Iceland has over 20 lakes larger than 10 km2 (4 sq mi), and at least 40 others varying between 2.5 and 10 km2 (1 to 4 sq mi) in size. This list also includes a few smaller lakes and ponds that are considered notable (for example Tjörnin in Reykjavik). The figures for many of the smaller lakes are unreliable. Also, some larger lakes vary considerably in size between years or seasons or, for the reservoirs, according to the needs of power plants. Some power plant reservoirs may not be present despite being larger than listed lakes.
| Name | Volume | Area | Depth | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigalitres | Billion cu ft | km2 | mi2 | m | ft | ||
| Þórisvatn | 330 | 12 | 83–86 | 32–33 | 109 | 358 | Hydroelectric reservoir, south central Iceland |
| Þingvallavatn | 286 | 10.1 | 84 | 32 | 114 | 374 | Named for Þingvellir, site of ancient parliament |
| Hálslón | 210 | 7.4 | 57 | 22 | 180 | 590 | Reservoir for the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant. [1][2] The maximum depth of 180 m is reached in late summer when the reservoir fills up and excess water starts to flow over through the spillway. In winter, the surface elevation, and thus the maximum depth, of the lake drops by approximately 45 m. In a very dry year a further drop of 20 m is expected, meaning that the depth of the lake at its deepest point can vary between 115 m and 180 m.[1] |
| Blöndulón | 50 | 1.8 | 57 | 22 | 39 | 128 | Hydroelectric reservoir, N Iceland, named for R Blanda |
| Lagarfljót (Lögurinn) | 53 | 20 | 112 | 367 | Hydroelectric reservoir, largest lake in E Iceland and the largest longitudinal lake in Iceland in a valley probably arising from a geological fault; fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull | ||
| Hágöngulón | 37 | 14[3] | 16 | 52[4] | Natural lake in Highlands, again fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull | ||
| Mývatn | 37 | 14 | 4.5 | 15 | Tourist and ornithological honeypot, N Iceland | ||
| Hóp | 29–44 | 11–17 | 8.5 | 28 | Tidal lagoon on the bay Húnaflói in N Iceland (area varies tidally) | ||
| Hvítárvatn | 30 | 12 | 84 | 276 | Natural lake in the Highlands, fed by meltwater from Langjökull to which it is adjacent | ||
| Langisjór | 26 | 10 | 75 | 246 | Another longitudinal lake fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull | ||
| Kvíslavatn | 150 | 5.3 | 20 | 7.7 | Another lake in the Highlands, but unusual in that it is in a low-lying flat area and is marshy in nature. One of the sources of the Þjórsá. | ||
| Sultartangalón | 116 | 4.1 | 19 | 7.3 | Reservoir further down the Þjórsá valley | ||
| Jökulsárlón | 18 | 6.9 | 248 | 814[2] | (Iceland's deepest)(1999 estimate - size and depth increasing because of glacier melting) Glacial lagoon | ||
| Grænalón | 18 | 6.9 | |||||
| Skorradalsvatn | 15 | 5.8 | 48 | 157 | |||
| Sigöldulón | 195 | 6.9 | 14 | 5.4 | (also known as "Krókslón") | ||
| Apavatn | 13–14 | 5.0–5.4 | |||||
| Heiðarlón | 13.5 | 5.2 | 51 | 167 [5] | This is a planned hydroelectric reservoir near the mouth of the Þjórsá. | ||
| Svínavatn | 12 | 4.6 | 39 | 128 | |||
| Öskjuvatn | 11 | 4.2 | 220 | 720 | |||
| Vesturhópsvatn | 10 | 3.9 | 28 | 92 | In N Iceland near Hóp (see above) | ||
| Höfðavatn | 10 | 3.9 | 6 | 20 | Coastal lagoon in N Iceland | ||
| Grímsvötn | A lake that forms in the caldera of the subglacial volcano of the same name. On one theory, the meaning of the name is "Odin’s lake", although several other explanations are possible, given that Grímur is a common man's name in Iceland.[3] | ||||||
| Hestvatn | Small reservoir in SW Iceland (6 km2)
| ||||||
