Dimmuborgir – the Dark Fortress at Mývatn are a true wonder of nature and nowhere else to be seen in the world, i.e on dry land. Dimmuborgir consist of huge lava rock formations which make you feel like you stepped into another world – a world of fairy-tales.
Nearby places: Höfði, Jarðböðin, Vindbelgingur, Hverarönd, Skútustaðagígar
The formation of these extraordinary lava cliffs and pillars is caused by lava ponds, i.e. the hot lava streamed over these ponds trapping the water underneath the lava. Steam issued through vent in the lava pools and formed these pillars, which then remained standing even after the crust around them had gone away.
The rocks are brittle and fragile because of how they came to be made, so there is no climbing in them.
There are several bird species in Dimmuborgir which should not be disturbed, f.ex. the falcon, so it is very important to keep to the paths and not walk on roped-in areas, which are roped in for the protection of the vegetation.
Several hiking routes have been marked out in this area of spectacular lava formations. At all crossings you will find a map of the area which indicates where you are. Most are easy to walk. The small circle takes about 30 min to walk but the big circle that takes you to the well known “church” formation takes about 1 hour.