Volcanic Crater Kerið - picturesque Lake at the "Golden Circle" in Iceland

Iceland. The volcanic crater Kerið in the southwest of Iceland is a picturesque crater with a bright blue crater lake in the middle. The steeply dropping slopes are made of red volcanic rock and are covered with lush green in some places. You can admire this color spectacle on a short round trip along the crater rim or down by the lake. A stopover is worthwhile. Here you can find out everything you need to know for your visit to Kerið Crater.

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Where is the volcanic Crater Kerið located?

The volcanic crater Kerið is part of the extended "Golden Circle" in the southwest of Iceland. So it is not far away from Reykjavik. Shortly before the town of Selfoss the road to Haukadalur (35) branches off the ring road. After 13 kilometers you reach the volcanic crater Kerið. A visit to the crater can be integrated with the other highlights of the Golden Circle in a day trip from Reykjavik .

"Golden Circle" - What is that?

The "Golden Circle" is a popular route for a day trip from Reykjavik in southwest Iceland. It includes three of the most famous sights of the island in a round trip of about 300 kilometers. The pure driving time is about 4-5 hours. The sights are: the former Thing site Þingvellir in the national park of the same name, the geothermal area Haukadalur with the geysers and the name-giving “goldene Wasserfall” Gullfoss. If you take Iceland's Golden Circle a little further, you will find the volcano crater Kerið, the hot springs around Laugarvatn and the former bishop's seat Skálholt .

The volcanic Crater Kerið in the Southwest of Iceland

Kerið is the easternmost of five craters in the Tjarnarhólar series. They all belong to the postglacial Grímsnes volcanic field and the eruption belt in the Reykjanes-Langjökull area. Between 5,000 and 6,500 years ago, the lava field Grímsneshraun with an area of 54 square kilometers was formed here from a total of 12 volcanoes. It is assumed that the lava under the solidified crater floor of Kerið flowed off after the eruptions. The crater floor then sank below the water table. Since the lake has no other inflow or outflow, the water level in the crater indicates the groundwater level.

Depth: 55 meters
Length and width: about 270 x 170 meters
Area: about 0.05 square kilometers
Water depth: between 7 and 14 meters

Walk around the volcanic Crater Kerið

The entrance to the volcanic crater Kerið is 400 ISK (2,50 Euro). Parking is free of charge. After a few meters you will reach a viewpoint with a view to the blue crater lake. From here you can walk along the circular path at the crater rim, which is about 900 meters. To the left of the viewing platform there are stairs leading down to the lake. If you also walk the lower circular path around the lake, you will extend your walk to about 1.5 kilometers.

The parking lot and the access to the crater are open around the clock. I was there all alone at about 8 o'clock in the evening on a rainy day. Even the ticket booth was closed.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

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