Steps from the dramatic geothermal area at Krýsuvík/Seltún lies the sweeping blue expanse of Kleifarvatn Lake. Nestled below a steep mountain on Reykjanes/ Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark – Iceland, the seemingly deserted space is an attractive spot for a quiet walk. A small path circles the lake, jogging around water’s edge and over small black lava rocks.
Not only is this picturesque lake the largest on the Reykjanes Peninsula, it is also said to be inhabited by a serpent like monster. Another unique feature of this incredibly deep lake (97 m – 318 feet — at its deepest point) is that it has no visible surface drainage, meaning no rivers run to or from it. Because of this, the water level only changes with the ground water, which has varied almost 4 metres (13 feet) in a few decades. After the earthquake of 2000, a fissure formed below the lake and it started to drain quickly. But the fissure has since refilled and the lake has returned to its previous levels. Today, Kleifarvatn Lake is an attraction for walkers, hikers, birdwatchers, and fishermen seeking the trout that thrive in its waters.