Geothermal Goldfish Pond (Yltjörn)

What to expect

Most travel guides call it the Geothermal Goldfish Pond. Locally it is Yltjörn, which means roughly “warm pond”. It is one of four small lakes south of Húsavík known together as Kaldbakstjarnir. Svarðarmýrartjörn, the one you see facing the sea from the road, is the largest. Yltjörn is the second largest and sits on the eastern side of the group, tucked into a grassy hollow.

What makes it unusual is the fish. At some point, people in Húsavík tipped unwanted pet goldfish into the pond. Geothermal water keeps it warm enough not to freeze in winter, so some of the fish survived and bred, and they have been there ever since. On a still day you may spot them among the water plants. No source we found explains exactly where the warm water comes from, only that the pond is geothermally heated.

Set your expectations before you go. This is a pond, not a hot pot. Travel guides put the water at about 68-86°F20-30°C, and OpenStreetMap mappers recorded 59-77°F15-25°C. Either way it is lukewarm, comfortable on a mild summer day and chilly once you get out into the wind. There are water plants and some algae, and the bottom is natural.

Can you bathe here?

Yes, informally. The Icelandic Tourist Board’s description of the Húsavík Botanic Garden and Goldfish Pond walk says visitors can wade in or take a swim, and local people do. Travel guides say the same. What you will not find is any management. There are no lifeguards and no marked swimming area. The water is not disinfected or tested. Treat it as a wild swim in a warm pond, not a pool.

Children enjoy it. The Tourist Board mentions fishing for goldfish as something people do at the pond, and local children sometimes catch them. If you have kids with you, keep an eye on them at the edge, where the ground is soft.

Getting there

The pond is about 2 km (1.2 miles) south of Húsavík, off Route 85, the main road into town from the south.

• By car from Húsavík: Drive south on Route 85 for about 2 km and turn right onto a gravel track. There is a small parking area by the ponds. The pond sits in a hollow and is not obvious from the road, so drop a pin on your map before you set out.
• From Akureyri or Mývatn: Route 85 brings you north toward Húsavík. The turn-off is on your left about 2 km before town. Akureyri is about 72 km (45 miles) away.
• On foot: The Icelandic Tourist Board publishes a marked walking route, “Botanic Garden and Goldfish Pond”, starting from the car park on Garðarsbraut in central Húsavík. It runs past the Botanic Garden on the Búðará river and then south to Yltjörn. A path at the pond’s northern end leads back to town. The route is almost 10 km (6 miles) long and takes 2 to 3 hours, on a mix of pavement, gravel and grass, and the Tourist Board rates it medium difficulty.

When to go

Summer is the only season when a swim really makes sense. Long days and milder air make lukewarm water pleasant, and the walk from town is easy. In winter the warm water keeps the pond from freezing. But getting out of 68°F20°C water into sub-zero wind is not fun, and the gravel track can ice over.

Guides describe it as rarely crowded.

Rules and etiquette

There is no operator and no posted list of rules, so the usual Icelandic outdoor courtesy applies:

• No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the water. The pond is a living habitat, and there is no filtering.
• Leave the fish alone. Do not feed them or chase them. If children catch one, put it back.
• Take all rubbish with you.
• Keep to the path. The ground around the ponds is soft and muddy in places.
• Swimsuits are the norm. This is a small pond in plain view of a picnic area and a road.

Facilities

There are tables and benches at the pond, which makes it a good stop for a packed lunch. There are no toilets, showers, changing rooms or drinking water. The nearest toilets, cafés and shops are in Húsavík, a few minutes away by car.

Where to stay nearby

Húsavík, 2 km (1.2 miles) north, is the base. It is the largest town in Northeast Iceland, with places to stay and eat around the harbour. If you want a proper hot soak afterwards, the GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths sit on the headland at the north end of town, and Earth Lagoon Mývatn is about 58 km (36 miles) from Húsavík.

Nearby stops worth adding

If you walk out from town, the route passes the Húsavík Botanic Garden (Skrúðgarður) along the Búðará river before heading south to the ponds. Back in Húsavík, the harbour is the starting point for whale-watching trips into Skjálfandi Bay, and a dip in the pond fits easily into the same day.

Safety notes

• Untreated water: nobody tests it. Keep your head above water, do not swallow any, and skip the swim if you have open cuts.
• Soft ground: the banks can be boggy. Watch your footing and keep small children close.
• Cold after the swim: lukewarm water still cools you down. Bring a towel and warm layers, especially outside high summer.
• Winter driving: the gravel track can be icy. Park only in the small parking area and do not block the track.