A group of three young backpackers in Þingvellir National Park left a path of destruction, damaging vulnerable and delicate moss growths in an attempt to insulate their tents. During the weekend park rangers noticed that the campers had piled up large amounts of moss around their tents. Huge wounds were found in the ground nearby, where the campers had pulled up large amounts of moss to pile around their tents.
According to a post on the Facebook page of the Natonal Park rangers approached the campers to give them a stern talking to, and explain to them the severity of what they had done. The campers they claimed they had believed their actions were ok, but expressed deep remorse when they realized how serious their behavior was. The travellers then left the park. Rangers attempted to cover up the damage caused by the thoughtless travellers, with some success. The Police has been notified of the behavior.
Nokkrir tjaldgestir sem gistu í Vatnskoti um helgina unnu skemmdir á gróðri og mosa þegar þeir rifu upp mikið magn af…
Posted by Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum / Thingvellir National Park on Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Mosses take a very long time to growth and it is never, under any circumstances, ok to pull up mosses. The wound you leave behind can take decades to heal.
We at Iceland Insider hope that the young backpackers have learned their lesson and they do not cause any more damage on their travels in Iceland, and that other travellers will learn from their mistake and treat Icelandic nature with the respect it deserves. Especially the plants! Plants in Iceland have to survive long and gruelling winters and only have a very short time to grow during the summer.
A group of three young backpackers in Þingvellir National Park left a path of destruction, damaging vulnerable and delicate moss growths in an attempt to insulate their tents. During the weekend park rangers noticed that the campers had piled up large amounts of moss around their tents. Huge wounds were found in the ground nearby, where the campers had pulled up large amounts of moss to pile around their tents.
According to a post on the Facebook page of the Natonal Park rangers approached the campers to give them a stern talking to, and explain to them the severity of what they had done. The campers they claimed they had believed their actions were ok, but expressed deep remorse when they realized how serious their behavior was. The travellers then left the park. Rangers attempted to cover up the damage caused by the thoughtless travellers, with some success. The Police has been notified of the behavior.
Nokkrir tjaldgestir sem gistu í Vatnskoti um helgina unnu skemmdir á gróðri og mosa þegar þeir rifu upp mikið magn af…
Posted by Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum / Thingvellir National Park on Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Mosses take a very long time to growth and it is never, under any circumstances, ok to pull up mosses. The wound you leave behind can take decades to heal.
We at Iceland Insider hope that the young backpackers have learned their lesson and they do not cause any more damage on their travels in Iceland, and that other travellers will learn from their mistake and treat Icelandic nature with the respect it deserves. Especially the plants! Plants in Iceland have to survive long and gruelling winters and only have a very short time to grow during the summer.
