The main road between Lake Myvatn and the eastern part of the country passes through this 410 m high mountain pass between the mountains Dalfjall and Namafjall.  Mt Namafjall is extremely colourful and dotted with solfataras and boiling mud pots.  East of the mountain is one of the most frequented tourist attraction of the country, Hverir.  Sulphur from the Hlidarnamur Quarries was processed and exported during the centuries and made the brothers at Reynihlid on Lake Myvatn extremely rich.  In 1563 the mines came into the possession of the Danish king and were exploited until the middle of the 19^th century.  A sulphur factory was built at Bjarnarflag in 1939 and operated for a few years.

The Valley Nautadalur (Bulls’ Valley) extends to the north from the pass.  Erosion set in and pealed off the vegetation and it was decided in 1990 to stop the destruction.  The Soil Conservation Authorities with the assistance of the workers of the Krafla Geothermal Power Station planted lime grass, birch and willow and fertilized the whole area regularly to turn the development around with great success.