Reykjahlíð

The village of Reykjahlíð has approximately 300 inhabitants and is situated on the shores of Lake Mývatn in the north of Iceland. It is the seat of the municipality of Skútustaðahreppur.

Reykjahlíð
Village
Location of the Municipality of Skútustaðahreppur
Reykjahlíð
Location in Iceland
Coordinates: 65°38′37″N 16°54′31″W
Country Iceland
Constituency[1]Northeast Constituency
Region[2]Northeastern Region
Municipality Skútustaðahreppur
Population
 (2008)
 • Total300
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
Postal code
660
WebsiteOfficial website

Overview

During the so-called Mývatn fires, caused by the eruption of the nearby volcano Krafla in 1729, the village was destroyed by a lava stream. However, the inhabitants were saved when the lava flow stopped in front of the village church on higher ground, allegedly as the result of the prayers of the village priest. The church is still there, although the present building dates from 1972.

Main sights

From Reykjahlíð, it is possible to go to many sights in the area, most notably Krafla. The volcano last erupted in 1984, but the vapour of a warm lava field and of sulphur springs can still be seen. Not far from there is the crater Víti (meaning "hell" in Icelandic), but looking today rather harmless with a blue lake at its bottom. Its apparent tranquility belies the fact that its last eruption was as recent as 1976.

Other interesting places are on the lake itself, like the volcano Hverfjall, the pseudo-craters of Skútusstaðir and Dimmuborgir (a strange lava formation).

A local airport provides sightseeing during the summer.

A plant for extraction and processing of diatomite was a main point in local economy until 2004 when it was shut down.

Mývatn Nature Baths opened on 30 June 2004.

Climate

Reykjahlíð features a tundra climate (Köppen climate classification: ET), bordering on a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfc).

Climate data for Reykjahlíð (1961-1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.4
(48.9)		 10.5
(50.9)		 10.9
(51.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 23.3
(73.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.0
(75.2)		 19.0
(66.2)		 15.2
(59.4)		 11.0
(51.8)		 10.6
(51.1)		 25.6
(78.1)
Average high °C (°F) −1.8
(28.8)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 3.0
(37.4)		 7.6
(45.7)		 12.3
(54.1)		 14.2
(57.6)		 12.9
(55.2)		 8.1
(46.6)		 3.6
(38.5)		 0.0
(32.0)		 −1.4
(29.5)		 4.8
(40.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.8
(23.4)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 4.0
(39.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 9.9
(49.8)		 9.0
(48.2)		 4.8
(40.6)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 1.4
(34.5)
Average low °C (°F) −8.4
(16.9)		 −7.6
(18.3)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 0.6
(33.1)		 4.5
(40.1)		 6.4
(43.5)		 5.6
(42.1)		 1.9
(35.4)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −6.1
(21.0)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 −2.0
(28.4)
Record low °C (°F) −30.5
(−22.9)		 −26.6
(−15.9)		 −30.9
(−23.6)		 −25.7
(−14.3)		 −16.1
(3.0)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −11.5
(11.3)		 −17.1
(1.2)		 −26.0
(−14.8)		 −27.5
(−17.5)		 −30.9
(−23.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33.4
(1.31)		 26.2
(1.03)		 32.5
(1.28)		 25.4
(1.00)		 20.1
(0.79)		 32.3
(1.27)		 47.4
(1.87)		 45.6
(1.80)		 44.1
(1.74)		 46.2
(1.82)		 43.4
(1.71)		 38.0
(1.50)		 435.0
(17.13)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.2 6.5 8.2 6.8 5.1 7.0 8.9 8.2 8.1 9.9 9.7 9.9 96.8
Source: Icelandic Met Office[3]

Photogallery
  • Panoramic view
  • Víti crater
  • Diatomite plant
  • Nature Baths
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See also

Notes and references
  1. Political division
  2. Mainly statistical division
  3. "Reykjahlíð 1961-1990 Averages". Icelandic Meteorological Office. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
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