Tjörnin

Tjörnin, which simply means the pond, is the small, shallow lake in the middle of central Reykjavik. It formed as a lagoon behind a gravel bar where Hafnarstræti now runs, and it is fed by the Vatnsmýri marsh to the south. The water is very shallow, with an average depth of less than a metre, and the lake is surrounded by some of the city's most important buildings, with City Hall standing on stilts at its north-west corner.

For visitors, Tjörnin is above all a pleasant place for a walk. Paths run along the shore, with views across the water to the old town, City Hall and the museums around the lake. Between 40 and 50 species of water birds visit the lake, including Arctic terns, eiders, greylag geese, mallards, scaup and several kinds of gull, and whooper swans are often seen nearby. The arrival of the Arctic tern is traditionally said to mark the start of summer. Feeding the ducks has long been a local pastime, but the city discourages it because the bread attracts gulls, which also prey on ducklings.

In cold winters the lake freezes over and people come out to skate on it. Its outflow, the stream Lækurinn, has run underground since 1911. In summer the grassy banks are a good place to sit in the sun.

Tjörnin suits everyone and costs nothing. It works as a short break between museums or as a link between the centre and the university area. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a full loop at an easy pace, more if you are watching birds. In winter, paths can be icy, so wear shoes with good grip.

The lake is at its most atmospheric in two very different seasons. In the light summer nights, when the sun barely sets, the water reflects the sky late into the evening and the birdlife is at its busiest. In the dark months, the lights of the surrounding buildings shine across the water or the ice, and a short walk here is a pleasant way to end an afternoon of museums.

The lake is surrounded by the Parliament House, Reykjavik Cathedral, the Supreme Court, the City Library and the National Theatre, and the National Museum and the university buildings are a short walk away. The shops and cafés of the centre are just to the north, and Reykjavik Airport lies to the south across Hringbraut.