Hverir Geothermal Area in North Iceland

Mud Pools at Hverir in Myvatn, North Iceland

Nestled in the untamed beauty of North Iceland lies a geothermal wonderland like no other. Hverir Geothermal Area, also known as Námafjall, is a captivating landscape that immerses visitors in a symphony of bubbling mud pots, hissing fumaroles, and vibrant mineral-rich earth.

It’s easy to see why Iceland is nicknamed the Land of Fire and Ice. While Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in the South embodies the ice, Hverir embodies the fire to absolute perfection.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a place like this in Iceland, I’ve seen a very similar geothermal area called Seltun but Hverir is significantly larger and even more impressive. (I don’t always subscribe to the motto ‘bigger is better’ but on this occasion I do!).

Geothermal area of Hverir in North Iceland

Unveiling the Geothermal Marvels of Hverir

As you approach Hverir, a surreal sight unfolds before your eyes. Smoke bellows from earth, and the ground is tinged with hues of red, yellow, brown and grey, creating an otherworldly palette against the backdrop of rugged mountains. The air is thick with the scent of sulfur, a telltale sign of the geothermal activity that permeates the area.

Once you step out into the open air, your senses are immediately heightened. You only need to see the large volume of steam emitting from the ground to know this is a high-temperature area and one you should take with caution. But before stepping close enough to feel the heat, the smell hits you first – it REEKS of rotten eegs!

However, call me crazy but I love the smell. I spotted a few people covering their noses with the sleeve of their jacket, but not me. I relish filling my lungs with that eggy Icelandic whiff. 

Exploring the area, you’ll encounter an array of mesmerizing geothermal features. The bubbling mud pots, resembling boiling cauldrons, gurgle and belch, creating a symphony of natural sounds. The earth hisses and steams as hot steam vents escape through fissures in the ground, adding to the mystical atmosphere. The landscape feels alive, as if nature itself is breathing and pulsating beneath your feet.

Hverir Geothermal Area in North Iceland

Various colours of reds and bright yellows made from sulphur-stained earth can be seen on closer inspection of the ground. The colours and various textures and patterns were stunning. Some of the mud had thickened and cracked like the top layer of a chocolate brownie, whilst hotter areas bubbled like a pan of gravy over a hot stove.

Sulphur deposits at Hverir Geothermal Area in Myvatn, North Iceland

Hverir geothermal field in North Iceland

Make sure to wear good boots, as it can be rather muddy!

Mud pools at Hverir, North Iceland

Bubbling mud pools at Hverir geothermal area in Myvatn, North Iceland

Fact of the day: In previous centuries sulphur was mined in Iceland to create gun powder.

Tips when travelling to Hverir

  • Wear good footwear, preferably boots because the ground can be very muddy and sticky.
  • Remember to clean your camera lens afterwards because it’s likely to get steamed up. I didn’t realise this happened to my lens and it affected the rest of my photos for the day.
  • Hverir is also known as Namafjall which you might see on road signs.
  • Located in the Myvatn area of North Iceland, Hverir is one of several attractions that display the sheer force of Icelandic volcanism in all its tantalizing glory. All within a few minutes drive of each other are the tuff ring volcano of Hverfjall, the weird rock formations of Dimmu Borgir, Viti Crater and Grjótagjá lava cave which you can bathe inside during the winter –  in the summer it’s considered a tad too hot so be warned!

Hverir Geothermal Area in North Iceland

How to get there

As I imagine many of you will be staying in Akureyri since it’s the largest city in North Iceland, I’ll use it as a starting point.

By Car:
Head east on the Ring Road (Route 1) toward Lake Mývatn.

Follow the Ring Road until you reach the junction with Road 1, and then head south on Road 1 for a short distance before turning onto Road 848 towards Lake Mývatn.

Continue on Road 848 until you reach the Lake Mývatn area, and then follow signs to Hverir.

Distance: 87 km.

Driving time: approx 1 hour 10 mins.

For car hire, I recommend comparing prices and booking with rental cars.com

Nearby accommodation

In the Mývatn area, I recommend staying at Hotel Laxa. It’s modern, clean and has some great views of the landscape.

Sel Hotel Mývatn is also good option. I think the best part about this hotel is view of the pseudo-craters in front. In the region you might also want to look at cabin accommodation, I saw quite a few but I’ve not personally stayed in any myself so I’m not able to make a personal recommendation.

If you’d prefer to be among city attractions, I recommend staying at Berjaya Iceland Hotel in Akureyri.

Namafjall Geothermal Area in Iceland

Are you planning a trip to this surreal site in North Iceland?

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Hi, I'm Shing

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11 Responses

  1. SHING YOONG – You and your representation is a real beauty. One day I will need a personality like you are to represent my invention concerning fresh water and energy supply for the people on earth. With best regards, Olafur Jonsson

    1. Hello Olafur, what a lovely comment! I’d love to know more about your project – anything that has the world’s best interest at heart is a very worthy cause!

      1. KVIK a film company is making a documentary about my invention. We were in Inner Mongolia, China, last March filming
        til coal mines and the coal power plants. We were also sailing on the Yangtze river and filming the Three Gorges Power Plant.
        We are now preparing some 5 minutes introduction film. If you give me your email then I can send you some more information,
        My invention is a combination of hydro power plant and geothermal plant. I am Icelandic but most of my time I spend in China.
        Zhongshan is a very beautiful city in China. Zhongshan is one of the most clean and beautiful cities in China. The last several months I have been here in Iceland. Kvik has been filming the power plants on Reykjanes Peninsula and the Geothermal power plant at Hellisheidi. I like very much to follow you travelling around in the world. We will soon go to the Read Sea and film there.
        With best regards to you and a wish that you will be lucky on you travelling around in the world. With love from Iceland, Olafur Jonsson

  2. When I read the title and saw the first photo I was wondering are you gonna say anything about the smell, cause I’ve been to something similar in the Philippines and all I can think of when thinking about it, besides the beauty, is THE STINK. But unlike you, I didn’t like it at all. 🙂

      1. It’s a Taal lake – real phenomenon, since it is a lake that’s situated in the volcano crater that’s already in the lake. Check out the photos – it’s really one of the craziest creatures of the mother nature.

  3. i really have to get to northern iceland one of these days. ill settle for anywhere in iceland really. i feel so nature deprived here in frankfurt and id totally kill for the smell of sulphur over the ones that crackpipes emit any day…. awesome photos 🙂

    1. North Iceland is amaaaaazing Megan! In the summertime there’s a 4×4 bus that drives through the highlands, right through the middle of the country, connecting Reykjavik with Akureyri – you should definitely look into that route if you are planning a visit!

  4. Once upon a time Alexander the Great conquered so many lands to reach the edge of the world. But now I think he had to conquer Iceland to achieve his goal 🙂

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