The Official Tourist Guide - East Iceland

38
NATURE HIGHLIGTS
- FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ / HÉRAÐ -
⌘ Þerribjörg are some of the most colourful
sea cliffs in Iceland. Experience the brilliant yellow
cliffs, the dark stripes meet the turquoise blue
ocean. The trail starts on the lowland south of
the Hellisheiði pass.
⌘ Möðrudalur. Site of the highest farm in Iceland
at 469 m. Deep inland and including a large area
of land, Möðrudalur has been inhabited almost
continuously since the settlement. The church
there was built single-handedly, at his own
expense, by farmer Jón Stefánsson (1880-1971)
in memory of his wife, and was consecrated in
the year 1949. He also painted the distinctive
altarpiece depicting the Sermon on the Mount.
⌘ Jökuldalsheiði.
This vast highland plateau lies 500-600 m above
sea level with alternating gravel dunes and hills,
green marshlands and endless small lakes full
of trout. During the middle of the 19th century
poor people, who wanted to lead independent
lives inhabited the plateau as lowland farms were
too expensive. The volcano Askja buried most of
these farmlands in ash in the 1875 eruption, driving
many of the poor farmers to emigrate to North
America. Three of the most prominent authors
of the country, Halldor Laxness, Jon Trausti and
Gunnar Gunnarsson, based some of their works
on the experiences of those people. Experience
the 19th century Iceland with visit to Sænautasel.