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Modified 26-Jul-15
Created 20-Jul-15
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"Vatn" means lake in Icelandic, while "My" means midges: "Midge Lake", a name we found to be fully appropriate! Myvatn is one of the largest lakes by area in Iceland but is relatively shallow. The early Myvatn was formed since the last ice age as a glacial lake by flooding of a volcanic basin. Subsequent lava flows dammed in Myvatn and a number of adjacent lakes. Myvatn is surrounded by a large number of extinct/dormant volcanoes and geothermal features, and the region (Myvatn + Krafla) remains quite volcanically active. Included among the volcanic remnants are Hverfjall on the east side and Vindbelgjarfjall on the west side. The pseudocraters, the Hof∂i lava pillars and the Dimmuborgir lava caves. Myvatn is also a hugely productive area of international importance for breeding wildfowl, both in the lake and in its Laxa river outlet. Many warm and cold springs replenish Myvatn and so many parts of the lake do not freeze, allowing ducks to remain year round. Because of all these factors, it is one of the major touristic destinations along the Diamond Circle in N. Iceland.
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