Some highland roads may open as early as this week after a winter that saw unusually little snow. That's a full month earlier than in recent years. According to the National Broadcasting Service RÚV, there is very little snow left in the highlands. The early opening brings its own challenges, though.
A chief foreman for The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration told RÚV that conditions in the highlands this year are highly unusual. The highland roads have usually been opened around the 20th of June.
A longer summer means more maintenance
Opening a month earlier will require more maintenance work. The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue has operated a highlands watch to assist travellers after the roads across the highlands have opened in recent years. The unseasonable conditions this year have caught authorities by surprise, though. It's unclear if SAR and highland rangers will be ready for the early start to the travel season in the highlands.
Among the roads now being prepared for opening is the gravel road to Dettifoss waterfall in the northeast of Iceland.
Information on highland roads is available on the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's website. A map on the website shows graphically whether roads are open.
Please note: Highland roads are only meant for vehicles equipped with 4×4.
Some highland roads may open as early as this week after a winter that saw unusually little snow. That's a full month earlier than in recent years. According to the National Broadcasting Service RÚV, there is very little snow left in the highlands. The early opening brings its own challenges, though.
A chief foreman for The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration told RÚV that conditions in the highlands this year are highly unusual. The highland roads have usually been opened around the 20th of June.
A longer summer means more maintenance
Opening a month earlier will require more maintenance work. The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue has operated a highlands watch to assist travellers after the roads across the highlands have opened in recent years. The unseasonable conditions this year have caught authorities by surprise, though. It's unclear if SAR and highland rangers will be ready for the early start to the travel season in the highlands.
Among the roads now being prepared for opening is the gravel road to Dettifoss waterfall in the northeast of Iceland.
Information on highland roads is available on the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's website. A map on the website shows graphically whether roads are open.
Please note: Highland roads are only meant for vehicles equipped with 4×4.
