Hooked land spit, Mývatn, Iceland

From eruption to ecosystem

The Land of Fire and Ice is also full of water, and not just the ocean that laps its fjord-laced shores. This hooked land spit juts from one of the many odd-shaped islets of Mývatn, a shallow lake in Iceland's north. Lying in the shadow of Krafla, a large volcano, Mývatn was formed by a basaltic eruption about 2,300 years ago, and rootless cones range in size from massive dips to pimple-like raised spots within and around the lake. Not just rockhounds but birders, anglers, and athletes will find paradise here: Dozens of duck species frequent the lake, the trout and salmon fishing is excellent, and a marathon circling Mývatn's shores is held every summer.