Highlands of Iceland
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The Highland (Icelandic: Hálendið) or The Central Highland[1] is an area that comprises much of the interior land of Iceland. The Highland is situated above 300–400 meters (1000–1300 feet) and is mostly uninhabitable. The soil is primarily volcanic ash, and the terrain consists of basalt mountains and lava fields. Snow covers the Highland from October until the beginning of June.[2] A few oasis-like areas, such as Herðubreiðarlindir and Þórsmörk, are also found in the Highland. The area has many notable natural features and hiking trails.[3]
Natural features in the Highland
[edit]The Highland encompasses various geological features, including Landmannalaugar, Torfajökull, Eldgjá, Þórsmörk, Herðubreið, Askja, Hveradalir, Lakagígar, and the Fagrifoss waterfall. Sites in the Highland are difficult to access and may be accessible only during the summer months. Most sites require all-wheel drive or all-terrain vehicles for access due to the unpaved dirt roads.
Glaciers and volcanoes in the Highland
[edit]The largest glaciers in the Highland are Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Hofsjökull, with multiple outlet glaciers. Many glaciers occur atop volcanoes, some of which erupt regularly, such as the Bárðabunga volcano.[4] The most famous of these volcanoes in recent times is Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010. In the sandy Highland, vegetation is found only at the edges of glaciers and near rivers and streams. There is a pervasive danger of glacial outburst floods, or "glacier runs," at times of eruptions and volcanic activity. The radiating heat causes the underside of glaciers to melt, creating large pockets of water that accumulate until they burst. This phenomenon is unique to Iceland and is internationally known by the Icelandic term jökulhlaup.[3]
Recreation in the Highland
[edit]There are several hiking trails in the Highland. A popular route is the 54 km Laugavegur hiking trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk. Other notable hikes are Fimmvörðuháls and old Kjalvegur.
Highland roads or F-Roads
[edit]The Highland can be crossed only during the Icelandic summer.[5] For the rest of the year, Highland roads are closed. Driving off-road is forbidden,[6] to protect both drivers and environmental features.
The best-known Highland roads are Kaldidalur, Kjölur, Kjalvegur, Fjallabak syðri, Fjallabak nyrðri, Lakavegur, Kverkfjöll, and Sprengisandur. Most Highland roads require four-wheel drive vehicles, which also assist in crossing rivers. However, the Kjölur route can be traversed easily in an ordinary car and is therefore one of the more popular Highland roads.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bishop, Michaël Virgil; Ólafsdóttir, Rannveig; Árnason, Þorvarður (February 2022). "Tourism, Recreation and Wilderness: Public Perceptions of Conservation and Access in the Central Highland of Iceland". Land. 11 (2): 242. doi:10.3390/land11020242. ISSN 2073-445X.
- ^ "Weather and climate in Iceland". www.visiticeland.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ a b "Visit Iceland - Official Tourist Info for Iceland". www.visiticeland.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "The 2014 Holuhraun eruption". www.visiticeland.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "Mountain Roads" (PDF). Environment Agency of Iceland. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Driving safely in Iceland". The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- Hálendið í Náttúru Íslands (The Highland in Iceland)
External links
[edit]
Media related to Highland of Iceland at Wikimedia Commons
Routes through the interior highlands of Iceland | ||
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