M Ý V A T N / E A S T F J Ö R D S

Mývatn is a large (37 sq. km) lake that is one of Iceland's natural treasures. Dormant Hverfell looms over the East side and a protected nesting area to its northwest is a nesting home to tens of thousands of birds, representing dozens of species. Beautiful though it is, its name (``midge lake") came about because of the clouds of midges, or gnats, that gather when the wind is too low. Most of them don't bite but will try to get into your lungs, as they're attracted to carbon dioxide.