Discover South Iceland Highland
Glaciers – Volcanoes – Mountains – Waterfalls – Thermal Pools

Attractions : Hrafntinnusker

The English name of this 1128 m high mountain is The Obsidian Skerry. It is situated some distance east of the infamous volcano Hekla. It is accessible by 4WD vehicles from the north and south. On a fine day the view from the mountain is excellent. The hiking route between Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork, the so-called "Laugavegur", crosses it and some hikers decide to spend a night in the Tourist Association's hut, which houses 20 people. The surroundings of the mountain are a very colourful rhyolite area with many hot springs, steam vents, boiling mud pits and ice caves, where there is geothermal activity under the ice.

The Obsidian Lava Field (Hrafntinnuhraun) is situated to the north of the Obsidian Skerry. It is actually an area with lavas of completely different ages, the youngest of which has a round crater in the middle, where the viscous lava stacked up and created a mound. During the first half of the 20th century obsidian was sometimes quarried there for the decoration of houses in the capital, such as the National Theatre.

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