Iceland Portal

Most of Iceland is an uncultivated, uninhabited wilderness of mountains, lava, sand and lakes. There are also several glaciers: Vatnajökull Glacier is the largest in Europe. The Central Highlands region is one of the most remarkable areas in the world, where breathtaking natural features fill the horizon in every direction.

The terrain is often difficult to cross and the weather can be harsh and wintry at any time of year. There are around 400 buildings spread over the entire region, from old shepherds huts to modern tourist cabins. Descriptions in ancient literature relate how the early settlers occupied the lowland and explored the rest of the country, looking for ways to cross the highlands. Many routes were known in the early centuries and some are mentioned in description of the campaigns fought by the warring families from North and West Iceland. In later centuries the Central Highlands became shrouded in mystery as fewer people crossed the high regions. Travelers returned with fantastic stories of oversize sheep and wanton maidens. There are many tales of shepherds who got lost and wandered into the wilderness where they found outlaw buildings where everything was several sizes larger than down on the lowlands. The mists gradually lifted, however, and Icelanders ventured more often into the interior. The whole country was eventually surveyed in detail. People now cross the highlands using many modes of transport, both in summer and in winter. The Central Highlands are a new resource, for tourism, geothermal hear and hydroelectric potential. New legislation now protects the whole area and limits its exploitation.