Eldhraun

Eldhraun: Lava fields

Eldhraun is a large lava area formed by the eruption of the Laki volcano in 1783-1784. This unique natural phenomenon covers an area of more than 600 square kilometres. Making it one of the largest lava fields in the world.

Even when you drive through here, you will admire the beautiful landscape covered with green moss vegetation. Covering the lava flows are thick mosses that have developed due to the humid climate and provide a home for a variety of plants and animals.

We hadn’t originally planned to visit this place at all, but it appealed to us so much as we drove along Ring Road that we stopped at one of the viewpoints to find out more about this wonderful place.

Where is Eldhraun located?

Eldhraun is located approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Reynisfjara Beach, which is about a 30-minute drive. If you’re planning to visit Eldhraun, choose from a number of hiking trails that will take you into the heart of this special place.

There are several different paths, and a walk can take anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours. Along the way you can enjoy scenic views of the surrounding hills and fascinating lava formations.

Sunset

We arrived here just as the sun was touching the ground, so there was little light. However, we could watch it slowly disappear behind the hills as the lava field gradually plunged into darkness.
Therefore, we chose a shorter route, as we knew that we would still enjoy the lava fields in the vicinity of Mývatn, specifically Dimmuborgir. But unless you are going all the way to the north of the island, don’t miss the opportunity to walk on the hardened lava and admire its creations.