Highlands
Askja Caldera
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.
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.
Key Facts
Víti crater lake — 'Víti' means Hell in Icelandic
1875 eruption triggered mass emigration from Iceland
NASA trained Apollo astronauts here in 1965
Accessible only by super jeep expedition in summer
Caldera lake Öskjuvatn is over 200 meters deep
Tours & Activities near Askja Caldera
Iceland: See & Experience it ALL in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours
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