Dimmuborgir

About this place

Dimmuborgir is a field of strangely shaped lava east of Lake Mývatn, and its name means dark castles. Its pillars and caves recall a collapsed old citadel, and it is among Iceland's most visited natural sights, partly because walking here is easy compared with other lava areas. It formed about 2,300 years ago, when a lava lake from a large eruption pooled over wet ground. The water boiled and steam rose through the lava, creating hollow pillars. The lava then flowed on toward Mývatn, the top crust collapsed, and the pillars stayed standing. The tallest show that the lake was at least 10 metres deep. You walk on surfaced paths between black pillars and rock arches, with small birch trees turning green around them in summer. The best-known forms include a wide arch you can look through to the sky, and a cave called Kirkjan, the church. Distant mountains stand behind the field on clear days. In winter snow on the rocks makes it stranger still. The field is 6 km in a straight line south of Reykjahlíð and 56.7 km east of Akureyri. There are short and longer trails, so choose what suits you. Keep to the paths, as plants and ground are fragile and cracks are dangerous. Bring a jacket and closed shoes. Mývatn's midges can be heavy in summer, so a head net helps.