Merveilles naturelles à Mýrdalshreppur

Iceland's Natural Wonders

This selection of geological landmarks in the Mýrdalur region showcases the diverse terrain of South Iceland. It includes the subglacial Katla volcano and its associated glacier tongues, Sólheimajökull and Klifurárjökull. The list features prominent tuff mountains like the 340-meter-high Reynisfjall ridge and the former island of Pétursey, alongside the moss-covered Mælifell. These sites illustrate the region's volcanic history and the ongoing impact of glacial movement on the landscape.

Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0

Reynisfjall

A 340-meter-high tuff mountain ridge overlooking the village of Vík and the Reynisfjara black sand beach. The cliffs serve as a nesting site for Atlantic puffins during the summer.

Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0

Katla Volcano

Katla is an active volcano in southern Iceland. This particular volcano has been very active historically with at least twenty documented…

Remundargilsfossi

A waterfall located within the Remundargil canyon, situated to the east of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Huldufoss

A waterfall situated in the rural landscape north of the village of Vík í Mýrdal.

Ira Goldstein / CC BY-SA 3.0

Pétursey

A 275-meter-high tuff mountain that functioned as an island during periods of higher sea levels. It is located on the coastal plain west of Vík.

Mælifell

A conical tuff mountain rising 200 meters above the Mælifellssandur black sand desert. It is characterized by its thick coating of bright green moss.

Klifurárjökull

An outlet glacier descending from the southern part of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap.

Sólheimajökull

Sólheimajökull is a glacier in southern Iceland, between the volcanoes Katla and Eyjafjallajökull.