Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±

Reykjahlíð Church


During the Krafla eruption of 1727, the ³¢±ð¾±°ù³ó²ÔÂáú°ì³Ü°ù crater, 11km northeast of Reykjahlíð, kicked off a two-year period of volcanic activity, sending streams of lava along old glacial moraines towards the lakeshore. On 27 August 1729 the flow ploughed through the village, destroying farms and buildings, but amazingly (some would say miraculously) the wooden church was spared when the flow parted, missing the church by only metres. It was rebuilt on its original foundation in 1876, then again in 1962.


Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Eldhraun

0.29 MILES

The lava field along Mývatn’s northern lakeshore includes the flow that nearly engulfed the Reykjahlíð Church. It was belched out of ³¢±ð¾±°ù³ó²ÔÂáú°ì³Ü°ù during…

2. ³§³Ùó°ù²¹²µÂáá

0.68 MILES

Signposted about 100m beyond Reykjahlíð is ³§³Ùó°ù²¹²µÂáá, a rather eerie fissure (slightly tricky to access) that was once a popular bathing spot. Cooling…

3. ³Ò°ùÂáó³Ù²¹²µÂáá

1.67 MILES

Game of Thrones fans may recognise this as the place where Jon Snow is, ahem, deflowered by Ygritte. ³Ò°ùÂáó³Ù²¹²µÂáá is a gaping fissure with a 45°C water…

4. Bjarnarflag

1.76 MILES

Bjarnarflag, 3km east of Reykjahlíð, is an active geothermal area where the earth hisses and bubbles, and steaming vents line the valley. Historically the…

5. Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum

2.53 MILES

For superb birdwatching background, visit Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum, housed in a beautiful lakeside building that fuses modern design with traditional turf…

6. ±·Ã¡³¾²¹´ÚÂá²¹±ô±ô

2.81 MILES

Vaporous vents cover the pinky-orange ±·Ã¡³¾²¹´ÚÂá²¹±ô±ô ridge, which lies 3km east of Bjarnarflag on the south side of the Ring Road. Produced by a fissure…

7. Hverfjall

2.98 MILES

Dominating the lava fields on the eastern edge of Mývatn is the classic tephra ring Hverfjall (also called Hverfell). This near-symmetrical crater…

8. Hverir

3.12 MILES

The magical, ochre-toned world of Hverir (also called Hverarönd) is a lunar-like landscape of mud cauldrons, steaming vents, radiant mineral deposits and…