List of lakes of Iceland

Iceland has over 20 lakes larger than 10 km2 (4 sq mi), and at least 40 others varying between 2.5 and 10 km2 (1 to 4 sq mi) in size. This list also includes a few smaller lakes and ponds that are considered notable (for example Tjörnin in Reykjavik). The figures for many of the smaller lakes are unreliable. Also, some larger lakes vary considerably in size between years or seasons or, for the reservoirs, according to the needs of power plants. Some power plant reservoirs may not be present despite being larger than listed lakes.

Larger lakes (>10 km2) Name Volume Area Depth NotesGigalitres Billion cu ft km2mi2mftÞórisvatn Hydroelectric reservoir, south central IcelandÞingvallavatn Named for Þingvellir, site of ancient parliament Hálslón Reservoir for the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant. The maximum depth of 180 m is reached in late summer when the reservoir fills up and excess water starts to flow over through the spillway. In winter, the surface elevation, and thus the maximum depth, of the lake drops by approximately 45 m. In a very dry year a further drop of 20 m is expected, meaning that the depth of the lake at its deepest point can vary between 115 m and 180 m. Blöndulón Hydroelectric reservoir, N Iceland, named for R Blanda Lagarfljót (Lögurinn) Hydroelectric reservoir, largest lake in E Iceland and the largest longitudinal lake in Icelandin a valley probably arising from a geological fault;fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull Hágöngulón Natural lake in Highlands, again fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull Mývatn Tourist and ornithological honeypot, N Iceland Hóp Tidal lagoon on the bay Húnaflói in N Iceland (area varies tidally) Hvítárvatn Natural lake in the Highlands, fed by meltwater from Langjökull to which it is adjacent Langisjór Another longitudinal lake fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull Kvíslavatn Another lake in the Highlands, but unusual in that it is in a low-lying flat area and is marshy in nature. One of the sources of the Þjórsá. Sultartangalón Reservoir further down the Þjórsá valley Jökulsárlón (Iceland's deepest)(1999 estimate - size and depth increasing because of glacier melting)Glacial lagoon Grænalón Skorradalsvatn Sigöldulón (also known as "Krókslón") Apavatn Heiðarlón This is a planned hydroelectric reservoir near the mouth of the Þjórsá. Svínavatn Öskjuvatn Vesturhópsvatn In N Iceland near Hóp (see above) Höfðavatn Coastal lagoon in N Iceland Grímsvötn A lake that forms in the caldera of the subglacial volcano of the same name. On one theory, the meaning of the name is "Odin’s lake", although several other explanations are possible, given that Grímur is a common man's name in Iceland. Hestvatn Small reservoir in SW Iceland (6 km2) ("Horse lake")

Smaller lakes (<10 km2)

Litlisjór, 9.2 km2, 17 m Kleifarvatn, 9.0 km2, >90 m (sensitive to climatic and geological change and was getting smaller - started recovering again in 2004) Breiðárlón, 8 km2 Reyðarvatn, 8.3 km2 Hítarvatn, 7.6 km2, 24 m Miklavatn (Fljót), 7.4 km2 Miklavatn (Borgarsveit), 6.6 km2, 23 m Árneslón, 6.5 km2, 116 m Sigríðarstaðavatn, 6.2 km2 Laxárvatn, 6.0 km2 Íshólsvatn, 5.2 km2, 39 m Úlfljótsvatn, 60 m Langavatn, 5.1 km2, 36 m Ánavatn, 4.9 km2, 24 m Hagalón, 4.6 km2, 116 m Hlíðarvatn, 4.4 km2, 21 m Arnarvatn hið stóra, 4.3 km2 Þríhyrningsvatn, 4.3 km2, 33 m Hvalvatn, 4.1 km2, 160–180 m Másvatn, 4.0 km2, 17 m Fjallsárlón, 4.0 km2 Skjálftavatn, 4.0 km2, 2.5 m Stífluvatn, 3.9km2, 23 m Fljótavatn, 3.9 km2 Úlfsvatn, 3.9 km2 Kálfborgarárvatn, 3.5 km2 Langavatn, 3.5 km2 Hraunhafnarvatn, 3.4 km2, 3 m Haukadalsvatn, 3.3 km2, 41 m Grænavatn, 3.3 km2, 14 m Eskihlíðarvatn, 3.3 km2, 5 m Ljósavatn, 3.2 km2, 35 m Sandvatn, 3.0 km2, 4 m Ölvesvatn, 2.8 km2 Kýlingavötn (Kýlingar), 2.5-3.0 km2 (actually two adjoining lakes that nearly form a single body of water) Sandvatn, 2.6 km2 Flóðið, 2.6 km2 Kvíslavatn nyrðra, 2.6 km2 Hraunsfjarðarvatn, 2.5 km2, 80 m Stóra-Viðarvatn, 2.5 km2, 20 m Oddastaðavatn, 2.5 km2, 18 m Frostastaðavatn, 2.3 km2, >6 m Laugarvatn, 2.1 km2 Meðalfellsvatn, 2.0 km2, 19 m Elliðavatn, 1.8 km2, 7 m Hreðavatn, 1.1 km2, 20 m Skyggnisvatn Hvítavatn Tjörnin Rauðavatn Reynisvatn

List of lakes of Iceland

Bron en licentie