13 km2 it is much larger than the neighbouring lake of Laugarvatn,…

F

Botnstjörn

Located at the innermost end of the Ásbyrgi canyon, this calm pond is sheltered by steep 100-meter cliffs and surrounded by birch woodland.

G

Viti crater lake

A geothermal crater lake formed during the 1724 eruption of the Krafla volcano. It is characterized by its opaque teal water and sulfurous surroundings.

Hansueli Krapf / CC BY 2.5

H

Víti

A geothermal crater lake within the Askja caldera. Its mineral-rich, opaque blue water remains at a temperature of approximately 25°C, making it a natural site for bathing.

Hansueli Krapf / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Vesturhópsvatn

A lake in Northwest Iceland situated in the Húnaþing vestra municipality, known for its trout fishing and proximity to the Vatnsnes peninsula.

Tomasz Wisła / CC-BY-SA

J

Hítarvatn

Situated at the head of Hítardalur valley on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, this lake is surrounded by volcanic mountains and is used for trout fishing.

TommyBee / Public domain

K

Hestvatn

Located in the Suðurland region near the mountain Hestfjall, this lake occupies a depression in the Grímsnes og Grafningur municipality.

L

Blöndulón

At 57 km2, Blöndulón is one of Iceland's largest lakes. It was created in 1984-1991 as a reservoir for the Blönduvirkjun power plant, and…

M

Sultartangalón

The lake Sultartangarlón is situated in the Highlands of Iceland to the north of the volcano Hekla. It is a reservoir of the river Þjórsá.

Zelmira Rodriguez / CC-BY-SA

N

Reiðketilstjörn

A small lake located in the Húnaþing vestra municipality of Northwest Iceland.

Opani dk / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Öskjuvatn

Öskjuvatn is a lake in the Highlands of Iceland. Its surface area is about 11 km².

fingalo / CC BY-SA 2.0 de

P

Hálslón Reservoir

The Hálslón Reservoir is a storage reservoir in Eastern Iceland on the Jökulsá á Dal River.

Prosthetic Head / CC BY-SA 4.0

Q

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland. The spa is located in a lava field near Grindavík and in front of Mount…

R

Brimketill

A naturally carved basalt rock pool on the edge of the Reykjanes Peninsula, formed by the erosion of Atlantic waves against the volcanic coastline.

S

Stífluvatn

A reservoir in the Fljótin district of North Iceland, created to serve the Skeiðsfoss hydroelectric power station.

Other Lists

Iceland's Absolute Essentials Iceland's Editor's Choice Iceland's Hidden Gems Iceland's Natural Wonders Historic Icelandic Churches Icelandic Stays Iceland's Top Viewpoints Icelandic Camping Adventures Icelandic Landmarks and Coastal Sentinels Icelandic Museums & Galleries