Víti Crater
Víti is a circular explosion crater within the Krafla volcanic area of North Iceland, filled with a striking blue-green geothermal lake and surrounded by steaming ground and vivid geological colour. It sits close to Lake Myvatn and is one of the most accessible and visually dramatic volcanic craters in the country. Note that there are two craters named Víti in Iceland: this page covers the one at Krafla, not the more remote version at Askja in the central highlands.
A Volcanic Explosion Crater in the Heart of the Krafla Geothermal Area
Víti, meaning "Hell" in Icelandic, formed during the opening eruption of the Myvatn Fires in 1724, a period of intense volcanic activity in the Krafla fissure zone that continued for several years. The explosion blasted a crater roughly 300 metres across, which has since filled with a milky blue-green geothermal lake. The vivid colour comes from dissolved minerals in the geothermally heated water, and the surrounding slopes are streaked with sulphur deposits and active steam vents that make the volcanic forces here feel very close to the surface. The Krafla volcanic system remains one of the most active in Iceland, with the most recent eruptions occurring between 1975 and 1984 during a period known as the Krafla Fires.
Víti is easy to reach and takes very little time to visit, which makes it a natural addition to a day spent exploring the wider Myvatn area. A short path from the car park leads to the crater rim, where the views down into the lake and across the surrounding geothermal landscape are immediate and striking. The crater is a viewing site only: swimming is not permitted here, unlike at the other Víti crater at Askja in the central highlands. The area is part of the broader Krafla geothermal zone, which also includes the Leirhnjukur lava fields, still warm underfoot from the 1984 eruption, and the Námaskarð geothermal area with its boiling mud pools and steaming fumaroles.
Víti at Krafla sits about 8 kilometres north of Lake Myvatn along Route 863. It pairs naturally with the Myvatn Nature Baths, Dimmuborgir lava formations, and Skútustaðir pseudo craters as part of a full day in the area. For those following the Diamond Circle route in North Iceland, it is one of the most rewarding short detours along the way. The road to the crater is paved and accessible to all vehicles during the summer months.
