Highlands of Iceland
Encyclopedia
The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland
. They are situated above 400–500 metres and are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert
, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is unavailable for plant growth, which results largely in a surface of grey, black or brown earth, lava
and volcanic ashes
. A few oasis
-like areas, such as Herðubreiðarlindir
near Askja
, are found only in proximity to rivers.
Icelanders categorise the Highlands as:
Most of the numerous glacier
s, such as Vatnajökull
, Langjökull
and Hofsjökull
, are also part of the Icelandic Highlands. Vegetation is only found on the shores of the glacier rivers. There is also the danger of glacier runs.
Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland with volcanic activity are to be found in the Highlands, such as Landmannalaugar
and the region around Askja
and Herðubreið
.
The Highlands can only be crossed during the Icelandic summer (June to August). For the rest of the year the highland roads are closed. The best known highland roads are Kaldidalur
, Kjölur
and Sprengisandur
. Most highland roads require four wheel drive
vehicles, because it is necessary to ford rivers. However, the Kjölur route can easily be traversed in an ordinary sedan and is therefore one of the more popular highland roads. Off-road driving ("road" in this context meaning tracks that are already present) is forbidden entirely in Iceland where there is no snow, including the Highlands, to protect the environment.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. They are situated above 400–500 metres and are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert
Volcanic desert
A volcanic desert is an area devoid of vegetation because of volcanic activity. Usually the term is applied to larger areas such as the Highlands of Iceland or Cordón Caulle in Chile. Volcanic deserts may have enough precipitation to sustain vegetation, but due to repeated covering of tephra after...
, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is unavailable for plant growth, which results largely in a surface of grey, black or brown earth, lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
and volcanic ashes
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
. A few oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
-like areas, such as Herðubreiðarlindir
Herðubreið
Herðubreið is a tuya in north-east Iceland. It is situated in the Highlands of Iceland in the midst of the Ódáðahraun desert and close to Askja volcano. The desert is a large lava field originating from eruptions of Trölladyngja...
near Askja
Askja
Askja is a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland. The name Askja refers to a complex of nested calderas within the surrounding Dyngjufjöll mountains, which rise to , askja meaning box or caldera in Icelandic-Location:The region is only accessible for a few...
, are found only in proximity to rivers.
Icelanders categorise the Highlands as:
- "Háls", meaning a broad mountain ridge between valleys, such as the one near Langavatn north of BorgarnesBorgarnesBorgarnes is a town located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður in Iceland.It has a population of 1,763 . The town is located 60 km north of the capital Reykjavík and is connected to other places in Iceland through the second largest bridge in Iceland, Borgarfjarðarbrú...
; or - "Heiði", meaning the real highlands, such as those alongside the SprengisandurSprengisandurSprengisandur is a highland gravel road in Iceland, running between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. The name also refers to the highland region surrounding the road....
road.
Most of the numerous glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, such as Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country.-Size:With an area of 8,100 km², Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume and the second largest in area Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in...
, Langjökull
Langjökull
Langjökull is the second largest ice cap in Iceland , after Vatnajökull. It is situated in the west of the Icelandic interior or Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur....
and Hofsjökull
Hofsjökull
Hofsjökull is the third largest glacier in Iceland after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country. It situates at the west of the Highlands of Iceland and north of the mountain range Kerlingarfjöll, between the two largest glaciers of Iceland. It covers an area of...
, are also part of the Icelandic Highlands. Vegetation is only found on the shores of the glacier rivers. There is also the danger of glacier runs.
Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland with volcanic activity are to be found in the Highlands, such as Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is a region near the volcano Hekla in southern section of Iceland's highlands.The Landmannalaugar area is a popular tourist destination and hiking hub in Iceland's highlands. The area displays a number of unusual geological elements, like the multicolored rhyolite mountains and...
and the region around Askja
Askja
Askja is a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland. The name Askja refers to a complex of nested calderas within the surrounding Dyngjufjöll mountains, which rise to , askja meaning box or caldera in Icelandic-Location:The region is only accessible for a few...
and Herðubreið
Herðubreið
Herðubreið is a tuya in north-east Iceland. It is situated in the Highlands of Iceland in the midst of the Ódáðahraun desert and close to Askja volcano. The desert is a large lava field originating from eruptions of Trölladyngja...
.
Kaldidalur
The Kaldidalsvegur is the shortest of the highland tracks traversing the Highlands of Iceland, therefore the nickname "highlands for beginners". Its name derives from the valley it crosses: kaldidalur means "cold dale/valley"...
, Kjölur
Kjölur
The Kjölur is a highland road in Iceland. It is the second longest of the roads through the Highlands of Iceland. It takes about 5 hours to traverse by car.- Geography :...
and Sprengisandur
Sprengisandur
Sprengisandur is a highland gravel road in Iceland, running between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. The name also refers to the highland region surrounding the road....
. Most highland roads require four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
vehicles, because it is necessary to ford rivers. However, the Kjölur route can easily be traversed in an ordinary sedan and is therefore one of the more popular highland roads. Off-road driving ("road" in this context meaning tracks that are already present) is forbidden entirely in Iceland where there is no snow, including the Highlands, to protect the environment.