 Valley Austurdalur
in the Skagafjordur District is almost 50 km long. Its northernmost
boundaries are at the confluence of Rivers Eastern and Western
Jokulsa, where River Heradsvotn takes over. The valley is narrow and
steep, framed with precipitous, 1000 m high mountains. The slopes are
relatively well vegetated and good sheep grazings, and in a few places
some traces of woodlands remain. River Eastern-Jokulsa cascades
through a deep and impassable canyon from its catchment area at the
northern edge of Glacier Hofsjokull.
 The longest branch is called
Jokulkvisl / Hnjukskvisl, which appears from underneath the glacier
tongue Klakksjokull. The river is voluminous and difficult to ford.
Usually rubust 4wd vehicles ford it just north of Mts
Illvidrahnjukar. In 1970 a part of a bridge was moved from River
Jokulsa a Solheimasandi in the south and placed across River Eastern
Jokulsa and the second bridge connects the only remaining farms in the
valley at farm Merkigil. In earlier times, the valley was densely
populated (20-30 farms). Now only one remains. |
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