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Storisandur
is an undulating, barren area north of the Langjokull Glacier between
the Arnarvatn Moorland and the Kjalvegur Route.
It comprises mainly the glacier-eroded remains of an ancient
shield volcano, which are relatively easily passable and was frequently
travelled by the people of the Skagafjordur District (until about 1890),
especially when they were transporting dried fish from the southwest to
the farms in the North.
The Icelandic Mountain Road Society cleared the track and marked
it with cairns during the years 1831-34.
The pinnacle shaped hill “Grettishaed” in the area probably
is the “Grettisthufa” mentioned in the Gretti’s Saga, where
Thorbjorn Ongull buried Gretti’s head after his slaying on the Drangey
Island. Another legend has
it, that Grettir fought his enemies there.
Along
the edges of the Storisandur are rich cold spring areas, which feed the rivers Vatnsdalsa and
Vididalsa in the
North and River Nordlingafljot in the
West. The most prominent
mountain of the area is Mt Krakur (1167m), just north of Glacier Langjokull. A 4wd mountain
track crosses this area between Lake Reykjavatn and the Kjalvegur Route
and sidetracks continue to the valleys in the North. |