Geology of Myvatn

Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge and also a magma hotspot, which resulted in forming the island.  There is still volcanic activity in Iceland.  The middle of Iceland is the youngest, while the oldest parts, the coast line, have been pushed out over time.  The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is just a little to the east of Myvatn and this area has many volcanic features.

There are several of the pseudo-craters around Myvatn, especially by our research station.  They look like volcanic craters, but they are actually the result of boiling water bubbles forming and rising to the surface after the original lake (proto-Myvatn, they call it) was covered in lava.

Myvatn was first formed by glaciers and is very shallow.  It has been covered by lava at least once and is fed by geothermal hot springs.

This mountain is an example of a table top volcano.  This is what forms when a volcano erupts under a glacier and manages to melt through.

This is what happens when a volcano doesn't manage to melt through the glacier.  This is Vindbelgur, which is much smaller and sandier. It is right along the shore of Myvatn.