LAVA Centre
About This Museum
The LAVA Centre feels less like a traditional museum and more like a portal into Iceland's volatile, volcanic soul. It opened in 2017 to give visitors a tangible sense of the immense geothermal forces that literally shaped the nation. You don't just look at exhibits here; you walk across a massive, illuminated topographic map of Iceland that rumbles gently beneath your feet. The entire experience is an immersive dive into the creation and destruction that defines this land of fire and ice.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is undoubtedly the enormous, glowing floor map where you can trace the tectonic plates and recent eruption sites. Don't miss the realistic eruption simulator, which uses sound, light, and vibration to recreate the raw power of a volcano. Another highlight is the 'Wall of Plates,' a stunningly simple yet powerful display that makes you feel the slow, inexorable drift of continents.
Visitor Information
It's right on the Ring Road in Hvolsvöllur, making it an incredibly easy and rewarding stop on your South Coast journey. The cafe is a great spot to process everything you've just experienced, preferably with a strong coffee in hand.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is modern and angular, clad in dark materials that seem to rise from the landscape like cooled basalt rock.
Contact & Location
Address: 14, Austurvegur, Hvolsvöllur, Rangárþing eystra, Suðurland, 860, Ísland
Phone: +354 415 5200
Website: Visit Website
