Gönguleið um Eldhraun – Scenic Green Lava Walk

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The Scenic Green  Lava Walk Gönguleið around Eldhraun is located between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Vík í Mýrdal in the Katla Geopark and is part of the Skaftáreldahraun. This is a UNESCO-recognized nature reserve and the first of its kind in Iceland.
There is a parking lot right next to the ring road near the small town of Skaftárhreppur. The Scenic Green Lava Walk is a short walk to an elevated spot to get a better view of the lava fields. This is naturally very rocky and, even if it is only a few meters long, should only be tackled with sturdy shoes.

The trail of history

The Skaftáreldahraun fields are part of one of the two major lava flows that flowed from the Laki volcano to the inhabited areas at Kirkjubæjarklaustur from June 1783 to February 1784. The volcanic eruption is one of the largest in human history and affected a large area outside Iceland. During the eight months of the eruption, 12 cubic kilometers of basaltic lava flowed to the surface, covering approximately 565 km² of the country. A series of lava caves and rock formations emerged in the field, on which thick woolly fringed moss settled and formed a continuous layer that appears gray when dry, but turns a rich, beautiful green after rain.

The moss family can be traced back over 400 million years. The plants do not absorb nutrients through their roots like other plants, but rather through a fine network and through their leaves. Therefore, they do not require soft soil but, like lichens, can thrive on stony surfaces such as lava fields. They are, so to speak, pioneers for other plants, as they transform the stony ground into fertile soil over many years. In Gönguleið um Eldhraun, this carpet of moss is between 40 and 60 centimeters thick. This gives the area a particularly unusual look. Since mosses have no real roots, they are very sensitive and you should never leave the marked paths in order not to damage this fragile natural phenomenon.

Useful information

The lava field is not suitable for farming. But the people who live there have found a sustainable way to use the advantages of the landscape for themselves.
For example, the berries that grow there and in the surrounding areas around Vík í Mýrdal are processed into jams and syrups.
The small fish farm Lindarfiskur has established a sustainable circular economy in this unique landscape and uses its full potential without unnecessarily burdening nature.
The natural products can be tasted and purchased in Vík.

How to get there?

The area lies between Vík í Mýrdal and Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The ring road leads directly through the lava field and connects these two places. There are several parking spaces at intervals, but driving on paths away from the marked streets is prohibited.
The Scenic Green Lava Walk is also a regular stop on many bus tours, so it can be very crowded at peak times when several buses unload their loads there at the same time.

Conclusion:

The Scenic Green Lava Walk is not a day-long hike, but the few meters you can walk into the lava field are worth a stop here.