Download Tentative Lists with Brief Descriptions

Tentative Lists with Brief Descriptions
ICELAND
Name of property: Torfajökull Volcanic System / Fjallabak Nature Reserve
Coordinates: N63 56 W19 03
Date of submission: 15/04/2013
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Iceland
Brief Description
The Torfajökull area is approximately 600 km 2 rhyolite massif at an altitude of 600-1200 meters above sea level in the
south central Icelandic highlands. It covers the Torfajökull volcanic system along with the southern tip of the
Bárðarbunga volcanic system to the north. The landscape is spectacular, mountainous, screes are abundant and the
effects of volcanic activity are highly dominant. Craters, lava and hyaloclastite characterise the northern part of the
area, but light coloured rhyolite the Torfajökull caldera to the south. The high-temperature geothermal field associated
with Torfajökull is the largest and most powerful in the country and the terrain inside the caldera is typified by
immense geothermal activity. Fumaroles and hot springs are widespread and steam plume visible in many places.
These conditions create different habitats for the biota that is diverse, especially when taking into account the high
elevation. The conservation value of the area is indisputable and a part of the Torfajökull area, the Fjallabak Nature
Reserve (446 km2), has been protected since 1979 and is a popular place for tourism and hiking.
The Fjallabak Nature Reserve lies at the boundary of two different volcanic zones, a rift zone and a flank zone.
Eruptive formations in the nature reserve pertain mostly to the Torfajökull volcanic system in the South Iceland flank
zone. However, craters and lava in the north and northeast parts of the reserve relate to the fissure swarm of the
Bárðarbunga volcanic system, which stretches out to the southwest from the middle section of the rift zone. These
two volcanic systems are dissimilar in many respects. The Bárðarbunga volcanic fissure swarm is a part of the rift
zone and only ejects basaltic magma. The Torfajökull volcano has no clear volcanic fissure swarm, displays limited
divergence and the bulk of the volcanic material is rhyolite. In the middle of the volcano is a large, elliptical caldera
which is about 16 km from west to east and about 12 km from north to south. Little is known about the age of the
caldera but it is likely to be about 500,000 years old.
For a long time, there has been very little volcanic activity in the eastern and southern sections of the caldera, as the
landscape clearly indicates. The erosive forces, mostly glacial rivers, have shaped the landscape which is
characterised by deep ravines and gullies with sharp edges between them. The whole eroded area is extremely
colourful. In the western and northern parts of the caldera, the landscape is characterized by greyish and black
rhyolite lavas. The terrain in the northern part of the reserve, north of Landmannalaugar, has a different and darker
appearance than that of the area within the Torfajökull caldera. The volcanic formations in this area belong to the
Bárðarbunga volcanic system. Alluvial plains and basaltic lava cover nearly all of the flat land. Huge black and red
tephra craters rise out of the lava, together with sporadic hyaloclastite ridges.
In the northern part of the reserve, an exceptional phenomenon can be observed: the crustal extension that
accompanies eruptions in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system has extended into the Torfajökull area and set off
volcanic eruptions within the caldera. Eruptions have then happened simultaneously in both volcanic systems,
rhyolite at Torfajökull and basalt in the Bárðarbunga volcanic fissure swarm. At the junction of the volcanic systems,
i.e. in the vicinity of the caldera edge, a blend of these two types of magma is typically seen, i.e. basalt and rhyolite in
the same lava. During the Holocene, eruptions have occurred up to 11 times in the Torfajökull area, all eruptions
being in the western and northern parts of the area. Eruptions have occurred at least six times concurrently at
Bárðarbunga and Torfajökull, two of which have happened since Iceland was
settled.
The largest and most powerful high-temperature geothermal area in the country lies within the Torfajökull area.
The geothermal activity is very diverse and there are many rare geothermal phenomena. The most important
distinctive feature of the geothermal activity in the Torfajökull area is the presence of so-called “boiling pans”. “Boiling
pans” are shallow, boiling thermal pools with a sand or gravel bottom. An even, constant boil or gas flow is present
through much of the pool. Mudpots and mud pools are also present almost wherever geothermal activity is found.
Fumaroles are fairly widespread while sulphur mounds and altered ground are common. Steam vents and fumarolic
salts in hot ground are widely distributed. In the hot spring areas silica and calcium carbonate deposits are common
and microbial growth is evident. Diverse and unique thermophilic bacteria and archaea are found at the geothermal
area at Torfajökull.
Name of property: Þingvellir National Park
Coordinates: N64 15 W21 05
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry for the Environment
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Bláskógarbyggð, South Iceland
Brief Description
Þingvellir National Park is located on the northern shore of the Lake Þingvallavatn. It is about 240 km 2 in size and its
protection is based on the Þingvellir Conservation Act dating back to 1928. The national park was enlarged and the
conservation status improved through better conservation and management with new legislation in 2004 by Act no.
47/2004 on Þingvellir National Park and by regulation no. 848/2005 on Þingvellir National Park. The old national park,
part of the current national park, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004 as a cultural landscape.
Geology
Þingvellir and Lake Þingvallavatn occupy a NE-SW elongated graben within the western branch of the rift zone in
SW-Iceland. The rift zone represents the continuation of the Mid-Atlantic ridge across Iceland. Holocene lavas are
most extensive in the central part of the graben, while Upper Pleistocene hyaloclastites and pillow lavas of sub-glacial
origin and inter- or supraglacial lavas are most extensive at the periphery of the graben. All the rocks are basaltic.
The topography slopes gently away from the Langjökull glacier in the northeast towards the Reykjanes peninsula in
the southwest. The Hengill central volcano closes the lake basin towards the southwest. The morphology and
structure of the lake surroundings are strongly dominated by faults with throws of locally more than 100 m towards
the actively sinking and expanding graben.
Water from the catchment area is filtered through lavas and hyaloclastites before emerging as springs within fractures
and fissures at the shores of the lake. Lake Þingvallavatn and its catchment are almost entirely nested within the rift
zone of SW-Iceland.
The presence of a glacier during the ice age had a profound effect on volcanism and the resulting volcanic landforms
in the area. Within a glacier the interaction of melt water and magma leads to pillow lava formation, magma
fragmentation and explosive activity. Ridges and mounds are built up of pillow lava, hyaloclastite tuffs, breccias and
minor intrusions. If the eruptions break through the ice, subaerial cap lavas can form on top. The resulting landforms,
called tindars and tuyas, are quite common around Þingvellir and in Iceland, but are exceedingly rare elsewhere.
Since the ice retreated from the area around 11.000 years ago volcanic eruptions have mainly produced lavas.
Voluminous basaltic lavas flowed into the Þingvellir graben in early Holocene time (around 10.000 years ago). Most
prominent are the lava shields of Skjaldbreiður to the northeast and Eldborgir to the east. Some of the lavas at
Þingvellir and Gjábakki are thought to be from eruptions which occurred slightly earlier than Eldborgir. About 3.600
years ago a fissure eruption NE of Lake Þingvallavatn (northeast of Hrafnabjörg) produced the Þjófahraun lava, which
extends towards Þingvellir. The youngest lava in the area, Nesjahraun, erupted from a crater row at the southwestern
shore of Þingvallavatn about 2000 years ago. At the same time the phreatic tuff cone of Sandey was formed in the
middle of the lake. Earlier lavas are also found at the southwestern shore of the lake.
A large geothermal system is associated with the Hengill central volcano to the southwest. Part of it extends towards
the lake in the Nesjavellir area.
The faults and ground fissures in the vicinity of Þingvellir have been studied extensively and provide exceptionally
clear evidence for continental drift and plate tectonics. The total amount of subsidence during the past 9.000 years is
more than 40 m between Almannagjá and Hrafnagjá. During the same time horizontal extension of the graben has
been estimated at about 70 m. The last tectonic event to hit the area occurred in 1789 when the area at the northern
shore of Lake Þingvallavatn subsided by 1-2.6 m.
The lake
Situated about 100 m above sea level, Lake Þingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland with a surface area of
approximately 84 km2, mean depth of 34 m and maximum depth of 114 meters and ca. 3 km 3 (2.855 Gl) in volume.
Close to 90% of all water entering the lake (ca. 100 m3 s-1) is cold (3-4° C), subterranean spring fed water. The lake is
crystal clear, with Secchi depth visibility down to 12 m, oligotrophic in nature and with nitrogen as a limiting factor for
primary production. The lake outlet, River Efra-Sog, is one of Europe's largest spring fed rivers, flushing out about
100 tons of water every second. The retention time of water in the lake is about one year.
The catchment area of Lake Þingvallavatn, about 1300 km 2, lies in the same direction as the fissures in the area, and
its existence is closely connected to the geological history. The majority of the catchment area is covered by
neovolcanic lava, through which water easily drains. Due to the young age and volcanic nature of the bedrock, it
contains high levels of soluble minerals. Consequently, there is a high uptake of minerals in the groundwater as it
percolates through the lava, and the spring fed water entering the lake is therefore rich in minerals. The great
diversity of life in Lake Þingvallavatn can be traced back to these processes, as algae and plants, food for
invertebrates, make use of the abundant nutrients in the water. The catchment area is protected by regulation no.
650/2006 that applies to the entire watershed area from Langjökull glacier.
The lake is particularly fertile and rich in vegetation, despite the very cold temperatures. A third of the bottom area
down to a depth of 10 m is covered by ephytic diatoms whereas between 10-20 m depth there is a zone of quite tall
(up to 50 cm) and dense stands of charophytes.
The fish in the lake
In general, Iceland is rather poor in species numbers, whether in fauna or flora. The main reason is a combination of
isolation, i.e. the long distance between Iceland and the mainland, along with relatively short colonisation time since
the end of the last Ice Age and rather tough climatic conditions. In turn, populations of existing species are often
large. Moreover, they show a high degree of intraspecific variability in morphology, life history and use of habitat and
food - a feature termed resource polymorphism in evolutionary biology. Low numbers of species, lack of interspecific
competition and diversity of habitats (empty niches) are thought to be key factors in promoting intraspecific resource
polymorphism and sympatric speciation among vertebrates.
Lake Þingvallavatn is abundant in fish. Three of the five species of freshwater fish found in Iceland, brown trout
(Salmo trutta), Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aquleatus) live in the lake.
The Arctic charr is most abundant, with an estimated biomass of 700 tons and annual production of 300 tons for fish
one year old and older. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, annual catch of charr from the lake ranged between 40-70
tons. For a deep, cold subarctic lake, such a high fish production is rare.
The presence of four Arctic charr morphs in the lake, representing one of the most spectacular examples of resource
polymorphism among fish in the Subarctic, gives the lake a special status. Differentiation of charr into two specialized
sympatric sub-populations within lakes is recognized throughout the northern hemisphere, but Lake Þingvallavatn is
the only lake in the Subarctic where four charr morphs are known to exist sympatrically. Moreover, the morphology
and ecology of the Arctic charr morphs in Lake Þingvallavatn are much more distinct and dissimilar from each other
than in other lakes. Recent studies on sticklebacks also show that two different morphs of this species exist in the
lake.
Based on geological evidence, it is known that evolution of the Arctic charr morphs has taken place within Lake
Þingvallavatn. This evolutionary event has been going on for only 10.000 years at most, or for only ca. 3.000
generations of fish. Although some reproductive mixing occurs between the morphs in Lake Þingvallavatn, they may
in fact now be considered as distinct species. The rapid evolution and diversification of the Arctic charr in the lake is
attributed mainly to habitat stability and diversity, limited competition with other species and intense competition
within the charr population itself. Regarding the habitat factor, scientists have underpinned the important role of the
young, uneroded lava in the area, both with respect to physiochemical effects on the water body, and to physical
properties of the lava bedrock, with its complex surface textures and three-dimensional spaces for fish to occupy.
The subterranean amphipods
In 1998, a new endemic family of subterranean gammaridean amphipod (Crustacea), was discovered in Iceland,
representing a new species and genus to science, Crymostygius thingvallensis, found in spring inlets feeding Lake
Þingvallavatn. This was the first report of a stygobiont freshwater amphipod from Iceland and the northernmost report
of a stygobiont species in Europe. In 2000 another new species to science, Crangonyx islandicus, was discovered at
Lake Þingvallavatn. There are indications that this species may have survived the Quarternary glacial period in subglacial refuge, e.g. in the groundwater of the porous lava, and even that they have persisted in Iceland for millions of
years.
Vegetation and wildlife
Birch woodland is characteristic of the Þingvellir area, indicated by the original name of the area in Icelandic:
Bláskógar (literally "Blue Woods"). In the National Park, 172 species of higher plants have been found, or about 40%
of the Icelandic flora. Birch, dwarf birch and willow, plants of the heath family, transform the appearance of Þingvellir
in autumn, and many visitors make their way there to enjoy the beauty of its pastel colours.
Lake Þingvallavatn is particularly deep and thus does not attract as many waterfowl as do shallower lakes such as
Lake Mývatn. Generally, 52 bird species live by the lake while 30 others come and go. The most famous bird is the
great northern diver which nests in a few places by the lake. It is grouchy and protects its territory energetically.
Name of property: Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve
Coordinates: N65 15 W22 30
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry for the Environment
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: West Iceland
Brief Description
Breiðafjörður is a large shallow bay located in Western Iceland, with an exceptional combination of natural features
and cultural and historical heritage. It is approximately 50 km wide and 125 km long, encircled by mountains,
including the volcano Snæfellsjökull on the Snæfellsnes peninsula on the south side, and the Western Fjords
peninsula to the north. The coast is a fairly narrow strip interspersed with farms and small urban areas. The
spectacular land- and seascape consists of shallow seas, small fjords and bays and the inner part of extensive
intertidal areas dotted with about 3,000 islands, islets and skerries. The area contains about half of Iceland's
intertidal area and over one-third of its coastline. Tides of six metres, unique for Iceland, contribute to the diverse
land- and seascapes.
The bedrock, formed during rift volcanism in the late Tertiary, has a gentle south-east dip. The area consists mainly of
relatively regular piles of basaltic lavas with occasional extinct central volcanoes yielding a variety of geological
formations. During the Quaternary, the lava pile was deeply eroded by glaciers leaving a diverse landscape with
several geothermal sites, some visible only at low tide.
The area has diverse flora and fauna with substantial proportions of the Icelandic population of a number of bird and
mammal species, and an intertidal zone high in biodiversity and productivity with extensive algal "forests" and other
important habitats for invertebrates and fish, essential in the food chain. The area supports 230 recorded species of
vascular plants and around 50 regular breeding bird species. It is the main habitat for the white tailed eagle in Iceland
and also important for eider duck. The two Icelandic seal species, the common seal Phoca vitulina and grey seal
Halichoerus grypus, have their main haul-outs on habitats in the islands and skerries.
The only village on the islands of Breiðafjörður is located on Flatey, the only island in the area which is inhabited year
round. The old village in Flatey forms a unity of houses that are architecturally unique in Iceland. The oldest house
was built in 1840 and most of the houses are built at the turn of the last century and in the first years of that century.
In the Breiðafjörður area there are numerous archaeological remains. Many of them are already listed and preserved
according to the Heritage Act of Iceland. The remains contain valuable information on past ways of life, e.g. seafaring
and other activities including farming. In many places remains of stone walls, ports, landing places and fishermen's
huts in numerous islands and reeves can be found. The fishermen that occupied these huts came from farms further
a field and stayed there only during the fishing season (in spring and autumn). The foundation of good life in
Breiðafjörður was based on rich fishing grounds, abundant seabirds and their eggs and the seal giving both meat and
skin for clothing. There are also remains of vegetable gardens or indications of their existence. The island was also
an important trading centre from the middle ages onwards, and in 1770 it became an authorised trade post. Flatey
was further an essential cradle of culture in Iceland, and its former monastery (built in 1172) was a centre of
knowledge situated on the island's highest point. Iceland's first library was built there in 1864. The well known
medieval manuscript Flateyjarbók is named after the island where it was preserved for a while.
Name of property: Mývatn and Laxá
Coordinates: N65 35 W17 00
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry for the Environment
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Skútustaðahreppur, S-Þingeyjarsýsla, North Iceland
Brief Description
The Mývatn area has unique geological and biological conservation values. Precipitation is trapped by the porous
volcanic bedrock and moves beneath the surface until it reappears in a series of springs which supply systems of
rivers and lakes. The largest of these is the wetland area of Mývatn and Laxá. Lake Mývatn (37 km²) is situated 278
meters above sea level and contains more than 50 islands. The landscape around the lake and in many of the islands
is dominated by perfectly shaped pseudo craters, formed by steam explosions as hot lava flowed into the lake some
2300 years ago. The best known of the craters are Skútustaðagígar, which has a special protection status.
The name of the lake, Mývatn, derives from the vast numbers of midges (aquatic insects) that emerge from the lake,
forming impressive mating swarms on its shores.
Mývatn and Laxá have one of the world's richest populations of breeding aquatic birds. In all 115 species of birds
have been recorded in the area, including 28 species of ducks. Fifteen species of ducks breed in the area regularly.
The most common ducks being tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), scaup (Aythya marila) and wigeon (Anas
penelope). Other common ducks are Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), red-breasted merganser (Mergus
serrator), common scoter (Melanitta nigra) and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Three of the breeding ducks are rare
elsewhere in Iceland. Mývatn along with its immediate surroundings, is the only known breeding area for Barrow's
goldeneye in Europe, and the harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) has its easternmost breeding area here. In
addition to ducks, over 300 pairs of Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritius) breed there. Other waterbirds include
whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus), red-necked phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus), great northern divers (Gavia immer)
and red-throated divers (Gavia stellata).
The rich bird life principally owes its presence to the abundant supply of nutrients in the lake, with its abundant
primary production and huge quantities of insects and other small creatures, providing rich feeding for the birds. The
size of the lake, its extensive shallows, many islands, long shoreline, dry climate and varied landscape are among the
factors contributing to the rich bird life.
Considering the latitude, the climate is favourable. The average temperature in January is -0.2°C and the warmest
month, July, has an average temperature of 10.2°C. The area is also one of the sunniest in Iceland and has an
annual precipitation of only 400 mm. Since Mývatn is a shallow lake (maximum 4 meters, except for the part where
siliceous sediments (diatomite) have been extracted), sufficient sunlight penetrates to sustain rich bottom vegetation,
including lake balls that are a rare variety of green algae (Aegagropila linnaei).
Despite its rather small size, the Mývatn area embodies enormous contrasts. It's backdrop of desolate volcanic
landscape is contrasted by the green and lush vegetation on the lake shore and along the river Laxá. The shores owe
their greenness to a fertilizing effect of the aquatic insects as they carry nutrients from lake to land.
The volcanic nature of the area is part of the rifting occurring along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which stretches as a zone
of active volcanism through Iceland from coast to coast. An elongated zone of fissures and volcanic craters provides
visible proof of the fracturing of the Earth's crust as the American and Eurasian Plates move apart at a rate of 2 cm
per year.
Traditionally the Mývatn area is a farming district, but farming activities are now on the decline. About 400 people live
there, increasingly basing their livelihood on tourism. Mining activities in the lake, which started in 1967, were halted
in 2004.
Name of property: The Turf House Tradition
Coordinates:
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: National Museum of Iceland
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Austur-Meðalholt, Árnessýsla, 63° 52,960'N, 20° 54,968'W
Árbær, Reykjavík, 64° 7,105'N, 21° 49,179'W
Bustarfell, Norður Múlasýsla, 65° 35,101'N, 15° 9,524'W
Galtastaðir fremri, Suður Múlasýsla, 65° 27,040'N, 14° 26,073'W
Glaumbær, Skagafjarðarsýsla, 65° 36,675'N, 19° 30,285'W
Grenjaðarstaður, Suður Þingeyjasýsla, 65° 49,252'N, 17° 21,057'W
Grænavatn, Suður Þingeyjasýsla, 65° 32,439'N, 16° 59,802'W
Keldur, Rangárvallasýsla, 63° 49,300'N, 20° 4,437'W
Laufás, Suður Þingeyjasýsla, 65° 53,639'N, 18° 4,344'W
Núpsstaður, Vestur Skaftafellssýsla, 63° 57,614'N, 17° 34,665'W
Tyrfingsstaðir, Skagafjarðarsýsla, 65° 23,432'N, 19° 7,511'W
Þverá, Suður Þingeyjasýsla, 65° 43,912'N, 17° 14,751'W
Víðimýrarkirkja, Skagafjarðarsýsla, 65° 32,324'N, 19° 28,226'W
Hofskirkja, Austur Skaftafellssýsla, 63° 54,420'N, 16° 42,405'W
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES AS A WHOLE
The vernacular architectural tradition in Iceland dates back to the settlement in the 9th century. It has since been
adapted to the local climate, varying environmental resources and the requirements of the society that developed on
the island.
The Icelandic turf farmstead has developed from the long house; a Northern European tradition brought to the
country by the Nordic settlers. As their name suggests, turf is one of the main materials used for its construction.
Timber is used for the structure, turf is laid to form the thick walls and as a cover for the roof. Sometimes stones are
used with or without the turf for the walls, and slates can be used as an underlay for the roof. Although the building
materials used have not changed much, the form of the turf farm has changed and adapted to a changing context
through the ages.
The long-house in Iceland was traditionally one large house which housed all the necessary functions. The
longitudinal double-pitched roof was supported by freestanding inside posts and covered with turf. The entrance was
placed on the longitudinal side of the house. The outer walls were made entirely of turf or turf and stone. Inside, the
house may have been divided into two or three parts by light timber walls.
The shape of the long-house changed over time, and the archaeological evidence shows that other smaller buildings
were annexed to it at the rear. The function of each house would be clear, but the data suggests that a house could
change function from one period to another. With the accumulation of these smaller buildings, the long-house also
decreased in size. Thus emerged a new type of construction; a group of smaller houses connected by a central
passage, which has been called the passage-farmhouse (gangabær). This is believed to have been the predominant
house type from the Middle-Ages until the 19th century. One of the features of this house type was the baðstofa, a
house used both for working and sleeping, which was located away from the entrance and stood higher than the rest
of the complex in order to increase heating efficiency.
From around 1800 another major change can be noticed in the form with the development of the so called gabledfarm (burstabær). This development is often attributed to Guðlaugur Sveinsson who published a treatise on this
house type. In this case the façade of the farmhouses was reoriented towards the yard and the annexed buildings at
the rear were reintegrated into the main building. However, instead of the being one large house covered with one
longitudinal roof, the gabled-farm was a series of juxtaposed smaller houses, each with its own roof. This
development was particularly dominant in the Southern Iceland, whereas in the north this new style façade was a
front to the old style passage-farmhouse at the back.
The technique of building from turf in Northern Europe dates at least back to the Iron Age, although due to poor
preservation physical evidence for its true origins could have been lost through time. The Romans used it for the
construction of fortresses and defensive walls after their Empire extended to northern regions.
Building from turf has been practiced at different times in many different countries, such as the, Norway, Scotland,
Ireland, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, other parts of Northern Europe (such as the Netherlands) and even on the Great
Planes in the USA. In those areas it seems that in recent times this technique has been used for the construction of
commoner's dwellings, especially for the poor or lower classes, although in earlier times this may have included
churches or other types of houses. Iceland stands out in this respect, as the turf building technique was used for all
classes and for all types of houses (e.g. homes, stables, churches, chiefly residences, etc.).
A few features set the turf houses of Iceland apart from those found in other countries. This building tradition is still
practiced in Iceland, although only by a few craftsmen that have been trained in the know-how from previous
generations. The prevalence of walls made mainly from turf is also noteworthy, as is the fact that the interior of the
turf houses often is a timber construction. The passage-farmhouse is also a unique design, where the passage
between houses is a separate covered construction.
The building methods varied from one region to another, due to a variation in the availability of materials. Turf walls
normally have an outer layer, inner layer and central part connecting the two. A different technique or material could
also have been used for the lower and upper part of the wall.
The turf is cut from the mineral-based marshlands, usually within a reasonable distance from each farmstead. Special
tools are required for the different types of turf sections. Strengur is a section of turf approx. 1 m long and no more
than 5 or 10 cm thick at one edge tapering out to the other one. Walls can be built from strengur, by stacking them in
layers, although sometimes strengur is used in between rows of stone or across the wall to bind the outer and inner
layers together. Torfa is similar, but wider and tapers out from the thicker middle. It is often used to bind the outer and
inner layers together. Another commonly used cut is klömbruhnaus, cut with a spade to an angled block approx. 60
cm long, 20 cm high and 30 cm wide, tapering out in one end. The angle can either be to the right or the left and
when they are arranged in horizontal rows, the klömbruhnaus forms a herringbone pattern. Snidda is a diamond
shape block similar in size to the klömbruhnaus. It can be used to build walls with or without stones, and was also in
some cases used for the roof cover.
The durability of the walls varied greatly, the composition of the materials, the quality of the workmanship and the
fluctuations in the climate all playing an important role in this respect. Periodic renewal of the turf is necessary, due to
the degradation of the root systems that are the binding force of this building material. In some cases entire walls or a
house would be dismantled and rebuilt with new turf, although the stones and timber would most likely be reused.
One house unit could thus be restored each time, without much disruption to the rest of the complex. In the south
where the fluctuations between frost and thaw were relatively frequent in the winter, walls could need rebuilding as
often as every 20 or 25 years, whereas in the more stable north where frost set in for the duration of the winter, walls
could be expected to stand for up to 50 or 70 years.
One of the particular features of turf houses in Iceland is the timber structure and interior panelling, around which the
turf forms an insulating cover. Locally available timber was scarce, so the main sources for this material are driftwood
and timber obtained through trade. This meant that the presence of timber was linked to the power and status of each
house. Wealthy vicarages, for instance, testify to the power and wealth of the church through the presence of timber
panelling and wooden floors in a large number of houses, mainly the living quarters such as baðstofa and living
rooms. Commoner's on the other hand, would only have a few, perhaps only one rooms panelled, although in some
cases no timber panelling would have been present in the house. Houses with no panelling or timber floors usually
have exposed turf walls and dirt floors, sometimes with slates added where needed.
In order to achieve stability the turf walls are very thick, which also serves the purpose of insulation, an important
element to consider in the Icelandic climate. Fires that were lit in the hearth kitchen provided some warmth, but
heating in the form of oil, coal or wood burning stoves were not introduced until the 19 th century.
The knowledge of building a turf house was widespread in Iceland. The farmer and his workers would build and repair
houses, based on knowledge passed through generations. Some became excellent craftsmen and were sought after
in their region to help with building work. Although these individuals had greater experience and were likely to deliver
better quality work, the know-how was still very common. In the 20th century this changed dramatically, as fewer and
fewer turf-houses were being built. This can be explained by the late urbanisation, as it was not until late 18 th century
that villages started to form and Iceland was predominantly rural until the 20 th century. Now at the start of the 21st
century, only a few craftsmen practice the trade, and the knowledge is being passed on mainly through the heritage
sector.
The nature of this type of vernacular architecture has been to evolve and adapt to changes through the centuries.
Changes that have taken place during the time the houses were still inhabited/used, thus form an integral part of their
development.
The development of each farmstead, although dependent on many different factors, would take place over many
years, with new houses being added and old ones reconstructed as necessary. As timber became more available
and heating systems improved, it's importance in house construction became more prominent, either through the
front-house (framhús) or by building a separate timber house on the site. With the adoption of concrete as a main
building material in the 1920's, this also became part of the farmstead, either alongside the turf or as new dwellings
for the families. Although turf houses are no longer inhabited, they remain as an indication of each site's long history
and connection to the past. Their continued use throughout the country, mostly as outhouses and storage, highlight
their role within the evolving agricultural landscape of the Icelandic countryside.
The serial nomination proposed here aims to bear witness to this exceptional type of vernacular architecture, once
widespread but which has developed and lives on in Iceland. The 14 properties in the series will represent both the
different types of building technique, based on the different sections of turf, and the varied forms of turf houses, such
as the passage-farm, the gabled-farm, timber front-farm and churches.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIONAL COMPONENT PARTS
Austur-Meðalholt in Flói
Austur-Meðalholt is situated in the flat farmlands of southern Iceland near Selfoss town. The farm is part of the
Icelandic Farmhouse cultural institution (Íslenski Bærinn). The houses are from the 19 th century.
The farmstead is composed of four clustered houses, around 13 m long and 24 m wide, in addition to a barn and
stables. Three houses face the yard to the south, a barn to the east, living room/entrance in the middle and baðstofa
to the west. On the northern side of the complex is a hearth kitchen. A turf wall enclosure surrounds a cabbage and
potato patch on the western side of the houses and on the northern side is a fenced off area for keeping hay.
The walls are made with stones and stengur. The gables are made from timber and clad with corrugated iron. The
rooftops are also clad with corrugated iron.
Árbær in Reykjavík
Árbær farmstead is situated in the Elliðaárdalur valley in the Reykjavík suburb of Árbær in the south- west of Iceland,
once an agricultural area. The old house is part of the Reykjavík City Museum. An open air museum has been built
up on the site, with several older buildings having been relocated to the vicinity of the old farm. One of the main
thoroughfares to Reykjavík passed Árbær, which became a popular resting place for travellers on horseback. The
earliest written sources date from the 15th century. The last inhabitants moved there in late 19 th century, rebuilding the
houses during 1890-1918.
Árbær consists of six houses and is around 20 m long and 7.8 m wide to the north and 19 m wide to the south. Four
houses face the yard, the stables to the north-east, two storey baðstofa, which is divided into three rooms on the
lower floor, two storey living room, also divided into three rooms on the lower floor and an entrance to the north-west.
The entrance leads to the hearth kitchen and stable. A smithy is located on the other side of the yard. Stables are off
to the east, but no other outhouses are present, although the ruins of a barn are still visible.
The walls are made with stones and strengur. The gables are made from timber, with three of them clad with
corrugated iron. The same houses have corrugated iron roofs, whereas the other three have turf rooftops.
Árbær is an excellent example of a turf farm, built using the traditional form, but where new materials have been
integrated to enhance the house's performance against the elements.
Bustarfell in Vopnafjörður
Bustarfell farmstead consists of a dwelling house and adjoining stables. The farmstead was modernized in the 1960´s
when new dwelling houses and stables were built and is still inhabited by the same family that has lived there since
the 16th century. The farm is located centrally in the farmland of Hofsárdalur valley in Vopnafjörður in north-eastern
Iceland, by the Hofsá salmon fishing river. Though the farm is central in that area, Vopnafjörður is historically isolate.
Bustarfell has been a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection since 1943. The family lived in the
old farmhouse until 1966, and the buildings have since then housed the Bustarfell Museum.
The farmstead at Bustarfell is a cluster of 17 houses and is around 30 m long and 26 m wide. Six of the farm's
houses are alinged on a south-east axis and face the farmyard, thus forming a gabled farmhouse. To the west are
three storage houses, then a living room, entrance and a baðstofa to the east. The main feature that characterises
this farm is the location of the baðstofa in the front row of houses, as well as an orthogonal passageway that links all
the houses that face the yard. The more traditional passageway leads from the entrance and thus connects the front
of the farmstead to the pantry, hearth kitchen, cowshed and internal well, located at the back of the cluster. There are
no outhouses still standing at Bustarfell.
The walls are made from stones and turf. On the outside the lower part of the walls is mostly constructed from stones,
but the upper part is made of strengur. On the inside the stones in the lower part of the wall have been laid with
layers of strengur, but the upper part is strengur only, as on the outside. The roof structure of the hearth kitchen is
made from timber that clearly has been reused from a ship. Due to the fact that the farmhouses were inhabited well
into the 20th century they show evidence of modern times, such as that concrete was used to strengthen and seal
walls and floors. Electricity was installed, as well as an oil burning stove with concrete chimney, running water and a
WC. The gables are made from timber, although the rear gables of the front row of houses are clad with tar paper,
and turf covers all the rooftops.
Bustarfell is a large farmstead that highlights the development of the turf house into modern times. The turf buildings
were lived in well into the 1960s and the installation of modern conveniences, such as electricity and WC, show how
long inhabitation was made possible. Another unique feature is the passageways, connecting the numerous houses
together.
Galtastaðir fremri in Hróarstunga
Galtastaðir fremri in Hróarstunga is a modest turf farm - a commoner's dwelling house and adjoining stables. The age
of the farmstead is uncertain, but written sources indicate that the site has been inhabited for centuries. The farm was
modernized in the 1960´s, when a new house was built which is still inhabited. The dwelling house now in use is
adjoined to the old turf house. The house is a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection. Galtastaðir
fremri is situated in the harsh farmland of Hróarstunga in eastern Iceland. Hróarstunga is a moor surrounded by water
on three sides, glacial rivers to the north and south and the North Atlantic to the east. This area is historically remote
and inaccessible and the current connection is by gravel road.
The main feature of Galtastaðir fremri, the baðstofa built over the cattleshed, [a sort of byre-dwelling] dates to 1882
but other parts of the farmstead are older. The farm is around 23 m long and 15 m wide, counting eight houses laid
out in two rows. At the front are the storage, entrance, the baðstofa/cattleshed and passageway to the barn. At the
back are the hearth kitchen and pantry, connected to the entrance through a passageway and a barn that links with
the cattleshed equally with a passageway. Adjoining the farm in the south is a small timber house built in 1961. To
the north of the farmstead are two stables and the ruins of another one are located to the south. Galtastaðir is not a
gabled farmhouse, but longitudinal walls face the yard on both sides of the entrance.
The lower part of the walls is made from stones and strengur and the upper part from strengur only. The rear of the
farmstead is partly built into the hillock. The gables of the storage and entrance are constructed from timber, but the
other gables are made with strengur and the roofs are covered with turf.
Galtastaðir fremri is one of the few remaining fjósbaðstofa (byre-dwelling) in Iceland. This type of house is
characterised by the positioning of the baðstofa along the yard. As a small farmstead, it shows the dwelling of the
poorer classes, it's houses containing only the main necessities.
Glaumbær in Skagafjörður
Glaumbær turf farm is a former vicarage, a dwelling house, situated in the densely populated farmland of the inland
fjord Skagafjörður in northern Iceland. The farmstead is still inhabited and was modernized in the 20 th century with
new dwelling houses and stables and is still an inhabited vicarage. The old house is a part of the National Museum's
Historic Building Collection and houses part of the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum. The main thoroughfare in the area
has long passed near Glaumbær and still does. The site has been inhabited for centuries; written sources suggest
that a church has been there since the 11th century and an 11th century long-house has been excavated at the site.
Glaumbær is mentioned several times in the medieval Saga literature. The age of the buildings vary considerably, the
youngest dating from around 1880 and the oldest back to mid 18th century.
Glaumbær is composed of 14 clustered houses and is around 32 m wide and 28 m long. Six houses face the yard to
the east, forming a gabled farmhouse. To the south is a smithy, two storage houses, living rooms on each side of the
entrance and firewood storage to the north. The entrance gives access to a long passageway that connects the other
houses; a dairy, the hearth kitchen, three pantries, back entrance, a guesthouse and a baðstofa at the end, divided
into three rooms. To the north of the farmstead is the Glaumbær church in the middle of a cemetary. No old
outhouses remain at Glaumbær.
The walls are almost exclusively made from turf, klömbruhnaus, snidda and strengur, although stones are present in
the lowest part of the walls, thus forming the foundation for the turf walls. All the rooftops are covered with turf, but
only some of the gables are made of timber, especially those facing the yard.
Glaumbær is an outstanding example of a large turf farm, built in the northern style. The building technique highlights
the extensive use of turf, including the picturesque turf gables at the back of the houses.
Grenjaðarstaður in Aðaldalur
Grenjaðarstaður turf farm is a former vicarage, a dwelling house, situated in the densely populated farmland of the
inland valley of Aðaldalur in northern Iceland. The farmstead is still inhabited and was modernized in the 20 th century
with new dwelling houses and stables and is still an inhabited vicarage. The old house is a part of the National
Museum's Historic Buildings Collection and houses part of the Suður-Þingeyinga Folk Museum. The main
thoroughfare in the area has long passed near Grenjaðarstaður and still does, the farm lies about 30 km from the
town of Húsavík. Grenjaðarstaður was a [settlement estate] and considered one of the very best beneficia in Iceland
with many perquisites. It was one of the centres of events in the Saga literature.
Grenjaðastaður farm consists of ten houses and is around 29 m long and 24 m wide. Five gables face the yard to the
east, forming a gabled farmhouse. To the south a storage, living rooms on either side of the entrance and a postoffice located in the northernmost house. A passageway leads from the entrance to the hearth kitchen. A side
passageway leads on one hand to the pantry and firewood-storage, and on the other hand to the two storey baðstofa
at the back, divided into three rooms on each floor. To the east of the farmstead stands Grenjaðastaður church inside
a cemetary. The outhouses are no longer standing.
The walls are made from lava rocks, filled with soil and covered with strengur. All the rooftops have turf covers. The
gable types vary, all but three are from timber.
Grenjaðastaður is an excellent example of a large turf farm, built in the northern style, where the lava rocks are used
as a key feature of the building technique.
Grænavatn in Mývatnssveit
Grænavatn in Mývatnssveit is a turf farm that consists of a dwelling house and outbuildings. The farm is situated in
the volcanic farmland of Mývatnssveit in northern Iceland. The area is on the border of the Icelandic highlands and is
approx. 280 m above sea level. The farmstead was modernized in the 20 th century and is still inhabited. The old
house is a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection. Though Mývatnssveit is remotely situated on
the border of the highlands, it is historically a bountiful area due to the ampleness of food drawn from the Lake
Mývatn area.
The farm at Grænavatn is around 30 m long and 8 m wide. The main house, which was built in 1913 under direct
Norwegian chalet-style influences (sveiserhús), is a two storey timber house with a turf roof, the façade facing the
yard to the west. Adjoining each gable is a single storey shed (lean-to) with a single pitched roof. The south and north
walls are made from lava slates. A turf wall runs along the entire back of the house, with a passage between the wall
and the timber wall. By the eastern side of the house are the ruins of a large turf house, that was once the inhabitant's
main dwelling for the winter months. Outhouses stand to the north of the farm and further away, on the edge of Lake
Grænavatn, are stables made from lava slates with a corrugated iron roof.
The timber front house (frambær) is a timber house that rests on a stone foundation and a basement is located
underneath part of the building. The walls have lined panelling on the outside, and the interior has various types of
panelling, partially covered with wallpaper.
Grænavatn is an excellent example of the last stage of the development of turf farms, where the use of timber had
started to take prominence over turf as a building material.
Keldur at Rangárvellir
Keldur at Rangárvellir is a turf farm consisting of a dwelling house and numerous outbuildings. The farm is situated
on the southern border of the Icelandic highlands at the edge of the fertile and densely populated Rangárvellir fields
farmland. The farm is in the vicinity of Mt. Hekla volcano that has repeatedly threatened the farm and the surrounding
area. Erosion has also been a great problem for the farmers at Keldur. During the Middle Ages many of the
surrounding farmsteads were abandoned, most likely because of the difficulties caused by the harsh conditions .
From under the lava fields surrounding the farm around 200 springs flow with ice-cold water.
Keldur was one of the residences of one of the most powerful chieftain families in Iceland in the Free State era in the
12th and 13th centuries. It is mentioned several times in the medieval Saga literature, Njals saga in particular. The
farmstead is still inhabited but was modernized in the 20 th century with new dwelling houses and stables. The house
is a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection and is open to the public during the summer. Most of
the houses were renovated in the 19th century but much of the wooden features are much older, some dating at least
back to the 17th century.
At Keldur numerous outhouses have been preserved along with the old farmhouses. The hall (skáli) is placed
alongside the yard, as was common in earlier times. The entrance faces the yard along with the gables of three
storage houses and a smithy. Access is from the entrance to the hall, pantry and passageway leading to the hearth
kitchen and firewood storage. Next to the hall is a two storey timber house with three rooms on the lower floor and a
baðstofa on the upper floor, divided into two rooms by a timber partition. An underground tunnel (approx. 25 m long),
possibly from the 12th or 13th century, links the hall with the Keldnaá riverbank.
To the west of the farmstead is a house constructed in 1937. To the east of the farmstead is a sheep fold, stables,
cowsheds and a barn. A path leads to that area and another path leads west to a mill house that runs on
hydroelectric power. North of the farm is a fence made with stones. To the southeast is the Keldur church within a
cemetary and south of there is the Keldnaá river, originating from a number of springs (keldur), that surface from the
lavafields above the farm.
The walls are made with lava rock on the inside and outside and filled with a sandy soil. Finely cut snidda is placed
between the rocks on the outside. The gables are made from timber. The houses have a slate roof covered with turf.
The primary timber structure of the houses have lined edges. The timber baðstofa is clad with corrugated iron. It was
built to the west of the complex after a large earthquake in the south of Iceland in 1896.
At Keldur, unique features have been preserved, such as the old hall and the mill house. The discovery, excavation
and restoration of the underground tunnel provides an invaluable insight into the social context. Furthermore, the
surrounding cultural landscape, with the outhouses and other archaological remains, highlight the past ways of life.
Laufás in Eyjafjörður
Laufás turf farm is a former vicarage, a dwelling house, situated in the densely populated coastal farmland of
Eyjafjörður in northern Iceland. The farmstead was modernized in the 20 th century with new dwelling houses and
stables and is still an inhabited vicarage. The old farm is a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection
and is managed by the Akureyri Museum. The main thoroughfare in the area has long passed near Laufás and still
does. Laufás has been one of the better beneficia with many perquisites and is mentioned several times in the
medieval Saga literature. The earliest written sources reveal that a church fire took place there in late 12 th century .
Laufás counts 12 houses and the whole complex is around 29 m long and 28 m wide. Most of the farmstead is
constructed in the period from 1840-1877, but the origin of the farm is older. Five gables face the yard to the west,
forming a gabled farmhouse. To the north is the living room, then entrance, hall (skáli), eider down house (dúnhús)
and storage. The entrance gives access to a passageway that connect the other houses; bridal house (brúðarhús),
hearth kitchen, pantry and small living room, with a two storey baðstofa at the other end. Both the upper and lower
floors of the baðstofa house are divided into three rooms. To the south of the farmstead is Laufás church within a
cemetery. The outhouses are no longer standing.
The lower part of the turf walls are made from stone and strengur, but the upper part from turf, klömbruhnaus,
kvíahnaus, strengur and snidda, with all the rooftops covered in turf. The gables are from timber. The living rooms,
entrance, bridal house and the entire baðstofa house have panelled interior walls and wooden floors. The rest of the
houses have visible turf walls and earth floor. Remnants of a stave construction are present in the passageway,
which testifies to the farm's old origins. Part of the farm was built from reused timbers.
Laufás represents a large turf house, built in the northern tradition, where a mixed building technique has been
employed.
Núpsstaður in Fljótshverfi
Núpsstaður turf farmstead and chapel. The farm is situated in the farmland of Southern Iceland on the strip of land
between the Vatnajökull glacier and the North Atlantic, adjacent to Vatnajökull National Park. East of the farm looms
the majestic Lómagnúpur cliff. The farm is on the border of Skeiðarársandur floodplain. It was the last farm travellers
passed before entering the floodplain that was the greatest hindrance on the south coast of Iceland. In 1974 the
rivers were bridged and the farm lost its role as the last stop before the great rivers. The farmstead was modernized
early in the 20th century and was inhabited until very recently. The same family lived in Núpsstaður since about 1730.
The chapel at Núpsstaður is part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection. Although the farmstead is
privately owned necessary repairs have been carried out by the National Museum.
A church was built at Núpsstaður in earliest Christian times, or at least sometime before 1200 AD. The Núpsstaður
chapel was the first building to come into the Museum's care in 1930. It is used occasionally for services.
Núpsstaður farmstead consists of a group of 15 houses, in addition to the ruins of another four. To the west is a
garage (transformed from a stable), two stables in ruins and another one still standing. The other houses are
organised in two roughly parallel rows. The southern row is composed of a hovel, storage, smithy and cow-shed. A
two storey timber house is located at the end of this row. The northern row consists of three barns, the ruins of
another barn, an engine house and a hearth kitchen. The houses are built in a few clusters within the rows, although
some stand alone. No internal passage exists between the numerous houses. Close to the houses to the east a
chapel stands inside a cemetery.
A sheep fold is located on the outskirts of the adjacent field. A stable with a barn are located to the west of the
farmstead and another one quite some distance away to the east near Lómagnúpur cliff where two caves can also be
found, once used for keeping the sheep.
The walls are made of stone, both the inner and outer layer of the wall composition. On the outside snidda has been
placed between the stones and the walls are filled with sandy soil. Some of the gables are made of timber, whereas
others have been constructed using corrugated iron. The walls of some of the houses are however made exclusively
from stones and snidda. Roof construction at Núpsstaður is particularly noteworthy, the structural types varying
considerably from house to house; some have slates or corrugated iron under the turf cover, whereas others have
only corrugated iron. The rafters of some houses are resting only on the stone walls, whereas in others have triple
ridge beam construction on top of two rows of poles. The timber house is clad with corrugated iron and was built in
1928 to replace the old baðstofa, reusing much of the old timber.
Núpsstaður is an outstanding example of the southern type of turf houses, where the cultural landscape has been
preserved. The magnificent setting has considerable aesthetic value.
Tyrfingsstaðir in Kjálki
The turf farm Tyrfingsstaðir is located in the centre of an area called Kjálki in Skagafjörður in northern Iceland. The
farm lies on the boundary between the densely populated agricultural area of Skagafjörður to the north and the
uninhabited highland valley of Austurdalur to the south.
The western boundary of the farm is the glacial river Jökulsá which runs through a deep gorge. From the river the
farmland slopes gently to the east but soon merges with a steeper mountain slope. The first mention of Tyrfingsstaðir
in written sources dates from the year 1478.
The farmhouse is a compound of different structures which date mostly from 1870-1895, the timber house at the front
of the compound being the most recent, built in 1904. The compound consists of five domestic buildings, four
outhouses and a corral. Facing west is the timber building (framhús), comprising two rooms on either side of a
corridor, a living room and a storage room as well as a storage loft above. The entrance is at the centre of the
framhús followed by a corridor leading to the back of the house to the baðstofa. The baðstofa was the main living
quarters, modernised in 1960, with two bedrooms and a kitchen, panelled on the inside. Opposite the baðstofa are an
older hearth kitchen and a pantry. Adjoined to the north are a cowshed and a lamb shed. Parts of the farm were
renovated in 1960 and turf house was inhabited until 1969. Within the farmstead the outhouses from the 19 th and 20th
century still exist although most of them are in ruins. Restoration work at Tyrfingsstaðir is underway.
All the buildings in Tyrfingsstaðir, both the farm and the outhouses are built in the traditional manner from turf, stone
and timber. A classic wall is made up of stones and strengur in the lower part and strengur or klömbruhnaus in the
upper part. Some of the walls are made solely from turf. Most of the framhús is made from timber, both the front and
frame which is of binding task (bindingsverk), however the gables are turf, and the walls are panelled on the inside
with staves (from cement barrels). The roofs are made from driftwood and turf.
Tyrfingsstaðir is an excellent example of a turf house set within a well preserved cultural landscape.
Þverá in Laxárdalur
Þverá in Laxárdalur is a turf farm, consisting of a dwelling house and outbuildings. The farm is situated in the
Laxárdalur valley in Northern Iceland, by the Laxá salmon fishing river and on the edge of the lava fields of
Aðaldalshraun. The farmstead is still inhabited and was modernized in the 1960´s with new dwelling houses and
stables that are located a short distance from the old turf houses. The house is a part of the National Museum's
Historic Buildings Collection. Laxárdalur is today a thinly populated area and no longer a thoroughfare. The turf farm
can be dated mainly to the latter half of the 19th century. It is mentioned in the medieval Saga literature.
The farm at Þverá is a cluster of nine houses and is around 23 m long and 29 m wide. Four of the farm's houses face
the yard to the east, forming a gabled farmhouse, two living rooms on either side of the entrance and a smithy to the
north. The entrance gives access to the passageway leading to the baðstofa at the end, which is divided into three
rooms by a timber partition. A pantry and a hearth kitchen are linked to the passageway and gives way to another
passage to the cowshed and interior well. To the south of the farm is a storage house and outhouses are within the
stonewall marking the field nearest to the farm. A cabbage patch is located in front of the farm and Þverár church is to
the southeast of the farmstead.
The walls are made from lava rocks. The rooftops are packed with dwarf-birch and covered with turf.
Þverá is an excellent example of a large northern turf farm, built with outstanding craftmanship. It highlights the
ingenuity employed by its habitants, for instance in chanelling the local creek into the house for ease of access to
water and for use as a cool storage.
Víðimýrarkirkja in Skagafjörður
Víðimýrarkirkja is a church is situated on Víðimýri farm in the densely populated farmland of the inland fjord of
Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland. The Víðimýri farmstead is still inhabited and was modernized in the 20 th century
with new dwelling houses and stables. Víðimýri is historically an important site and occurs in the medieval literature
and was long home to district commissioners and parliamentarians. The church is a part of the Historic Buildings
Collection and continues to serve as a parish church.
The church was built in 1834 by local carpenter and parliamentarian Jón Samsonarson. The earliest cartulary dates
back to 1318, but it is possible that a church has been at this site since shortly after the Christianisation.
Víðimýrarkirkja measures 10.8 m in length and 8.6 m in width. The church is divided into nave and chancel with
traditional closed pews reserved for leading families and a high chancel screen marking the separation of the two, in
keeping with traditional seating arrangements. The church interior is completely panelled with unpainted panels,
which bear witness to excellent craftsmanship. The walls are made from klömbruhnaus on the inside and outside and
filled with soil and turf cut-offs. Both gables are from timber.
Driftwood was used to build the church, as was common in Iceland. The church is surrounded by a churchyard. An
early 20th century bell gate to the west of the church stands in a square wooden fence which encloses the church.
Víðimýrarkirkja is an outstanding example of a traditional turf church, with emphasis on use of turf in its construction.
Hofskirkja in Öræfi
Hofskirkja in Öræfi is a turf church located on a farm in the farmland of Southern Iceland on the strip of land between
the Vatnajökull glacier and the floodplains of the surrounding glacial rivers. The Hof farmstead is still inhabited and
was modernized in the 20th century with new dwelling houses and stables. This area was until 1974 the most isolated
inhabited area in Iceland, but after the rivers were bridged the Ring Road is just a stone's throw away. The church is
a part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection and continues to serve as a parish church.
The church was built in 1883-5 by a local carpenter. The first written record of a church on this site dates to 1343. At
the time of construction of this turf church, timber churches were being built in most other regions of the country.
Hofskirkja is about 11.5 m long and 9 m wide. The side walls are made from stones and strengur. The front gable and
the upper part of the choir gable are made of timber. The roof is covered with turf. The church is according to an old
tradition divided into nave and chancel or choir, separated by a chancel screen. However, neo-classical influences
are also present in the church, where the inner part of the nave and the chancel is vaulted and low pediments are
above the windows and door. Over the first part of the nave the ceiling is flat and the two churchbells are hang from
the roof above. The interior is completely panelled and painted.
The church is located inside a cemetary, partly surrounded by a turf wall. A small mound distinguishes each of the
graves in the cemetary, a rare feature in contemporary burial practice.
Hofskirkja represents an exceptional turf church, that has integrated influences from timber churches, with
architectural details in neoclassical style.
Name of property: Vatnajökull National Park
Coordinates: N64 02 W17 00
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry for the Environment
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region:
Brief Description
Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland, is situated in the eastern part of the country and stretches coast to coast from
south to north. It is the largest national park in Europe, covering a total area of 12,850 km 2 or almost 13% of Iceland.
Key features are Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap by volume in Europe, and several highly active volcanic systems
within and outside of the ice cap. The volcanism is connected both to a tectonic rift zone that traverses the park from
southwest to northeast and the Iceland mantle plume (geological hot spot), which is located directly beneath it. The
interplay of ice and fire has created in one place a huge range of volcanic-, geothermal- and geomorphological
features, unparalleled in any other place in the world. Within the park boundaries are also numerous cultural heritage
sites. The National Park was established and protected by regulation no. 608/2008 based on the Vatnajökull National
Park Act no. 60/2007. It entails two older national parks, Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. Its
cultural heritage is protected by the National Heritage Act no. 107/2001.
For management purposes, the Vatnajökull National Park is divided into four regions, which will be briefly described:
Northern region: The glacial rivers Skjálfandafljót and Jökulsá á Fjöllum with their numerous waterfalls are the
principal features in the glacier-free parts of the northern part. Both rivers carry run-off from Dyngjujökull, an outlet
glacier which generates jökulhlaup, or glacial bursts, at intervals spanning decades. Jökulsá á Fjöllum is the
country's second longest river and the one with the greatest catchment area. The river's most magnificent waterfall is
Dettifoss. With a height of 45 m and a width of 100 m, it is considered to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Jökulsárgljúfur is among the country's largest river canyon, about 25 km long, up to 500 m wide and 120 m deep. It
was carved out by catastrophic jökulhlaup (glacial bursts) in the late glacial period. Within the canyon there are
excellent hiking trails and many beautiful sites of lush vegetation, cold springs, crater plugs and pillars of basaltic
rock, such as in Hljóðaklettar (whispering rocks).
Most of the highlands are covered by the vast Ódáðahraun lava fields, which exude a powerful and daunting
atmosphere. Dyngjufjöll is a large central volcano with a threefold caldera and a long history of eruptions. Typical
shield volcanoes, such as Trölladyngja and Kollóttadyngja, and hyaloclastite ridges and tuyas, such as
Herðubreiðatögl and Herðubreið, are quite common in the area. A powerful volcanic eruption in 1875 caused the
formation of the caldera Askja in Dyngjufjölll, which contains the country's deepest lake. The same year a nearby
volcanic crater Víti also erupted. Since then small eruptions have occurred in Askja, the latest one in 1961.
Eastern region: Kverkfjöll mountains are the most prominent feature in the northeast part of Vatnajökull. They are
among Iceland's highest mountain peaks, a majestic central volcano with two calderas, split by an outlet glacier and
containing a unique, in the valley of Hveradalur at the edge of the ice cap. Hvannalindir is a well-known oasis of
vegetation at an elevation of 640 m. It features both the ruins of an outlaws' camp and vegetated areas hardly
touched by grazing sheep. Over 30 species of birds have been recorded there. Further east sprawls Brúarjökull, a
large outlet glacier with noteworthy, partly fertile, glacial moraine and other glacial formations.
From the Vesturöræfi highlands, home of pink-footed geese and reindeer, rises the colourful Snæfell, a central
volcano and the country's highest mountain outside the boundaries of the Vatnajökull ice cap. East of the mountain
lies the Eyjabakkar wetland area, one of the world's most important single moulting area for pink-footed geese.
Southern region: Farthest to the east, the Lónsöræfi mountain area features majestic, colourful mountain peaks
between glacial tongues, with snow banks, deep valleys and narrow ravines holding pockets of luxuriant vegetation. It
is one of the country's most popular hiking areas. Further west, outlet glaciers tumble down onto the lowlands, while
sharp peaks and bulky mountains mark the highlands in between. Skálafellsjökull glacier provides easy access for
travel on the Vatnajökull ice sheet. Nunataks - isolated rocky peaks within an ice sheet or glacier - rise up from the
Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier; Esjufjöll and Mávabyggðir are typical examples.
Öræfajökull towers over the rest of Vatnajökull. It is a central volcano, with a glacier-filled caldera and many steep
outlet glaciers forming a magnificent alpine landscape. The Öræfajökull volcano has erupted twice since the
settlement in the late 9th century, in 1362 and 1727. The eruption in 1362 destroyed settlements and vegetation on an
enormous scale. Rising above the caldera's edge, Hvannadalshnjúkur is the highest mountain summit in Iceland
(2110 m). Underneath the summit, the Skaftafell area features beautiful woodland, luxuriant heaths, the old turf
farmhouse Sel (part of the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection), and Svartifoss, a waterfall encircled by
basalt columns. Morsárdalur, a wide valley blanketed with woodland known as Bæjarstaðaskógur, contains
multicoloured rhyolite formations at Kjós and the outlet glacier Morsárjökull with its creaking icefalls.
Skeiðarárjökull marks the regions western border. Powerful jökulhlaup gush down the river Skeiðará, inundating the
area with water that has rushed more than 50 km from the Grímsvötn volcano. The most voluminous glacial flash
floods are by-products of volcanic eruptions, as happened in 1996, when floodwaters of around 45,000 tonnes per
second gushed across Skeiðarársandur, one of the most expansive sands formed by glacial flooding in the world.
Western region: The western part of Vatnajökull is characterised by sub-glacial volcanoes, volcanic fissures,
hyaloclastite (brown rock) ridges, glacial rivers and vast sand- and pumice deserts. Grímsvötn is Iceland's most active
central volcano. A geothermal area within its caldera causes melt water to accumulate under the ice which overflows
every few years, triggering a jökulhlaup in the river Skeiðará. Bárðarbunga is a huge sub-glacial caldera and one of
the country's largest volcanoes. Jökulhlaup in the river Skaftá originate from the sub-glacial geothermal lakes,
Skaftárkatlar.
Heljargjá, Eldgjá and other eruptive fissures characterise land outside the glacier, all trending northeast-southwest.
The Lakagígar eruption 1783-1784 was a devastating natural catastrophe killing some 70% of the livestock and 22%
of the country's population. Its effects were also badly felt in Europe and throughout the northern hemisphere. The 25
km fissure eruption from some 135 craters produced the second largest basaltic flood lava in historical time,
Skaftáreldahraun (565 km2), which is now covered by a thick carpet of moss. Also characteristic are unique
hyaloclastite ridges formed by sub-glacial fissure eruptions during the last glaciation. The hyaloclastite ridges are
many and of different age and size, up to 50 km long, but all with the same northeast-southwest direction.
Historical sites are e.g. Tómasarhagi at the base of Tungnafellsjökull ice cap and Jökulheimar, where scientists
studying glaciers and geology have had a base since the mid-20th century. A colourful geothermal area can be found
within the Vonarskarð central volcano in the eastern slope of Tungnafellsjökull.
Name of property: VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Þingvellir National Park
Coordinates: N64 15 13,7 W21 02 14,1
Date of submission: 07/02/2011
Criteria:
Submitted by: Ministry of Education, Science & Culture
WH list (name, id):
State, Province or Region: Bláskógabyggð municipality, district of Árnessýsla
Brief Description
Part of transnational serial nomination
The Viking serial nomination comprises land-, sea- and townscapes stretching from the North Atlantic to the Baltic
Sea. Among the thousands of Viking sites from the eighth to the twelfth centuries AD, these nine nominated
properties from six nations are outstanding examples representing the wide diversity of this early maritime culture.
In the Viking Age the Norse peoples - the Vikings - developed a maritime culture which had an enormous impact on
Northern Europe and beyond. Within Scandinavia the Viking Period witnessed the transformation from tribal to state
societies and a change of religions. The three Christian kingdoms that developed from this transformation, and out of
which the present Nordic States evolved, were by the end of the Viking Age an integral part of Europe. Thus, in
modern times, Viking culture has contributed significantly to the creation of cultural coherence, symbolic values and
cultural identity in the Nordic region, and it continues to hold immense public appeal world-wide. This culture and its
heritage developed in close interaction within a unique natural environment. It is composed of distinctive urban
landscapes and monuments. The culture also produced one of the world's great literatures: the Sagas, Eddic poetry
and runic inscriptions.
Harnessing the technology of the ship, Vikings used the sea for expansion, exploration, long-distance trade and
overseas settlement. The travels of the Vikings brought them across the Baltic Sea and down the Russian rivers as
far as the Black and Caspian Seas to Byzantium and the Caliphate of Baghdad, as well as west out into the
Atlantic. They were the first to settle in Iceland and the first Europeans to reach Greenland and North America about
1000 AD. In so doing, the Vikings were the first people to succeed in opening routes across the northern hemisphere
from North America to Asia, thus connecting different cultural regions of the earth. Adapted to very diverse types of
natural environments, success was on the one hand in the use, and at times ecological misuse, of regional
resources, and, on the other hand, in the development of social and political systems. This combination formed the
basis for a rich cultural region. Internally, Scandinavia witnessed an economic, religious and social transformation
aided by a boom in internal and cross-cultural communication during the Viking period. New institutions were
developed, smaller regions were merged into larger units and the Scandinavians took part in European development
on a larger scale. Scandinavia at the time of King Knut, in the early 11th century, was vastly different from the
Scandinavia that was visited by the missionary Ansgar in the early 9th century.
The component parts cover a wide temporal and spatial range. They are of exceptional quality and diversity. They
include trading towns, harbours, defensive structures, production sites, burial monuments, and assembly sites.
Viewed as a whole these sites bear witness to the extent of Viking social and cultural development.
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENT PART
Þingvellir is the most important cultural heritage site in Iceland, a national treasure and at the same time a major
cultural treasure at global level. Its dramatic history from the establishment of Iceland's general assembly, the Althing,
around 930 A.D., gives insights into how a Viking Age pioneer community organized its society from scratch and tells
a unique story about legislative and judicial arrangements of the era and the evolulution towards the modern world.
Þingvellir also combines in a single place a diverse assortment of natural phenomena.
History as preserved in this form sheds light on important elements in European constitutional development, all of
which are linked directly or indirectly to the growth and ascendancy of the rule of law and can clarify our
understanding of them. As a single, general assembly for such a large country, which later developed into a nation
state, the Althing was remarkable in its day. What makes the Althing at Þingvellir unique in legislative and judicial
history is its particular emphasis and detailed attention given to removing legal uncertainty and resolving disputes
without a superior authority. There are extensive and detailed sources on the organisation of the assembly and its
working procedures. The fruit of this activity is Grágás, one of the most remarkable legal codices among the medieval
Germanic peoples. The Althing is unique insofar as the Icelandic Commonwealth reflected an exceptionally clear
view of early medieval notions of law and authority. In shaping their new society, the Viking Age settlers of Iceland
had to ponder more clearly the concepts underlying it, while those remaining in the places from which they emigrated
could continue to adhere to ancient customs without paying any particular attention to them.
One remarkable feature of Iceland is that the Viking Age left behind some of its perpetual milestones, including the
social structure, administrative procedures and political philosophy of the Icelandic Commonwealth. The
Commonwealth established by the settlers of Iceland certainly preserved many traits of old European polities. At the
same time it has been considered by some scholars as a precursor of polities later instituted on the other side of the
Atlantic. Þingvellir is remarkable as the only Germanic assembly site where remains of administrative structures such
as Lögberg (e. Law Rock), Lögrétta (e. Law Council) and Biskupabúðir (e. Bishops' Booths) have been preserved.
Unique remains of manmade structures pertaining to the assembly and its functions dating from the 10th to 18th
centuries can be found there.
A striking feature in the history of Þingvellir is the conversion of Iceland from heathendom to Christianity. The
inhabitants of a whole community changed their religion in a remarkably peaceful process approved by the Althing in
year 1000. It is a prominent example of how the administrative structures of the Althing functioned at the time, with
unanimous approval needed in order for matters to be resolved.