Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [35]
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If you’re visiting in summer, you’ll be treated to incredible displays of wildflowers blooming right across the country. Most of Iceland’s 440 flowering plants are introduced species – especially the noxious purple lupin you’ll see out the window after arriving at Keflavík airport (see opposite for details). Throughout Iceland you’ll see the bright-pink flowers of the tall arctic fireweed around riverbeds; the distinctive, graceful bell shape of the purple arctic harebell; and several varieties of colourful saxifrage and daisies lining every trail. In grassy lowlands look out for the pale and dainty northern green orchid, and in upland areas the white heads of arctic cotton, the soft yellow petals of the upright primrose and the small, pretty flowers of the mountain heath. Coastal areas are generally characterised by low grasses, bogs and marshlands, while at higher elevations hard or soft tundra covers the ground.
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Marimo balls (golf-ball-sized spheres of algae) are found naturally in only two places in the world: Lake Akan in Japan and Iceland’s Mývatn.
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Another common sight when walking just about anywhere in Iceland is the profusion of fungi. There are about 1500 types of fungi growing in Iceland, and you’ll see everything from pale white mushrooms to bright orange flat caps as you walk along trails, by roadsides or through fields.
In southern and eastern Iceland new lava flows are first colonised by mosses, which create a velvety green cloak across the rough rocks. Older lava flows in the east and those at higher elevations are generally first colonised by lichens.
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NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES
Iceland has three national parks and more than 80 nature reserves, natural monuments, country parks and wildlife reserves. Umhverfisstofnun (Environment & Food Agency; http://english.ust.is) is responsible for protecting many of these sites. Their website contains a comprehensive section on each national park. Green thumbs can volunteer on a number of their conservation projects; Click here for details.
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A Guide to the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Iceland, by Hörður Kristinsson, is the best all-round field guide to Icelandic flowers.
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Þingvellir (www.thingvellir.is), Iceland’s oldest national park, protects a scenic 84 sq km lake, the geologically significant Almannagjá rift, and is the site of the original Alþing (National Assembly). The park is administered directly by the prime minister’s office and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Click here for more.
Snæfellsjökull (http://english.ust.is/Snaefellsjokullnationalpark) in west Iceland was established in June 2001. The park protects the Snæfellsjökull glacier (made famous by Jules Verne), the surrounding lava fields and coast; Click here.
Vatnajökull (www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is) is the largest national park in all of Europe and covers roughly 11% of Iceland. It was founded in 2008 by uniting two previously established national parks: Skaftafell, in southeast Iceland, and Jökulsárgljúfur further north. The park protects the entirety of the Vatnajökull glacier, Dettifoss (the strongest waterfall in Europe) and sundry geological anomalies.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Iceland’s small population, pristine wilderness, lack of heavy industry and high use of geothermal and hydroelectric power give it an enviable environmental reputation. Recycling programs are expanding, and many small-business owners are signing up for various eco-conscious certifications such as National Geographic’s Geotourism program