Þórisvatn

About

Þórisvatn (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈouːrɪsˌvahtn̥], sometimes anglicized to Thorisvatn) is the largest lake of Iceland, situated at the south end of the Sprengisandur plateau within the highlands of Iceland. It is a reservoir with a surface area of about 88 km2 (34 sq mi) and is fed by the river Þjórsá, which comes down from the glacier Hofsjökull. On its southern end, Þórisvatn is used to generate electricity at a power station. It is like other Icelandic lakes, which are mostly glacial lakes or volcanic lakes. The lake grew from about 70 km2 to 86 km2 with the construction of the power station and was previously only the second largest lake in the country.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.