Ásbyrgi

Eyjan cliff in Asbyrgi canyon. — Eyjan is a prominent cliff inside Asbyrgi canyon, best viewed from the south. A hiking trail on top of it delivers a panorama view over the Asbyrgi canyon itself.

Ásbyrgi (Icelandic pronunciation:

horseshoe-shaped depression is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and measures approximately 3.5 km in length and over 1 km wide.^[1] For more than half of its length, the canyon is divided through the middle by a distinctive rock formation 25 meters high called Eyjan ([ˈeiːjan], "the Island"), from which a vast landscape is seen.^{[citation needed}

]

The canyon's steep sides are formed by

waterfowl species.^{[citation needed}

]

Ásbyrgi was most likely formed by catastrophic glacial flooding of the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum after the last ice age, first 8–10,000 years ago, and then again some 3,000 years ago. The river has since changed its course and now runs about 2 km to the east.

The legend explains the unusual shape of the canyon differently. Nicknamed Sleipnir's footprint, it is said that the canyon was formed when Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, touched one of its feet to the ground here.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "About Ásbyrgi". Vatnajökull National Park.

External links

Photos
Pictures from Ásbyrgi www.islandsmyndir.is
Official Website of Vatnajökull National Park

66°00′52″N 16°30′12″W / 66.01444°N 16.50333°W / 66.01444; -16.50333

This Iceland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "About Ásbyrgi". Vatnajökull National Park.

[1]