Primary Use
Hydroelectric Power
Feeds the Blönduvirkunn power station via the Blanda river system.
Blöndulón: Hydroelectric Reservoir in the Northern Highlands
A large hydroelectric reservoir in Iceland's northern highlands, surrounded by a stark landscape of gravel deserts and sparse moss.
Location
Northern Highlands
~57 km² · Highland road access · Completed 1991
Blöndulón is one of Iceland's largest reservoirs, created by damming the Blanda river in the northern highlands. The reservoir, completed in 1991, feeds the Blönduvirkunn hydroelectric power station. The draw for visitors is the landscape as much as the engineering: a windswept gravel desert where the terrain could pass for another planet. The reservoir's water level fluctuates with the seasons, sometimes exposing wide, sandy shores.
Sources and last reviewed
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
This guide is a travel-planning summary, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly; check official alerts, roads, and weather before driving, hiking, or booking around volatile conditions.
Pages are reviewed for practical usefulness, source quality, and volatile claims before publication.
Official sources to check
Landscape
Lunar Terrain
Vast gravel deserts and barren highlands stretch in every direction.
Access
Highland Roads
Partially accessible via Route 35 (Kjölur) in summer. Remote areas need 4x4.
What to Expect
Vast Highland Desert
The landscape around Blöndulón is among Iceland's starkest: gravel plains and sparse vegetation stretching to the horizon.
Renewable Energy Infrastructure
See the dam and infrastructure that turn the glacial river's power into electricity for Iceland's grid.
Arctic Char Fishing
The reservoir holds Arctic char, and the Blanda river below the dam is one of Iceland's premier salmon rivers. Fishing permits are available seasonally.
Shifting Shorelines
The reservoir's water level changes markedly between seasons, exposing sandy beaches and mudflats when low, and covering them when the glacial melt peaks in summer.
Birdlife
Pink-footed geese and other migratory birds use the area as a staging ground.
Complete Solitude
Few visitors make it to Blöndulón. On most days you will have the landscape to yourself.
Getting There
Blöndulón can be approached from several directions. The eastern end is accessible via Route 35 (Kjölur highland road), which connects Gullfoss in the south to Blönduós in the north. The Kjölur route is a mountain road that can be driven by regular cars in good summer conditions, though a 4x4 is recommended. From the north, the reservoir can also be reached via roads from Blönduós. Highland roads are typically open from mid-June to September. There are no services at the reservoir, so bring all necessary supplies, fuel, and provisions.
Best Time to Visit
Blöndulón is accessible during the summer months when highland roads are open, typically from mid-June through September. July and August have the mildest weather and the longest daylight hours, though conditions in the highlands can change rapidly. The water level is highest in late summer when glacial melt peaks. Early summer may reveal more of the shoreline. Always check road conditions on road.is before departing, and be prepared for cold winds and rapidly changing weather even in summer.
Planning help
Blöndulón FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.