Keri, Reykjavik

Keri, Reykjavik (Iceland)

Keri is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grmsnes area in south Iceland along the Golden Circle. It is one of several crater lakes in the area known as Icelands Western Volcanic Zone which includes the Reykjanes peninsula and the Langjkull Glacier created as the land moved over a localized hotspot but it is the one that has the most visually recognizable caldera still intact. The caldera like the other volcanic rock in the area is composed of a red volcanic rock. The caldera itself is approximately 55 m deep 170 m wide and 270 m across. Keris caldera is one of the three most recognizable volcanic craters because at approximately 3000 years old it is only half the age of most of the surrounding volcanic features. The other two are Seyishlar and Kerhll. While most of the crater is steep-walled with little vegetation one wall is sloped more gently and blanketed with a deep moss and can be descended fairly easily. The lake itself is fairly shallow but due to minerals from the soil is an opaque and strikingly vivid aquamarine. Land owners charge an entrance fee to see the crater of 400 ISK.