Discover South Iceland
Glaciers – Geysirs – Volcanoes – Mountains – Waterfalls

Towns : Laugarvatn

Laugarvatn is a shallow lake, about 2 km2 in size, and is located midway between Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir, 100 km from Reykjavík. Under its floor there are hot springs which heat the lake so that it is warm and suitable for bathing all year round. On its bank is a village of over 300 inhabitants, also named Laugarvatn.

Early bishops of Skálholt baptized their Christian converts in Vígðalaug spring on the bank of Laugarvatn Lake when Christianity was adopted in Iceland in the year 1000. Several small rivers and streams flow into the lake which is connected to a much larger lake, Apavatn through the river Hólaá.

The Laugarvatnsfjall Mountain with its birch-covered slopes on the west both shelters the village and adds to the charm and beauty of the place. Between the mountain and the lake, north of the village, there is a panoramic point (Hringsjá) from which there is good view over the lake and its surroundings. In addition, amongst the green hills and woods north of the lake the area is suitable for camping, pony-trekking and hiking. Nearby you will find a lot of marked hiking routes.

There are possibilities to hire a boat or a sailboard to use at lake Laugarvatn. Just outside Laugarvatn there is a golf course and the possibilities of angling in waters and rivers in the area. It is known as a popular tourist resort in Iceland, and also as the site for educational institutions like the secondary grammar school of Laugarvatn.

Restaurant Lindin at Laugarvatn

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