Krýsuvík | mountain, volcano, hot spring

 mountain, volcano, hot spring

The geothermal area Krýsuvík is situated on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland. It is in the south of Reykjanes in the middle of the fissure zone on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which traverses Iceland diagonally from the south-west to the north-east of the island.

Krýsuvík is one of Iceland's high temperature areas. This becomes visible through the sulphur springs and hot springs at Seltún and another similar area nearby.

At Seltún, one finds by now some explanations to the phenomena to see, a wooden show path and hiking trails leading up the mountain Sveifluháls behind.


The biggest lake in the area, Kleifarvatn, began to diminish after a big earthquake in 2000; 20% of its surface has since disappeared.

Some of the minor lakes show also the influence of volcanism, so for example Grænavatn with its luminous green colour.

In this area, there had been some farms till the 19th century. But they had to be given up. Only a small chapel, Krísuvíkurkirkja built in 1857, remains and can be visited.

Volcano Krísuvík 379 m. 63.93 N, 22.10 W