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Skaftafell National Park
Europe largest national park!
 Skaftafell, which was declared a National Park in 1967, is one of the
crown jewels of Icelandic nature. It was for long time the largest national park in Europe at 4,807
km2, and now it is even bigger, since it became part of Vatnajökull
National Park that cover 13.600 km2 . It is world-famous for its unique natural beauty and the
dramatic contrasts in its landscape. The creeping glaciers Skeiđarárjökull,
Morsárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull dominate the area - making it the easiest
part of Iceland for glacier exploration. Skaftafell has some of the most diverse
flora and fauna found in any part of the country, with protected species
including growing stocks of Arctic fox and ptarmigan. Although ptarmigan is
hunted in many parts of Iceland, there is a saying in Örćfi that no one should
go around shooting his friends.
Skaftafell takes its name from an ancient estate and assembly
site. There are still two farms in the district; over the centuries they have
been moved up the slopes of the mountain as Skeiđará river gradually deposited
its sands on the fields lower down. Certain plants found there are rare in
pastureland, such as broad-leaved willow herb and wild angelica, which are
common in glacial till and have flourished after the area was protected from
grazing. Other characteristic local species are bluebell, willow and birch. Some
of the tallest birches in Iceland grow in Bćjarstađaskógur, which supplies the
bulk of the country's birch for forestation projects.
Although there are too many interesting sights to see in the
national park to mention them all, Skaftafellsjökull glacier and Morsárdalur
valley deserve special mention. In the 18th century a trollwoman was said to
live in Morsárdalur - and owed a debt of gratitude to farmer Einar Jónsson from
Skaftafell, who had helped her to cross the rivers with her new-born baby troll.
It was a custom among people who went to Bćjarstađaskógur to chop wood to call
out "Einar sends his regards!" from the edge of the heath, so that the
trollwoman would not harm them. It has since emerged that Einar was probably
sheltering a relative of his wife's who was sentenced to be executed in 1727, by
allowing him to stay in the valley. So the story about the trollwoman and
Einar's greeting to her were actually his way of warning the outlaw that people
were approaching.
The national park is organised as a hiking and outdoor
leisure area for families. Many hiking and walking routes can be taken there, of
varying degrees of difficulty. Shorter walks include Giljastígur (1.5-2 hours),
past Svartifoss waterfall (see photo) and to the top of Sjónarsker for a
panoramic view across the glaciers and Morsárdalur. A longer and much tougher
hike is up the mountain to Kristínartindar, taking around 8 hours. Almost all
visitors are sure to find something to suit them between these two extremes.
A tourist information desk and a small shop are operated at
the Service Centre. Wardens are employed in summer to assist visitors and offer
a range of guided walks. There is also a campsite with good facilities.
Skaftafell National Park
Address: Skaftafell - 785
Örćfi - Iceland
Phone: +354
4708300
E-mail:
skaftafell@vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is
Web site:
www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is
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