Krýsuvík

Southwest of Lake Kleifarvatn, the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula lies the high temperature geothermal field of Seltún in Krýsuvík. Sulphuric water and gases have created colorful deposits, the soil is colored in green, yellow and red colors.

Visit Krýsuvík - Warning

Visitors can wonder at hissing solfataras, fumaroles and boiling mud pots, where the soil is mixed with acid. Be careful not to leave the marked path because the water, mud and steam are dangerously hot. Sulfur was once mined at Krýsuvík and there is a distinctive smell of sulfur in the air—like rotten eggs but if you can ignore the stench, the geothermal area is a real delight.

Nearby attractions

Close to Krýsuvík is Grænavatn, an explosion crater with a green colored lake in it, Grænavatn or „Green Lake“. The lake is green due to geothermal algae present in the water that gives it the greenish color. Krýsuvík is located in a volcanicly active are and one of the most recent volcanic eruption in Iceland began on the 19th of March 2021 at Fagradalsfjall, only a few kilometers to the west from Krýsuvík. This eruption attracted thousands of visitors as it was reasonably easily accessible and less than an hour´s drive from Reykjavík. The eruption lasted for about 6 months. Only a few kilometers to the south west from Krýsuvík is Krýsuvíkurbjarg, which is about 15 kilometer long sea cliff and up to 40 meters tall, situated on the south coast of the Reykjanesskagi Peninsula. It is one of the largest sea cliffs in Europe, with rich birdlife in summer and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds, - however not many Puffins. The rough trail off road 427 to the cliff is about 3 kilometers long and a 4x4 vehicle is recommended for driving. At the end of the trail is a car park from where there is a short walk to the cliff. From the cliffs edge, there is a high drop down into the ocean or to a rocky seashore so visitors are urged to be careful and to carefully watch their steps near to the edge.