Lava Centre

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Hvolsvöllur, Iceland, 16.05.22. The Lava Center (Iceland Volcano and Earthquake Center) modern building with interactive educational exhibitions., License Type: media, Download Time: 2026-07-07T15:43:18.000Z, User: LP_NZhan, Editorial: true, purchase_order: 65050 - Digital Destinations and Articles, job: App Content, client: Lonely Planet App, other: Nadine Zhan

There may be no better place for a museum dedicated to the study of lava, earthquakes and volcanic activity. The Lava Centre sits in the shadows of several volcanoes, including the notorious Eyjafjallajökull, whose 2010 eruption caused the closure of large swaths of European airspace; Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes; and Katla, one of Iceland’s largest volcanoes.

Interactive displays bring the wild south Icelandic terrain to life, explaining how volcanoes work and why there are so many of them here. You'll experience a few seconds of shaking and get an idea of what an earthquake would feel like at three different strengths. A cinema screens soaring drone footage and there's also a good cafe-restaurant. Don’t leave before heading to the building’s roof to check out the volcano views.

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