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Visitors at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon causing serious damage to the site 7868

4. mar 2018 15:09

One of the most beautiful sites in South Iceland is under serious threat as visitors ignore signs and ropes which close walking paths at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. The Icelandic Environment Agency closed the paths earlier this month both to protect the vegetation and to ensure visitor safety.

Paths closed to protect the vegetation

 

Walking

Walking paths at Fjaðrárgljúfur Visitors have tried to avoid the muddy paths by walking on the vegetation, only expanding the destruction. Photo/Bryndís Fanney, Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar

The Icelandic Environment Agency closed the paths along the canyon on March 16 after they had been turned into mudfields by rain, melting snow and heavy traffic. To avoid the muddy paths visitors have been walking on the grass and heath vegetation along the paths. The wild vegetation in Iceland is extremely fragile during early spring, especially in March and April when the ground has not thawed fully.

With frost still in the ground the top layers of the soil can become extremely wet and soggy. As the vegetation has not yet woken from its winter hibernation it cannot withstand the stress from heavy foot traffic. The area around Fjaðrárgljúfur has seen extensive damage due to these causes.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that the agency was exploring ways to keep visitors from entering the closed paths. Most people respect the signs, but there are always some exceptions, he told Morgunblaðið. The paths are clearly marked closed, and the road leading to the canyon has also been closed to keep people away. There is bright tape across the path, and signs, but people don't seem to respect these. 

He added that it seemed it was often more difficult to keep people from entering closed areas if they were further away from major highways or other popular destinations. Some people might reason that they have driven so far. That might play a factor.

Iceland welcomes visitors, but asks for mutual respect

 

Walking

Not a pretty sight The start of the paths along the canyon Photo/Bryndís Fanney, Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar

We at Iceland Insider would like to urge people to please respect the closing of roads or walking paths: Paths and roads are NEVER closed without a good reason! 

The cold sub-arctic summers are too short for the vegetation to recover from the kind of damage we have seen at Fjaðrárgljúfur and many other sites. This means that the damage you might cause is likely permanent: It will take years and significant investment of time and resources to repair.

Remember that nobody is entitled to enter any of these sights. No matter how much you have paid for your visit or how far you have traveled your right to enjoy the beauty of Fjaðrárgljúfur or any other site in Iceland (or anywhere else in the world), nature comes first. The protection of these sites is more important than you crossing them off your must-visit list. 

Iceland and Icelanders welcome foreign visitors. But the respect and courtesy MUST be mutual. Buying an airline ticket to Iceland and renting a car does not provide free and unlimited access to every spot in the country, nor does it grant permission for irresponsible, entitled and destructive behavior.

One of the most beautiful sites in South Iceland is under serious threat as visitors ignore signs and ropes which close walking paths at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. The Icelandic Environment Agency closed the paths earlier this month both to protect the vegetation and to ensure visitor safety.

Paths closed to protect the vegetation

 

Walking

Walking paths at Fjaðrárgljúfur Visitors have tried to avoid the muddy paths by walking on the vegetation, only expanding the destruction. Photo/Bryndís Fanney, Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar

The Icelandic Environment Agency closed the paths along the canyon on March 16 after they had been turned into mudfields by rain, melting snow and heavy traffic. To avoid the muddy paths visitors have been walking on the grass and heath vegetation along the paths. The wild vegetation in Iceland is extremely fragile during early spring, especially in March and April when the ground has not thawed fully.

With frost still in the ground the top layers of the soil can become extremely wet and soggy. As the vegetation has not yet woken from its winter hibernation it cannot withstand the stress from heavy foot traffic. The area around Fjaðrárgljúfur has seen extensive damage due to these causes.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that the agency was exploring ways to keep visitors from entering the closed paths. Most people respect the signs, but there are always some exceptions, he told Morgunblaðið. The paths are clearly marked closed, and the road leading to the canyon has also been closed to keep people away. There is bright tape across the path, and signs, but people don't seem to respect these. 

He added that it seemed it was often more difficult to keep people from entering closed areas if they were further away from major highways or other popular destinations. Some people might reason that they have driven so far. That might play a factor.

Iceland welcomes visitors, but asks for mutual respect

 

Walking

Not a pretty sight The start of the paths along the canyon Photo/Bryndís Fanney, Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar

We at Iceland Insider would like to urge people to please respect the closing of roads or walking paths: Paths and roads are NEVER closed without a good reason! 

The cold sub-arctic summers are too short for the vegetation to recover from the kind of damage we have seen at Fjaðrárgljúfur and many other sites. This means that the damage you might cause is likely permanent: It will take years and significant investment of time and resources to repair.

Remember that nobody is entitled to enter any of these sights. No matter how much you have paid for your visit or how far you have traveled your right to enjoy the beauty of Fjaðrárgljúfur or any other site in Iceland (or anywhere else in the world), nature comes first. The protection of these sites is more important than you crossing them off your must-visit list. 

Iceland and Icelanders welcome foreign visitors. But the respect and courtesy MUST be mutual. Buying an airline ticket to Iceland and renting a car does not provide free and unlimited access to every spot in the country, nor does it grant permission for irresponsible, entitled and destructive behavior.