Mælifellssandur
Mælifellssandur is one of Iceland’s largest and most remote
outwash plains,
located in the southern Highlands
between
Mýrdalsjökull
and
Vatnajökull.
The area is renowned for its vast black sands,
open horizons and dramatic interaction
between glaciers, rivers and volcanic activity.
The plain takes its name from
Mælifell,
a striking green hyaloclastite mountain
that rises abruptly from the dark landscape.
The contrast between the moss-covered mountain
and the surrounding black desert
has made the area one of the most photographed locations
in the Icelandic Highlands.
Mælifellssandur was formed by repeated glacial floods
and volcanic ash deposits,
primarily originating from eruptions beneath Mýrdalsjökull,
most notably the volcano
Katla.
Over thousands of years,
sediment carried by meltwater
has created the expansive sandy plains seen today.
The landscape of Mælifellssandur is constantly changing.
Rivers alter their courses,
wind reshapes the surface,
and the terrain can look entirely different
from one season to the next.
This ongoing transformation makes the area
a powerful example of Iceland’s active natural forces.
Travelling across Mælifellssandur is a true highland adventure.
The route involves unbridged river crossings
and is accessible only by well-equipped
four-wheel-drive vehicles during summer.
For those who make the journey,
the reward is an overwhelming sense of space,
silence and untouched wilderness.
Mælifellssandur is a place where nature dominates completely.
Endless black sands stretch toward distant glaciers,
volcanic peaks rise on the horizon,
and human presence feels small and temporary.
Few locations in Iceland convey such a strong sense
of isolation, scale and raw highland beauty.