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Covering an area of 140 km, Lagarfljót Lake, located 649 km to the east of Reykjavik and barely 16 km from Egilsstadir, is Iceland’s deepest lake. Interestingly, Lagarfljót is also considered a river which extends to 140 km and is said to have been formed towards the end of the Ice Age.
Covering an area of 140 km, Lagarfljót Lake, located 649 km to the east of Reykjavik and barely 16 km from Egilsstadir, is Iceland’s deepest lake. Interestingly, Lagarfljót is also considered a river which extends to 140 km and is said to have been formed towards the end of the Ice Age. 
With a depth of 112 metres in certain parts and an average depth of 51 metres, the lake’s area extends from Eyjabakkajökull glacier, where it commences, right up to Héraðsflói bay. Lögurinn, with a surface of 53 km2 forms the centre of the lake, which is believed to be home of various sea monsters, especially a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster, Lagarfljótsormur or a sea-worm-like Wyrm. Local folklore is abuzz with stories of this mysterious monster, with the first recorded sighting in 1345 and later in 1749. Written accounts describe the aquatic creature as a huge serpent water dragon, giant worm, heath slug and even a water horse, huge seal etc. According to an Icelandic belief it is inauspicious to see the curved form of the creature on the surface of the water. The lake-river has three bridges, providing amazing views, including a 303-metre bridge which connects Egilsstadir to Fellabaer towards the eastern side. Though no concrete evidence has been provided, over the years several sightings have been reported including the recent sighting by a farmer from Hrafnkelsstadir in 2012 and earlier by the head of the Icelandic National Forest Service in 1963, a teacher and students at Hallormsstadur School in 1998 and workers laying telephone cables in 1983, who also claim that the cable was destroyed by the creature. In 1999, bearing in mind tourism prospects, boat tours were initiated aboard ‘Lagarfljótsormurinn’.
Other places of tourist interest around include the Hallormsstadur forest, waterfalls Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss, Vatnajokull National Park Visitor Centre, Skriduklaustur Cultural Centre etc. The adjoining region also has camping sites and hiking trails.
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