In addition to elves, little people, trolls, ghosts and other unworldly creatures, Icelanders, of course, have a sea-monsters. Just like its neighboring Scotland has the Loch Ness monster, Iceland has the tongue-twisting Lagarfljótsormurinn. It has always been there, in Lake Lögurinn, or Lagarfljót. Even the Vikings were terrified. The monster has been a source of endless tales, verses, and rhymes across the centuries and was last sighted by a local farmer in 2012.
Located in the beautiful Fljótsdalshérað
The lake is located in Fljótsdalshérð with both Egilsstaðir town and the Hallmormsstaðaskógur forest on its banks. Its surface measures 53 square km, and it is 25 km long. The lake has a curiously brown color as the glacial river; Lagarfljót runs through it all the way from the majestic Vatnajökull ice cap in the south. If you drive over the mountain, pass Fjarðarheiði to Seyðisfjörður you can get an excellent view of the large lake. If you want to spent time on trying to spot the sea-monster a location by the bank of the lake is recommended.
Changes after the Kárahnúkar dam was built
The lake used to be good for laying nets for fishing, but angling has never been possible there. The reason is, of course, the limited visibility in the gray glacial waters. Then in the last quarter of the 20th century, the fish disappeared altogether after the Kárahnjúkar dam was built changing the river's ecology forever. But, not all inhabitants of the animal kingdom were deterred. Further downriver, by the estuary, you will find seal breeding grounds and a short distance away you might even be able to spot whales frolicking in the sea.
Nearby places of interest
Álftafjörður - Beljandi - Blábjörg cliffs - Eystrahorn - Fardagafoss waterfall - Flögufoss - Hallormsstaðarskógur - Helgustaðanáma - Hengifoss waterfall - Klifbrekkufossar waterfall - Mjóifjörður fjord - Papey island - Streitishvarf - Stuðlafoss waterfall - Stuðlagil canyon
