The Highlands - Iceland's Heart in Peril

The Highlands - Iceland's Heart in Peril is a project just introduced by Landvernd The Icelandic Environment Association. The Icelandic Highlands form one of the largest territories in Europe, south of the Arctic Circle, which has never been inhabited or cultivated. The area is renowned for its unparalleled geology and geomorphology; pristine oases in the midst of an exceptionally contrasting landscape that is formed by a unique combination of fire and ice. Therefore, the Icelandic Highlands are considered one of the last great wildernesses in Europe.

Over the last few decades, the Highlands have been under siege, threatened by increasing pressure to build power plants, paved roads, and power lines. Specifically, there are proposals to make a paved road across Kjölur plateau, another paved road across Sprengisandur plateau along with high-voltage power lines, and Icelandic power companies are preparing to build at least four power plants in the Highlands. In a Capacent-Gallup poll in 2011, the majority of respondents (56%) said they favored a national park in the Highlands. The proposed projects would thus be at odds with the will of the nation. In addition, more than 80% of foreign tourists say that the Icelandic nature is their main reason for visiting Iceland.

Please sign this petition, and thereby support Landvernd’s demand that the Highlands - the heart of Iceland - should be spared the proposed construction heartoficeland.org.

The photo was taken in Þjórsárver yesterday with Hjartafell (the Heart Mountain) in the background.