This part of the interior, the so-called Sprengisandur route, is the longest stretch
between the South and the North and is passable by 4wd vehicles during summer. It is
mostly very desolate and barren. Only where there is water, sparse vegetation can be
found. In earlier times, when people were more superstitious than they are nowadays and
believed in ghosts, giants, elves and outlaws, the few who dared use this route rode as
fast as possible through and sometimes exhausted their horses. The word for to exhaust in
Icelandic is "sprengja", hence the name of the area. The present route lies
further east than the original one and the distance between the last farm in the South and
the first one in the North is approximately 250 km.
The greatest obstacles enroute are the
unbridged rivers, which have to be forded. They swell when it is warm and the glacial
melting increases and when it rains much they can become very dangerous for those who
have no experience. On a fine day this route is simply unforgettable
because of the scenic beauty all around. During summer
scheduled buses
drive daily both ways
across the interior between Landmannalaugar and
Reykjavik to lake Myvatn.
For information on road conditions, see
www.road.is
or call the Road Administration Information Line (+354) 1777
HIGHLAND ICELAND SAGA

.Click the map for
further information

Local maps
Sprengisandur Route
Accommodations
Sprengisandur Route
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