Kjölur
Encyclopedia
The Kjölur is a highland road
in Iceland
. It is the second longest of the roads through the Highlands of Iceland
. It takes about 5 hours to traverse by car
.
near Haukadalur
and behind the Gullfoss
waterfall, ending in the north near Blönduós. The road traverses the interior between two glacier
s, Langjökull
and Hofsjökull
.
At the northern end of the Kjölur road, near the headwaters of the Blanda
river, the hot springs
of Hveravellir provide a warm oasis
. Not far from Hveravellir, the Kerlingarfjöll
, a beautiful volcanic mountain range
, are situated to the north-east of the Kjölur road. The other well-known highland routes are Kaldidalur
and Sprengisandur
.
highland road, the track was probably known since the first times of Icelandic settlement and is mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. To the west of the actual road there is the old Kjalvegur, which is still in use for trekking and horse-riding. Piles of stones mark the old route through the highland desert
. After some people had perished in a snowstorm by the end of the 18th century, the Kjölur road was forgotten for about 100 years. It was rediscovered in the 19th century.
In the 18th century, the Icelandic outlaw
Fjalla-Eyvindur
used the Hveravellir hot springs as a settlement. One of the hot spots in this area is still used for bathing.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It is the second longest of the roads through the Highlands of Iceland
Highlands of Iceland
The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. They are situated above 400–500 metres and are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is unavailable for plant growth, which results...
. It takes about 5 hours to traverse by car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
.
Geography
The road begins in the south of IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
near Haukadalur
Haukadalur
-Haukadalur, Golden Circle:This valley lies to the north of the Laugarvatn in the south of Iceland at .There are to be seen some of the most famous sights of the island: the geysers and other geothermal features which have developed on Laugarfjall rhyolitic dome. The biggest geysers of Haukadalur...
and behind the Gullfoss
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The wide Hvítá rushes southward...
waterfall, ending in the north near Blönduós. The road traverses the interior between two glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, Langjökull
Langjökull
Langjökull is the second largest ice cap in Iceland , after Vatnajökull. It is situated in the west of the Icelandic interior or Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur....
and Hofsjökull
Hofsjökull
Hofsjökull is the third largest glacier in Iceland after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country. It situates at the west of the Highlands of Iceland and north of the mountain range Kerlingarfjöll, between the two largest glaciers of Iceland. It covers an area of...
.
At the northern end of the Kjölur road, near the headwaters of the Blanda
Blanda
The Blanda is a river in Iceland which flows northwards from the northwest side of the Hofsjökull glacier into Húnaflói bay at Blönduós. The Blanda is one of the longest rivers in the country, with a length of about 125 km, and has a catchment area estimated at 2370 km². Its source is...
river, the hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
of Hveravellir provide a warm oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
. Not far from Hveravellir, the Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll is a mountain range in Iceland situated in the Highlands of Iceland near the Kjölur highland road. The volcanic origin of these mountains is evidenced by the numerous hot springs and rivulets in the area. And indeed, they are part of a large volcano system of...
, a beautiful volcanic mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
, are situated to the north-east of the Kjölur road. The other well-known highland routes are Kaldidalur
Kaldidalur
The Kaldidalsvegur is the shortest of the highland tracks traversing the Highlands of Iceland, therefore the nickname "highlands for beginners". Its name derives from the valley it crosses: kaldidalur means "cold dale/valley"...
and Sprengisandur
Sprengisandur
Sprengisandur is a highland gravel road in Iceland, running between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. The name also refers to the highland region surrounding the road....
.
History
Like SprengisandurSprengisandur
Sprengisandur is a highland gravel road in Iceland, running between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. The name also refers to the highland region surrounding the road....
highland road, the track was probably known since the first times of Icelandic settlement and is mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. To the west of the actual road there is the old Kjalvegur, which is still in use for trekking and horse-riding. Piles of stones mark the old route through the highland desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. After some people had perished in a snowstorm by the end of the 18th century, the Kjölur road was forgotten for about 100 years. It was rediscovered in the 19th century.
In the 18th century, the Icelandic outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
Fjalla-Eyvindur
Fjalla-Eyvindur
Fjalla-Eyvindur was an Icelandic outlaw. He and his wife Halla are reported to have fled into the remote highlands of Iceland after 1760. They lived in the wilderness for twenty years...
used the Hveravellir hot springs as a settlement. One of the hot spots in this area is still used for bathing.
