The Official Tourist Guide - East Iceland

32
NATURE RESERVES
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull national park, established 7. June 2008, is the largest
national park in Europe, covering a total area of 13,600 km 2 (13%
of Iceland), divided into four areas, of which the eastern part covers
2.384km 2 . The objective of the Vatnajökull National Park is to
conserve the area’s landscape, biology, geological formations and
cultural heritage and enable the public to experience and enjoy its
nature and history.
There are many places to visit and experience, the contrasts in the
unique nature are magnificent. The battle between ice and fire still
rages within the National Park’s boundaries. Few other places in the
world exhibit the effects of such wide range of natural phenomena.
Among highlights of the east are Kverkfjöll, the home of Ice and
fire, the oasis Hvannalindir, Snæfell the ancient volcano, where the
reindeer roam and Eyjabakkar the home of the Pink-footed goose.
Getting there
The Visitor Centre for the Park is at Skriduklaustur (road 933).
Access for vehicles to the eastern most part of Vatnajökull is by
road from Fljótsdalur by Hengifoss (F 910) to the Snæfell area and
Brúarjökull, where there is easy access to the glacier. However, most
of the eastern edge of the glacier and its periphery can only be
reached on foot. Roads lead to Kverkfjöll and Hvannalindir from the
ringroad through Jökuldaldur ( F 923) and from Möðrudalur (F 905
and F 902 and F 903). Scheduled buses run to Egilsstadir (www.
bsi.is), and the airport is served by frequent flights (www.flugfelag.is).
Tours are available to the national park.
Snæfell and around
Snæfell, an ancient central volcano, is the highest freestanding
mountain in Iceland, reaching 1833 m above sea-level. It is quite
prominent in the landscape, and on a fine day the view from the top
is marvellous. Snæfell, formed late in the last Ice Age, is the youngest
volcano in East Iceland, and has been dormant for thousands of years.