About

Kleifarvatn is a large lake located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, approximately 30 km southeast of Reykjavík. It is Iceland's third-deepest lake, reaching 97 metres at its deepest point, and covers an area of around 8–10 km² depending on water levels. The lake has no visible outlet — water drains through underground fissures and fractures in the porous volcanic bedrock. This geological quirk makes Kleifarvatn's water level highly variable. After the 2000 earthquakes in the region, large cracks opened beneath the lake and it lost nearly 20% of its surface area within months. It has since partially refilled. The landscape around Kleifarvatn is starkly beautiful: black sand shores, jagged lava fields, volcanic craters and steaming geothermal vents at nearby Seltún. The area is part of the active Reykjanes volcanic zone, and hikers often explore trails around the lake and through the surrounding highlands. Kleifarvatn is accessible year-round via Route 42 and is a popular stop on Reykjanes Peninsula tours. The lake is also known for good trout fishing.

📖 Story

Kleifarvatn is Iceland's third-deepest lake at 97 metres, yet it has no visible river or stream flowing out. The water drains through underground fissures in the volcanic bedrock — and after a major earthquake in 2000, the lake suddenly shrank, losing nearly half its water as new cracks opened beneath. Over the following years it slowly refilled. The lake's dark waters, surrounded by barren lava fields and steaming geothermal vents, give it an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere. It feels like a place where Iceland's volcanic forces are still very much alive.

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