Highlands of Iceland
The Icelandic highlands (Icelandic Hálendið ) comprises the majority of the interior of Iceland. According to the Icelandic encyclopedia (Icelandic Íslenska alfræðiorðabókin ) that the areas defined as the highlands that exceed 200 meters in altitude, the proportion would be about 75 % of the total area of Iceland.
- 4.1 General rules of conduct for driving in the highlands
- 6.1 documents
- 6.2 External links
- 6.3 See also
Landforms and vegetation
It is very dry and very windy. In it, various landforms found as moraine ( isl: jökulgarðar = Glacier Gardens ), stone and sand deserts, volcanoes, of all kinds, lava fields, freshwater lakes, glaciers and often buried in deep gorges rivers. Where water can spread out a bit, there are swampy "Oasis." In more sheltered locations with plenty of water all sorts of marsh and upland plants such as grow the Arctic fireweed or Stemless campion. Otherwise, the highlands mainly pflanzenlos. It is in these parts of the country by a volcanic rock material of the island mostly gray - black colored domestic edaphic desert, while in fall of precipitation, but these usually without a trace seep into the ground.
Property rights
The country is largely farmers and communities that parts of it to use as a high pastures ( Isl afréttir ). It can be seen that some of the to the surprise of visitors visible in the wasteland fences, at about the Kaldidalur near the Þórisjökull. They are intended to prevent the change-over of the sheep in the other municipality area, and thus the spread of disease.
Also, the state claims it parts, for example in Vatnajökull National Park. In some cases, there are legal disputes regarding the property, as in the case of Theistareykir in the north of Iceland, where the government wants to use the geothermal energy.
Conceptual distinctions
Háls
It corresponds to the German term ridge (similar to the mountain neck in German ) and also belongs to the highlands. A typical Háls is for example between the Reykholtsdalur in western Iceland and the upper valley of the Hvítá. After that, the area is designated on the ridge south of the Hvítá and also at the foot of the old district name: Hálsasveit in the church today Borgarbyggð.
Heidi
It thus refers to a high level, which is generally not (any longer, see Jökuldalsheiði ) is inhabited. A typical example would be the Mosfellsheiði between Reykjavik and Thingvellir. The term is assuming traditionally mostly used for pass- roads that cross the plateaus, such as Holtavörðuheiði or Hellisheiði eystri that lies between Egilsstaðir and Vopnafjörður.
( MID ) Hálendið
This is the central highlands above 500 m altitude without the otherwise comparable landscapes of the great peninsulas, such as Snæfellsnes and West Fjords. There is one exception, the solitary farm Möðrudalur in Möðrudalsöræfi, uninhabited. This term mainly plays a role in meteorological data.
For highlands include the numerous glaciers like the majority of Vatnajökull, the Langjökull or Hofsjökull. At the glacial rivers are also found some vegetation. On the other hand, certain rivers in the highlands because of the recurrent glacial streams, tidal waves, which are triggered by volcanic activity, can also be quite dangerous.
Some truly enchanting areas with volcanic activity lie in the highlands as Landmannalaugar, Hveravelir, the area around the Askja to Snæfell in the Herðubreið or Kerlingarfjöll.
Practicability
The highlands may only during the Icelandic summer ( June - August) are crossed with all-terrain vehicles. Otherwise, the highland routes are blocked.
The most famous highland routes are the Kaldidalur that Kjölur and sprengisandur routes.
The opening times will be announced by the Icelandic Road Administration Vegagerdin inter alia, on the Internet, where the red color is always a closed runway means ( = isl. " Ófært "). The site is available in the summer in an English version.
General rules of conduct for driving in the highlands
Generally applies to motor vehicle traffic in the highlands that the slopes must not be abandoned. From devastation, as tire tracks, the sparse vegetation recovered only after many years.
On most routes only sometimes exist, if at all, bridges, so that rivers need to be crossed in Fords. It is recommended to note the time of day and the weather condition particularly well, especially in the highlands. Have information on the weather, for example, the lodge hosts (such as in Nýidalur or in Hveravelir ). In warm weather in the summer the rivers are generally in the evening more water because of the snow and ice melt on the glaciers, such as in the Þórsmörk. In addition, the weather conditions in the highlands can change quickly, snowfall in July and August is not uncommon.
On less traveled streets such as the highlands in northern Iceland in the Kverkfjöll or on the Gæsavatnaleið as well as on the Fjallabaksleið in South Iceland as well as on the glaciers, one should never be traveling alone, but best go with other jeeps together in the group. This makes it easier to drive on fords and increases safety.
It should be noted that in large parts of the highlands, there is no telephone connection. It is therefore a safety factor, log on and log off always with hut hosts and specify them his goal. There are also high on all highways orange Nothütten that are equipped with radio, blankets and food storage.
- Driving in the Highlands
Plaque at a ford
On the Lyngdalsheiði between Þingvellir and Laugarvatn in winter
Emergency hut at the Kaldidalurstrecke
Energy
In the northwest of the highlands of Blöndulón Reservoir was built in the eighties. Also, near the Hekla exist several reservoirs such as the Sigöldulón and north of Vatnajökull around the mountain Kárahnjúkar the reservoir Hálslón.
In addition, the Geothermalkraftwerke Hellisheiðarvirkjun, Nejsavellir, Bjarnaflag and Krafla are in the highlands.