Vaglaskógur
The Vaglaskógur in the north of Iceland is one of the largest forest areas on the island. Birch trees in particular grow here and reach heights that are unusual for Icelandic standards. The forest is a nature reserve and a popular tourist destination. It is located in the municipality of Þingeyjarsveit .
Geography and location
Coordinates: 65 ° 43 ′ 0 ″ N , 17 ° 53 ′ 0 ″ W.
The area is located in the Fnjóskadalur , the valley of the Fnjóská river in northern Iceland east of the Vaðlaheiði mountain range . The closest larger town is Akureyri in the municipality of Þingeyjarsveit , which is about ten kilometers southwest of the Eyjafjörður fjord . Politically, the area is part of the district (sýsla) Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla .
The Hringvegur , the Icelandic ring road and thus the most important long-distance road in Iceland, leads directly past the forest area in the north.
vegetation
With an area of around 300 hectares, the Vaglaskógur is the second largest forest area in Iceland after the Hallormsstaðaskógur near Egilsstaðir . Neighboring forests such as the Hálsskógur in the north and Lundsskógur , Þórðarstaðaskógur , Belgsárskogur and Bakkaselsskógur in the south directly connect to the Vaglaskógur. Together they actually form a single closed forest area, the largest in Iceland. For historical reasons and because of different ownership structures, however, they are designated as independent forest areas.
The Vaglaskógur is considered to be one of the most beautiful forests in Iceland. Mainly birch and spruce are represented here. A tree height of 12 meters is not uncommon, some birch trees reach up to 14 meters. The soil here consists of fertile basalt , covered by river gravel and sand.
Use and conservation
For a long time, the forest was endangered due to overexploitation by the local farmers who use the fertile soil in the area for agriculture. Several charcoal piles for charcoal production were found. Based on finds from slag dumps , it is assumed that the coal was used for iron processing. In 1905 the government acquired the land and began the first protective measures. In 1908 the forest was placed under nature protection, a year later a forester was hired to look after the forest. A total of 690 hectares of land are under protection here today.
Today the wood of the forest is used as firewood, but also for smoking food. The birch wood in particular is also used for handicrafts. Christmas trees are also produced here. Above all, however, forest science experiments with various tree species take place in the tree nursery in the reserve, which are tested for their suitability for the Icelandic climate. Around 100 different tree species are grown here.
tourism
Today, Vaglaskógur is a popular holiday destination and attracts campers and mountain bikers, among others . Many people also come here to fish in Fnjóská. The tourist infrastructure includes several campsites and an information center with a small grocery store. There are several marked hiking trails through the area. In addition to the tree nursery, a stone arch bridge over the river, the first of its kind built in Iceland in 1908, is an attraction.
Trivia
The hit "Vor í Vaglaskógi" ( Spring in Vaglaskógur ), played by the Icelandic rock group Kaleo , can be heard at the beginning of the first episode of the series Trapped - Gefangen in Iceland . The song itself was written by Jónas Jónasson and Kristján frá Djúpalæk in 1966.
Web links
- Vaglaskógur forest (engl.)
- Vaglaskógur on Nordic Adventure travel
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Vaglaskógur forest (Eng.). Retrieved November 26, 2009 .
- ↑ http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20070502115608/www.eything.is/ktml2/files/uploads/pdf/geological_conditions.pdf
- ↑ a b Vaglaskógur on Nordic Adventure travel. Retrieved November 26, 2009 .