Kerið crater
Although it is not a part of the Golden Circle, Kerið crater is one of the most visited places by tourists visiting the Golden Circle route. It is part of the Grímsnes area in the South of Iceland.
Kerið Crater is 55 metres (180 feet) deep, 170 metres (558 feet) wide and has a circumference of 270 meters (886 feet).
It is a crater approximately three thousand years old which geologically speaking is a young caldera, and this can be seen in the vivid red colour of the slopes.
What makes the Kerið crater special are the vivid colours of red from the iron deposits on the slopes, the green from the vegetation that grows on it and the turquoise blue water accumulated in the caldera.
The scientists believe that the Kerið was a cone volcano that depleted its magma reserve and collapsed in its interior, giving the crater the shape it has today. During that time, the crater filled up with water; nowadays, the lake in the crater is about seven to fourteen meters deep.
The Kerið Crater has a trail that circles the caldera cone and a path that can get you close to the lake. It is highly recommended to be careful when hiking around and to avoid hiking when it is raining or winter because the path can be slippery, and you can hurt yourself.
Kerið Crater is located on private land, so if you want to visit it, you have to pay a small fee of 400 ISK (about two Euros or three US dollars) that can help the owner maintain the area. A self-drive tour will take you to the Kerið Crater.
