Lónsöræfi

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Eurasian whimbrel, popular bird in Lónsöræfi

Lónsöræfi (Icelandic pronunciation: ​[ˈlounsˌœːrˌaiːvɪ]) is a wilderness area in south-east Iceland. The region is characterised by its varied geological formations.^{[citation needed]} These mostly date from a period between 5 to 7 million years ago, when the volcano [ˈkʰɔtlʏˌmuːlaˌɛltˌstœðvar̥] was active.^{[citation needed]} The glacier tongues of the eastern extreme of Vatnajökull also impose themselves on the area. Visible to the north-west is Snæfell [ˈstnaiːˌfɛtl̥] (1833m), the highest peak in Iceland that isn't part of a glacier. The mountains within the area itself include Sauðhamarstindur [ˈsœiðˌhaːmar̥sˌtʰɪntʏr̥] (1319m) and Jökulgilstindar [ˈjœːkʏlˌkɪlsˌtʰɪntar̥] (1313 m).

Lónsöræfi, while less known and less accessible^[1] than areas such as Skaftafell and the Southern Highlands, is nevertheless popular with hikers. A transport service from Stafafell [ˈstaːvaˌfɛtl̥] farm into the reserve via all-terrain bus is available.^{[citation needed]} Alternatively, the recent construction of a bridge^{[citation needed]} for walkers over the river [ˈjœːkʏlsˌauː i ˈlouːnɪ] at [ˈɛscɪˌfɛtl̥] has improved access for hikers. There are mountain huts at [ˈcɛltiŋkaˌfɛtl̥], [ˈmuːlaˌskauːlɪ] and [ˈeijɪlsˌsɛːl̥]^{[citation needed]} run by regional associations of . A 4-6 day walking route from Snæfell to Stafafell is possible^{[citation needed]} via the [ˈeiːjaˌpahkaˌjœːkʏtl̥] glacier tongue. The area can also be reached from [ˈceitˌhɛtlnaˌtaːlʏr̥].^{[citation needed]} The nearest settlements of any size are Höfn and Djúpivogur.

Lón [ˈlouːn].

External links[]

• Lónsöræfi page of the Icelandic Environment and Food Agency (in Icelandic)
• Ferðafélags Austur-Skaftafellssýslu (in Icelandic)
• Ferðafélag Fljótsdalshéraðs (in Icelandic)
• Account of a trek through Lónsöræfi, with photos (in German)
• Lengthy report into tourism in Lónsöræfi, with photos (in Icelandic)

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References[]

Coordinates: 64°35′40″N 15°11′44″W / 64.59444°N 15.19556°W / 64.59444; -15.19556