Kleifarvatn

W1

Different level of water ( up to 4-5 m difference ) wg. Dependence on the groundwater level and probably also of tectonic / volcanic columns, part of the volcanic system of Krýsuvík with hot springs in the southern Lake

The Kleifarvatn is a lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula of Iceland.

Location

Kleifarvatn is located approximately 25 km from Reykjavík and about 10 km southeast of Hafnarfjörður. Mountains frame the lake from all sides, including the west of the 407 m high Palagonitrücken Sveifluháls.

The lake is located in the southern part of the Reykjanes peninsula on the fault zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is accessible via a dirt road. Its depth was up to 2000 up to 97 m

Plate displacement and volcanism on Kleifarvatn

The area around the Kleifarvatn is influenced by the surrounding active volcanoes, he is located in the area of the volcanic system of Krýsuvík. That and the running plate boundary here explain the frequent earthquakes.

Thus, the lake began after the great earthquake in 2000 to seep in part. One suspects it would have opened under the water columns. His face had a short time thereafter reduced by about 1/5. On the other hand, one has to observe such changes in the water level of this lake have often and usually the water surface rose after some time again, which again is also the case this time. The water surface has now (February 2008) raised again to a Vast.

Some hot springs were below the seawater and came after the water level had decreased to light, as you can see on the image.

Near the lake there are two high temperature regions, one at Seltún (see image at Reykjanesskagi ), another in the east of the lake.

Saga

Similar to the Icelandic lakes Lagarfljót and Skorradalsvatn tell folk tales even of a sea monster in Kleifarvatn.

Colonization history

The area was inhabited in ancient times. An old farm called Krýsuvík was destroyed by the lava of Ögmundarhraun 1151, courtyards same were occupied elsewhere until 1857. From the hamlet is the only building still in the southwest of the lake, the small church Krísuvíkurkirkjan, which is a national monument and is now maintained by the National Museum Þjóðminjasafn in Reykjavík.

Crime setting

Meanwhile, there has also been a crime novel by Arnaldur Indriðason entitled " Kleifarvatn " (2004). He was released in 2006 in Germany under the title " cold zone ".