Blanda

Blanda in Blöndudalur

Blanda at the mouth with place Blönduós

The Blanda is a glacial river in the north of Iceland.

Most important data

Blanda has a length of about 125 km, making it one of the longest rivers of Iceland. The average amount of water of the river is 60 m³ / s In summer, the amount of water is 40-90 m³ / sec, in winter 20-30 m³ / sec Most of the measured amount of water was in Blöndudalur 550 m³ / sec

Course

The river rises in many small streams on the ice cap Hofsjökull on the Icelandic highlands. Just north, the glacier tongue Blöndujökull.

It crosses the lake Blöndulón. Finally, it occurs in the district Húnavatnssýsla again in a built-up area, flows through a gorge that Blöndugil, and ends at the place named after him Blönduós in the bay Húnaflói, more precisely in the Húnafjörður, a part of the Arctic Ocean.

Power plant and dam

The Blanda is still accumulated in the area of the highlands in Blöndulón, where the water is used to generate electricity in existing since 1991 and a few kilometers downstream lying Blanda power plant.

Traffic

Numerous well-known fords are located in the river, which are now used mainly in catching sheep in autumn.

For a long Insert the river follows the northern part of Kjölur highland road. In Blönduós the Hringvegur crossed it on a bridge.

Salmon fishing

Blanda is one of the best salmon rivers in the country. That is how big the demand. In 2010, according to the Association of fishing rights owners 2,777 salmon were caught in the river.

Protected natural island in the river: Hrútey

Shortly before Blönduós is located in the river, the small island Hrútey - di the island of Aries - which is a nature reserve since 1975. The 11ha large island has mainly a dense birch vegetation, is the Nitzplatz many species of birds. In the summer you will find many different types of geese. From late April to late June, the access because the breeding season is locked.

Since 1943 attempts have been made to the reforestation of the island, it is under the aegis of the Skógræktarfélags Austur - Húnvetningar and was made in 2004 to the public under the seal Opinn skógur (open forest ) with the help of a pedestrian bridge over the Blanda accessible.