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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 are categorising the highlands: 1) "háls" meaning a broad mountain ridge between valleys, like f.ex. near Langavatn north of Borgarnes; 2) "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 4-wheel drive, because one would have to ford rivers. Explorers are not permitted to leave the roads as the scarce vegetation is very sensitive.

See also

Volcanoes of Iceland 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.

 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.

External links

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

• Highlands of Iceland