description Leirhnjúkur Overview
Leirhnjúkur is an active geothermal area within Iceland’s Krafla caldera. It features numerous mudpots fueled by subsurface heat and volcanic activity. The site gained prominence due to its association with the 1975-1984 Krafla Fires, where lava continued to emit steam. Geologists and volcanologists study this landscape to understand ongoing geothermal processes and the effects of past eruptions.
It’s a location for observation of Iceland's dynamic geology.
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Leirhnjúkur ranks #11 of 289 in the Mudpot ranking, behind Hverir Mudpots, ahead of Fountain Paint Pot.
help Leirhnjúkur FAQ
Is Leirhnjukur a volcano or a geothermal field?
Leirhnjukur is a volcanic and geothermal area within the Krafla caldera in northern Iceland. Visitors encounter steaming ground, mudpots, sulfur deposits, craters, and relatively young lava flows in the same landscape.
What were the Krafla Fires at Leirhnjukur?
The Krafla Fires were a series of rifting and volcanic events from 1975 to 1984. Lava erupted repeatedly near Leirhnjukur as the crust pulled apart along Iceland's active plate boundary.
Can visitors walk on the lava at Leirhnjukur?
Marked trails cross parts of the dark lava field and geothermal terrain. Visitors need to remain on the paths because thin crust, boiling mud, steam vents, and unstable ground can cause severe injury.
How is Leirhnjukur related to Lake Myvatn and Viti crater?
Leirhnjukur lies in the Krafla volcanic area northeast of Lake Myvatn. It is close to Krafla's Viti explosion crater, so both sites are commonly visited on the same northern Iceland route.
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