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 Notes
GigalitresBillion cu ftkm2mi2mft
Þórisvatn 33012 83–8632–33 109358 Hydroelectric reservoir, south central Iceland
Þingvallavatn 28610.1 8432 114374 Named for Þingvellir, site of ancient parliament
Hálslón 2107.4 5722 180590 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.[1]
Blöndulón 501.8 5722 39128 Hydroelectric reservoir, N Iceland, named for R Blanda
Lagarfljót (Lögurinn) 5320 112367 Hydroelectric reservoir, largest lake in E Iceland and the largest longitudinal lake in Iceland
in a valley probably arising from a geological fault;
fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull
Hágöngulón 3714 1652 Natural lake in Highlands, again fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull
Mývatn 3714 4.515 Tourist and ornithological honeypot, N Iceland
Hóp 29–4411–17 8.528 Tidal lagoon on the bay Húnaflói in N Iceland (area varies tidally)
Hvítárvatn 3012 84276 Natural lake in the Highlands, fed by meltwater from Langjökull to which it is adjacent
Langisjór 2610 75246 Another longitudinal lake fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull
Kvíslavatn 1505.3 207.7 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 1164.1 197.3 Reservoir further down the Þjórsá valley
Jökulsárlón 186.9 248814[2] (Iceland's deepest)(1999 estimate - size and depth increasing because of glacier melting)
Glacial lagoon
Grænalón 186.9
Skorradalsvatn 155.8 48157
Sigöldulón 1956.9 145.4 (also known as "Krókslón")
Apavatn 13–145.0–5.4
Heiðarlón 13.55.2 51167 This is a planned hydroelectric reservoir near the mouth of the Þjórsá.
Svínavatn 124.6 39128
Öskjuvatn 114.2 220720
Vesturhópsvatn 103.9 2892 In N Iceland near Hóp (see above)
Höfðavatn 103.9 620 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.[3]
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, 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, 3.9 km2, 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

See also

References
  1. Guðrún Jóhannesdóttir, ed. (2011). "Hálslón". Áhættuskoðun almannavarna, Lögreglustjórinn á Seyðisfirði (PDF) (in Icelandic) (1.0 ed.). Ríkislögreglustjórinn, Almannavarnadeild. p. 10. Archived from the original (pdf) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  2. "Jökulsárlón orðið dýpsta vatn landsins". July 1, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  3. Svavar Sigmundsson (27 May 2011). "Hvaðan kemur heitið á Grímsvötnum og Grímsfjalli?" [What is the origin of the names of Grímsvötn and Grímsfjall?]. Vísindavefurinn. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
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