Askja Caldera
Askja is a remote volcanic caldera in the central Highlands containing the stunning Víti explosion crater lake. The landscape is so alien that NASA used it to t…
About
About Askja Caldera
Askja is a remote volcanic caldera in the central Highlands containing the stunning Víti explosion crater lake. The landscape is so alien that NASA used it to train Apollo astronauts for the Moon.
Apollo astronauts trained here for moon landing
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Photo Gallery
Background
History & Background
In March 1875 Askja erupted catastrophically, sending a massive column of ash over Iceland and parts of Scandinavia. The eruption was so devastating — killing livestock and ruining farmland across northeastern Iceland — that it triggered a wave of emigration, with thousands of Icelanders leaving for North America. NASA selected Askja and its surroundings as lunar training grounds in 1965 because the black basalt lava desert closely resembles the Moon's surface. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin trained here before the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Askja is a dramatic volcanic caldera in the remote Icelandic Highlands, accessible only via rugged F-roads in summer. The main attractions are two crater lakes: the large Öskjuvatn (Iceland's deepest at 220 meters) formed in the catastrophic 1875 eruption, and the smaller Víti, a geothermal crater with warm turquoise water where bathing is possible via a steep descent. NASA sent Apollo astronauts here in the 1960s to train for the moon landing due to the resemblance to lunar terrain.
Folklore
Story & Folklore
Askja is one of Iceland's most dramatic volcanic calderas — a 50 km² collapse caldera in the highlands of the Ódáðahraun desert, accessible only from July to September via F-roads. Within the main caldera sits the smaller Öskjuvatn, Iceland's deepest lake (220m), and the Viti explosion crater — a perfect circle of milky blue water created in the catastrophic 1875 eruption. Bathing in Viti's warm geothermal water requires a short scramble down the crater wall; the contrast between floating in pale blue water inside a volcanic crater in the middle of Iceland's highlands is one of Iceland's most extraordinary experiences. The 1875 eruption deposited ash across Scandinavia and helped trigger mass emigration to Canada.
💡 Did You Know?
Öskjuvatn is Iceland's deepest lake at 220 meters
Local Legend
Legends of Askja Caldera
Askja Caldera has been part of Icelandic folklore for generations. Local tales speak of hidden people (huldufólk) and other supernatural beings who inhabit the area. According to tradition, this place deserves respect and visitors should be mindful of the ancient spirits who call it home.
Explore
Hidden Gems Nearby
✦ Lava Formations Close-Up
Look carefully at the lava formations near Askja Caldera — each tells a story of how it cooled.
Rope lava, pillow lava, and columnar basalt each formed under different conditions, creating a geological textbook in stone.
✦ Moss & Lichens
The moss and lichen growing on the volcanic rock are some of the first life to colonize new lava fields.
Some of these organisms grow less than 1cm per year, meaning the patches you see may be decades or centuries old.
✦ Sunset Colors
The volcanic rock takes on incredible red and gold hues during sunset.
The iron-rich minerals in the lava glow in warm light, creating a photographer's paradise.
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