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The HIGHLAND of Iceland is an uninhabited area that covers most of the interior or backland of Iceland. It is often mistakenly called highlands like the Scottish Highlands. The HIGHLAND is situated above 300–400 meters (1000–1300 feet) and is mostly uninhabitable. The soil is mostly volcanic ash. It is also covered with snow from October until the beginning of June. This results largely in a surface of grey, black or brown earth, lava, and volcanic ashes. A few oasis-like areas, such as Herðubreiðarlindir and Þórsmörk, are found in the Highland. The highland has many natural wonders and interesting hiking trails.
Glaciers in the Highland
Most of the glaciers in Iceland, such as Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Hofsjökull, are also part of the Icelandic Highland. All of the glaciers also have outlet glaciers with seperater names, like Breiðamerkurjökull or Tungnafellsjökull. Many glaciers sit on the top of a volcano and some of them erupt regularly, like the Bárðabunga volcano and glacier. The most famous one in our times is Eyjafjallajökull volacano and glacier that erupted in 2010. In the sandy Highland vegetation is only found on the edges of the glacier and by the many rivers, creeks that float through the HIGHLAND. There is also the danger of glacial outburst floods, or "glacier runs" at times of eruptions and volcanic activity.
Natural wonders in the Highland
Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland is found in the Highland, such as Landmannalaugar, Torfajökull, Eldgjá, Þórsmörk, Herðubreið, Askja, Hveradalir, and many other beautiful places.
Highland roads or F-Roads
The Highland can be crossed only during the Icelandic summer. For the rest of the year the highland roads are closed. The best known highland roads are Kaldidalur, Kjölur, Kjalvegur road and Sprengisandur. Most highland roads require four-wheel drive vehicles, because it is necessary to cross rivers. However, the Kjölur route can easily be traversed in an ordinary car and is therefore one of the more popular highland roads. Off-road driving is forbidden entirely in Iceland where there is no snow, including the Highland, to protect the environment.
See also
References
External links
Media related to Highland of Iceland at Wikimedia Commons
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- "Mountain Roads" (PDF). Environment Agency of Iceland. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2012.