Within Snæfellsjökull National Park, the mountain of the same name (1 446m) is the subject of esoteric beliefs and legends. More prosaically, though, it is a stratovolcano formed by the accumulation of lava flows over 800 000 years. Its last eruption, at the beginning of our era, formed the Háahraun lava field on the south coast. Snæfellsjökull is covered by an 11km2 ice cap. To climb the glacier, experienced walkers should allow 3-5hr.