|
The
River Eyjafjardara Estuary, which is divided into Leira (Flats)
and Holmar (Islets), extends from Hoephners Pier at the end of
the gully Budargil to the gravel beds of Melgerdismelar in the Eyjafiord
Valley, and has distinctive flora and diverse wildlife.
Formerly this was the most important hayfield in the whole area,
and haymaking and grazing prevented the growth of trees and shrubs. Large areas are now protected.
Tea-leaved willow and woolly willow have spread across the Holmar,
where there is a continuous cover of Lyngye’s sedge along with other
plant species, such as small reed, cotton grass, marsh cinquefoil and
bog bean.
Occasional
birch grows there, generally outreaching the often-sizeable shrub.
On the banks are also stunted tea-leaved willow, usually the
creeping variety, with considerable garden angelica and wild angelica in
many places. The rare
species marsh felwort and smaller fringed gentian occur there, too,
while tall water horsetail and rushes grow in the ditches.
The banks are covered with the densest patches of red clover
found in Iceland; this imported species probably spread from the „Old
Plant Nursery” where it also occurs.
Patches of tufted vetch lend a blue colour to the islets in late
summer.
More about
Eyjafjardara |