The Askja caldera was formed by a cataclysm in 1875. The volcano erupted and particles where ejected as far as mainland Europe. The volcano remained active until 1905 and culminated in the collapse of its entire surface. Later the depression that was formed filled up with water and is presently Iceland's deepest lake, with a depth of 217 m (712ft). Inside the lake a new crater formed and while most of the lake is frozen large parts of the year, the area around the new crater is excellent for swimming, as it still shows volcanic activity and warms up the water.
The Askja caldera measures some 50 kmĀ² (19.3 sq miles) and lies in the center of Iceland, some 265 km northeast of Reykjavík. The Askja caldera lies in a very remote area and is only accessible by 4WD vehicle. Organized tours to the caldera are available in Reykjavík.
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