Öxarfjörður

Öxarfjörður is encircled by mountain ranges to the west and east, and the Gjástykki [ˈcauːˌstɪhcɪ] lava fields and an area with sand deposited by the glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the south.

Öxarfjörður went deeper inland in earlier geological times but the glacial river Jökulsá deposited sands from the highlands on a triangular area of about 300 km2 called Sandur [ˈsantʏr̥].

There are two big lakes on Sandur, Vikingavatn and Skjálftavatn [ˈscaul̥taˌvahtn̥], the latter one formed by an earthquake in 1976, over the course of which some houses in the area were destroyed.

It is located on the west bank of the glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, and extends 30 km northwards from Dettifoss waterfall, covering 120 km2.

In the northern part of the National Park lies Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped depression, and the main campsite.