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Skaftafell

Iceland (Europe and North America)

Date of Submission: 18/12/2001
Criteria:
Category: Mixed
Submission prepared by:
Menntamalaraduneytid. Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
Coordinates:
64°02' N - 17°00' W
Ref.: 1603

Description

Nature:

Skaftafell National Park was established on 15 September 1967 and at that time covered an area of 500 kM2. On 27 July 1984 the park area was enlarged and now encompasses an area of 1700 kM2. Inside the park boundaries is a part of Vatnajokull glacier (Europe's largest glacier), but its total coverage is about 8% of the land area. The landscape has been and is being shaped by active glaciers and glacial rivers. Prominent features in the landscape are valley glaciers and glacial rivers. The rivers were a considerable hindrance to travel until they were bridged in 1974. Great floods (orjokulhlaup) occur in these rivers, but they are caused by volcanic activity and geothermal heat under the ice in the Grimsvotn area (inside the park). The volcano Oreafajokull, just outside the park boundary produced great tephra fall in the eruptions of 1362 and 1727. After the 1362, eruption the area was completely abandoned and renamed Oraefi (wasteland). Due to the shelter of the high mountains vegetation in the area is quite varied. The mountain slopes are covered with birch forest and willow scrubs with flourishing undergrowth.



Culture:



In Skaftafell National Park are a number of old houses and numerous other cultural remains in various stages of decline. The remains of the old farm of Skaftafell are still visible in the sand just under the slope of the hills. The farm was moved in 1867, when the encroachment of the rivers came to such a level that it was no longer habitable. There were three farms in the hills above the old farm in the mid-19th century: Hae6ir, Sel and Bolti. The ruins of westernmost farm, Hae6ir, are still visible. The National Museum of Iceland has been having the farm Sel repaired, it is a so-called fj6saba6stofa (the inhabitants living room was heated with warmth from the cowshed underneath.) which was inhabited until 1946. A few outhouses from the farm are also in good condition. In Bblti we have a number of old houses and the dwelling house, which was built in the mid-20th century is still used in the summer. It is only a short distance between houses and ruins, which makes the site a pleasant and unified experience. A number of the houses are built with same techniques as the Settlers used 1 1 centuries ago, and it is rare to see this building style still in use in Iceland as recently as in the last couple of centuries.



The archaeological remains in Skaftafell show us better than most others the incredibly harsh conditions people used to live in--conditions that people today have difficulty imagining. The building style is unique to Iceland and it is hard to think of a building style that is more a part of the surrounding nature. The houses look as if they grew out of the ground and are almost completely clad in grass just like the surrounding fields.