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Latest revision as of 09:56, 30 August 2024 edit undoEntranced98 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers170,883 edits Adding local short description: "Geographical area of Iceland", overriding Wikidata description "area in Iceland"Tag: Shortdesc helper |
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{{Short description|Geographical area of Iceland}} |
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The '''Highlands of Iceland''' cover most of the interior of ]. They are situated above 400-500 metres and are mostly uninhabitable, because the water coming down as rain or snow can not be preserved in the higher levels of the floor. It is therefore mostly a ] of grey, black or brown earth, ] and ]. A few ]-like areas, such as '']'' near ], are found only within proximity to rivers. |
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{{multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}{{Tone|date=May 2023}}}} |
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] dominates the central Highland, through which the ] road winds its way]] |
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The '''Highland''' (]: ''Hálendið)'' or The Central Highland<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bishop |first1=Michaël Virgil |last2=Ólafsdóttir |first2=Rannveig |last3=Árnason |first3=Þorvarður |date=February 2022 |title=Tourism, Recreation and Wilderness: Public Perceptions of Conservation and Access in the Central Highland of Iceland |journal=Land |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=242 |doi=10.3390/land11020242 |issn=2073-445X |doi-access=free }}</ref> is an area that comprises much of the interior land of ]. The Highland is situated above 300–400 meters (1000–1300 feet) and is mostly uninhabitable. The soil is primarily ], and the terrain consists of ] mountains and ]s. Snow covers the Highland from October until the beginning of June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weather and climate in Iceland |url=https://www.visiticeland.com/article/weather-and-climate/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=www.visiticeland.com}}</ref> A few ]-like areas, such as ] and ], are also found in the Highland. The area has many notable natural features and hiking trails.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Visit Iceland - Official Tourist Info for Iceland |url=https://www.visiticeland.com/geography-of-iceland/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=www.visiticeland.com}}</ref> |
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Icelanders are categorising the highlands: 1) "háls" meaning a broad mountain ridge between valleys, like f.ex. near Langavatn north of ]; 2) "heiði" which means the real highlands like along ] road. |
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== Natural features in the Highland == |
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The numerous ]s like ], ] and ] are also mostly part of the Icelandic Highlands. Vegetation is only to be found on the shores of the glacier rivers. There is also the danger of ]s. |
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The Highland encompasses various geological features, including ], ], ], ], ], ], Hveradalir, ], and the ] waterfall. Sites in the Highland are difficult to access and may be accessible only during the summer months. Most sites require ] or ]s for access due to the unpaved dirt roads. ] provides some of the most interesting vista points to visit in the Icelandic Highland, for instance this point located at the northwest part of the colorful caldera ], showing characteristic rhyolite lava fields and mountains ]] |
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== Glaciers and volcanoes in the Highland == |
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Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland with volcanic activity are to be found in the Highlands, such as ] and the region around ] and ]. |
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The largest ]s in the Highland are ], ], ], ], and ], with multiple outlet glaciers. Many glaciers occur atop ], some of which erupt regularly, such as the ] volcano.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2014 Holuhraun eruption |url=https://www.visiticeland.com/article/2014-holuhraun-eruption/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=www.visiticeland.com}}</ref> The most famous of these volcanoes in recent times is ], which ]. 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 ]s, 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 ].<ref name=":0" /> |
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== Recreation in the Highland== |
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The Highlands can only be crossed during the Icelandic summer (June to August). For the rest of the year the highland roads are closed down. The best known highland roads are ], ] and ]. People who want to cross the Highlands will need a car with ], because one would have to ford rivers. Explorers are not permitted to leave the roads as the scarce vegetation is very sensitive. |
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There are several hiking trails in the Highland. A popular route is the 54 km ] hiking trail from ] to ]. Other notable hikes are ] and old ]. |
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== Highland roads or F-Roads== |
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==See also== |
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The Highland can be crossed only during the Icelandic summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegagerdin.is/media/umferd-og-faerd/Opnun_fjallvega_en_2014.pdf|title=Mountain Roads|language=en|publisher=Environment Agency of Iceland|date=2014|access-date=26 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421223743/http://www.vegagerdin.is/media/umferd-og-faerd/Opnun_fjallvega_en_2014.pdf|archive-date=21 April 2015}}</ref> For the rest of the year, Highland roads are closed. Driving off-road is forbidden,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driving safely in Iceland |url=http://www.road.is/travel-info/driving-safely-in-iceland/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration |language=en}}</ref> to protect both drivers and environmental features. |
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The Highlands of Iceland can be crossed during the summer and is a popular hobby amongst many Icelanders to do so. There are many who do travel in the wintertime across the Highlands of Iceland and use snowmobiles and modified SUVs to do so. They are also known as superjeeps. There are also several organizations in Iceland, such "The 4x4 club" and "The Icelandic Travel Club" who all focus on travel in Iceland, both in the summer time and winter time. The socalled superjeeps are widely spread around Iceland and is both in use of the National Rescue Organization and also in private use. At least 35% of car owners in Iceland own such a vehicle, modified or not. |
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Toyota in Iceland inc. (most of these SUVs are a Toyota, Nissan or some American brand) organized an expedition across the Greenland glacier in the 1990's and in 2000-2001 same jeeps made their way to the Antartic just to see what these babies could do. A brief stop in the Arabian desert was made on the way. These same cars are still seen on the streets in Reykjavik (capital of Iceland) and are also used to show foreign visitors the beauty of Iceland in the winter time. The Northern Lights are awesome in the highlands of Iceland. |
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The best-known Highland roads are ], ], ], Fjallabak syðri, Fjallabak nyrðri, Lakavegur, ], and ]. Most Highland roads require ] 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. |
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== External links == |
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== See also == |
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* |
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* ] |
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* (English and Icelandic) |
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* ] |
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==References== |
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] |
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{{Reflist}} |
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* (The Highland in Iceland) |
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== External links == |
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{{Wikivoyage|Interior (Iceland)}} |
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{{Commons category-inline|Highland of Iceland}} |
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{{Interior routes of Iceland}} |
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{{Iceland topics}} |
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The Highland can be crossed only during the Icelandic summer. For the rest of the year, Highland roads are closed. Driving off-road is forbidden, to protect both drivers and environmental features.
Media related to Highland of Iceland at Wikimedia Commons
