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Herðubreiðarlindir and Askja

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Islande (Europe et Amérique du nord)

Date de soumission : 18/12/2001
Critères: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Catégorie : Naturel
Soumission préparée par :
Menntamalaraduneytid. Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
Coordonnées
65°12' N - 16°12' W / 65°01' N - 16°45' W
Ref.: 1612

Description

The mountain, Herðubreið, is of table-mount type that is also an example of volcanic eruption under a glacier, formed during the last Ice Age, when the glacier was about 1,000 m thick. The area's importance is linked to the rich and diverse vegetation in the oasis at the banks of river, Lind6 and in Grafarl6nd. The most common species of plants are: Archangelica, Tealeaved willow, Broad-leaved willow and Least willow, but the most colourful of all is the Arctic river-beauty. Also fascinating is the multitude of species categorised as primitive plants. A multitude of Pink-footed geese nest in the Herðubreiðarlindir and Grafarlönd area. Many other bird species inhabit the spring areas, e.g. Harlequin ducks, Mallards, Red-throated divers, Purple sandpipers, White wagtails, Snow buntings, Long-tailed duck, Red-necked phalaropes, Arctic terns, Arctic skuas, Falcons, Ravens, Merlins and Great skuas.



The caldera, Askja, in the DyngjufjC511 central volcano, is among the most remarkable geological formations. The Dyngjufjöll mountain, formed mostly by sub-glacial eruption, with Askja being formed at the end of the Ice Age in a major eruption that emptied the magma chamber underneath, causing the roof of the magma chamber to subside. Askja is still quite active, with its foundation gradually sinking. In 1875, an immensely powerful eruption occurred at the present site of the lake, Oskjuvatn. During 1922 to 1929 several small eruptions occurred and one more recently in 1961. In the 1875 eruption, the crater Viti (Inferno) was formed in a single explosive eruption. Water has accumulated in the crater and its temperature is about 300C, depending on the amount of melt-water discharging into it.



In 1907 a mysterious and tragic event took place in the Askja area during a German scientific expedition. The geologist Walter von Knebel and painter Max Rudolf drowned in lake Askja while conducting their research. They vanished without a trace. Von Knebels fiancée commented after searching for the men unsuccessfully, "Few mortal men are consigned to such a majestic grave as the two who rest in this stately, bright mountain lake. " The fiancée had a cairn stone monument built in 1908 to commemorate the two men.



The legendary outlaw Eyvindur Jónsson spent the winter of 1774-75 in the Herðubreiðarlindir area. He considered it the worst winter of the entire term of his exile.