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The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. 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 desert of grey, black or brown earth, lava and volcanic ashes. A few oasis-like areas, such as Herðubreiðarlindir near Askja, are found only within proximity to rivers.

Icelanders categorise the highlands:

• "Háls" meaning a broad mountain ridge between valleys, like f.ex. near Langavatn north of Borgarnes; or
• "Heiði" which means the real highlands like along Sprengisandur road.

The numerous glaciers like Vatnajökull, Langjökull and Hofsjökull 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 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 down. The best known highland roads are Kaldidalur, Kjölur and Sprengisandur. People who want to cross the Highlands will need a car with four wheel drive, because one would have to ford rivers. Offroad driving is forbidden in the highlands when they are snow free to protect the vegetation, "road" in that context may mean any tracks that are already there but it is forbidden to make new tracks.

See also

Volcanoes of Iceland

External links

• Photos from www.islandsmyndir.is
• Actual road conditions (English and Icelandic)

• Highlands of Iceland