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Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge

About Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge

Hafravatn is a relatively shallow lake (maximum depth c. 5m) fed by springs in the surrounding lava. The water is unusually clear — a consequence of the natural volcanic rock filtration — and on a calm day the bottom is visible even at depth. The lake is part of the Heiðmörk outdoor recreation area, a 3,000-hectare reserve that also includes the neighbouring Elliðavatn lake, extensive forest plantations and lava fields. Trails from the lake connect to the broader network of the Bláfjöll mountains to the south. Summer activities include fishing (permit required, available from Reykjavík municipality), kayaking (no motor boats), birdwatching, and a circuit walk around the lake (approximately 5 km). In winter, the area is used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions allow.

🐉 Reykjavík's Green Lung

Fifty years of tree-planting in the barren lava around Hafravatn has created something that should have been impossible — a genuine forest in one of the most treeless countries on Earth.

📖 History of Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge

The Heiðmörk reserve was established in the 1950s under the direction of Reykjavík's city council, which began an ambitious tree-planting programme to green the barren lava landscape around the capital. Over 70 years, the planting has transformed the area from bare lava to genuine woodland. The lakes were stocked with fish as part of a broader programme to create recreational facilities for the expanding city.

💡 Did You Know?

Iceland is one of the most sparsely forested countries in Europe — only about 2% of the land is covered by trees, compared to a pre-settlement cover of 25–40%. Most of Iceland's forest was cleared by early settlers for firewood and farming.

Key Facts

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Part of Heiðmörk nature reserve — 3,000 hectares

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Stocked with Arctic char and trout

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5 km walking circuit around the lake

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8 km from central Reykjavík

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No motor boats allowed

💎 Hidden Gems

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Evening Rise Fishing

On calm summer evenings (21:00–23:00 in June when it stays light), the Arctic char in Hafravatn visibly rise to the surface in the shallows — even non-fishers find this strangely hypnotic to watch.

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The Forest That Shouldn't Exist

Standing in the mature birch and spruce woodland around the south shore of Hafravatn and realising you're in Iceland — the most treeless country in Europe — is a genuinely disorienting but lovely experience.