Kerið crater lake

In the south of Iceland is a spectacular volcanic crater lake, also called "The Eye of the World". Unlike the other craters in the region, the 3000-year-old Kerið crater lake is a true color wonder. The ferruginous volcanic rock glows in red hues, the lake inside is aquamarine-blue thanks to minerals, and the lush green vegetation spreads across the landscape like little dots of color. The sight is located in the Grímsnes area and is easily accessible as part of the popular Golden Circle route.

The crater lake was formed about 3000 years ago. Researchers assume that at that time it was a cone-shaped volcano. After an eruption, the magma chamber is thought to have emptied, causing the ground to collapse. Thus, Kerið crater was not formed by an explosion, as originally thought, but collapsed under its own weight, which actually makes it a caldera. The crater is about 55 meters deep, has a diameter of 170 meters and a circumference of 270 meters. The rich red of the rock is due partly to the quantity and partly to the age of the iron it contains. The rest of the craters in the region are twice as old as Kerið and the volcanic rock is black. The "fresher" the iron in the rock, the more bright reds can be detected. Much of the crater consists of steep rock faces with little vegetation. Alone one side is flatter and covered with green moss. The crater lake itself varies between 7-14 meters in depth and depends on the water table, which changes depending on the amount of rain and the season. The water gets its brilliant color from minerals in the ground, which mix with the water to create an almost neon blue. The nickname "The Eye of the World" comes from the shape of the crater, which looks like a human eye from a bird's eye view.

Kerið crater is only about 50 meters from the road and offers a parking lot, especially for the sight. Some Golden Circle tours stop here as a supplement to the three main attractions, and the crater can also be explored very well on your own. From Reykjavik, all you have to do is follow Ring Road for about 47 kilometers before turning onto Road No. 35. The owners of the property have been charging a small fee of 400 ISK (about 2-4 Euros) for some time now to maintain the crater and the landscape as well as the parking lot in the future. At the entrance you will also get a small brochure with the most important information about Kerið crater. Once you arrive, you can walk along the crater, take unique photos and even descend to the crater lake. You might even see the small silver fish hiding in the blue water. The best time to marvel at the crater's stunning colors is during the warmer summer months. However, it is worth visiting all year round, as the sight of the frozen and snow-covered crater is different, but at least as impressive. When it snows, however, make sure you have good footwear to avoid slipping on the narrow paths.

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