Ãsbyrgi
The horseshoe- shaped canyon Ásbyrgi (pronounced Ausbirgi ) is part of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in northern Iceland. Once flowed here Jökulsá Fjöllum. This has been further east dug a bed.
Formation
Geological
According to geological surveys three particularly strong glacier runs the gorge have given their unusual shape. This occurred after eruptions of volcanoes Kverkfjöll or Bárðarbunga belonging to the Vatnajökull. The first outbreak took place before 4000, the second before 3000 and the third 2500 years ago instead, the last a maximum of 200,000 m³ / sec reached (equivalent to four times the thickness of the glacier run the Skeiðará 1996 ).
Mythological
According to Norse mythology, however Ásbyrgi should be completely different emerged. Since the shape of the gorge inevitably reminded of a horseshoe, thought the Icelanders, Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir was drilled here his hooves into the ground, what Ásbyrgi the nickname " Odin's footprint" earned.
The omnipresent in Icelandic mythology and deeply rooted belief in Elf, the invisible people, Ásbyrgi declared the elves capital. The traveler will be informed on the spot via a panel about the fact that there is a large cultural and economic center of the elves. Various botanical specialties emphasize this impression, such as a birch grove in which the birch trees have a silver - gray bark, contrary to the usual white- black.
Description
At the end of the 3.5 km long gorge you will find a small lake with lush duck population. It is fed by a trickle, almost imperceptibly dropwise at least in summer from the stone wall Ásbyrgis. A remnant of the Jökulsá Fjöllum which once flowed there.
Moreover, here there is a rather rare for Iceland mixed forest (mainly birch and spruce also ) with trees, in part, run over four meters high. This could develop very well due to the protected position inside the canyon. This makes Ásbyrgi also a magnet for Icelanders as visit this happy holiday wooded areas.
Before the entrance to the gorge of about 25 m high rock Eyjan is ( Isl the island ) in the plane.
The Ásbyrgischlucht is quite remote and therefore has very little infrastructure. Nevertheless, there is a campground at the beginning of the gorge. A second campsite inside the canyon was closed in 2002. There is also a visitor center and a petrol station with a small supermarket and fast-food snack.
It is possible to go on a small road with the car until the end of the gorge. The road is only one lane, but due to many " lay-bys " is also oncoming traffic no problem. The road ends at a parking area from which the pond is about 150 meters away.