Growing tourism and larger numbers of visitors bring with them new challenges. Park Rangers working for the Icelandic Environment Agency have experienced this first hand during the summer, as they have been busy managing the effects of growing tourism in the Mývatn region in North Iceland. Among them, the cleaning up crude graffiti.
Read more: Before-and-after photos of vandalized moss of volcanic crater show repairs successful
The volcanic sand of Hverfjall crater by Mývatn lake seems to work as a magnet on jokers and vandals who feel an irresistible urge to leave their mark on the landscape. Park rangers therefore make regular trips to the crater to eliminate giant markings visitors leave in the volcanic sand and tepthra in the crater. During a major operation in 2008 the Environment Agency cleaned out all such markings.
This year, however, the Agency has seen an explosion in the number and size of graffiti in the crater, culminating in a giant picture of what appears to be a piece of the male anatomy. Park Rangers raked over the picture, and other markings left by visitors, thus helping to preserve the beauty of the crater. The Environment Agency urges visitors to Hverfjall to respect the site and ensure that future visitors will be able to enjoy its beauty as well:
There might be some momentary fun to be had from claiming the crater for oneself by leaving giant graffiti in the sand, or by stacking up rocks, but it's not at all obvious other visitors will find the same pleasure in being forced to view your works. In addition it should be noted that any form of graffiti is illegal in Icelandic nature.
Growing tourism and larger numbers of visitors bring with them new challenges. Park Rangers working for the Icelandic Environment Agency have experienced this first hand during the summer, as they have been busy managing the effects of growing tourism in the Mývatn region in North Iceland. Among them, the cleaning up crude graffiti.
Read more: Before-and-after photos of vandalized moss of volcanic crater show repairs successful
The volcanic sand of Hverfjall crater by Mývatn lake seems to work as a magnet on jokers and vandals who feel an irresistible urge to leave their mark on the landscape. Park rangers therefore make regular trips to the crater to eliminate giant markings visitors leave in the volcanic sand and tepthra in the crater. During a major operation in 2008 the Environment Agency cleaned out all such markings.
This year, however, the Agency has seen an explosion in the number and size of graffiti in the crater, culminating in a giant picture of what appears to be a piece of the male anatomy. Park Rangers raked over the picture, and other markings left by visitors, thus helping to preserve the beauty of the crater. The Environment Agency urges visitors to Hverfjall to respect the site and ensure that future visitors will be able to enjoy its beauty as well:
There might be some momentary fun to be had from claiming the crater for oneself by leaving giant graffiti in the sand, or by stacking up rocks, but it's not at all obvious other visitors will find the same pleasure in being forced to view your works. In addition it should be noted that any form of graffiti is illegal in Icelandic nature.
