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The Kaldakvísl River in the highlands of Hágöngur geothermal area - #Iceland

Hágöngulón is a lake in the Highlands of Iceland. It is 37 km2 (15 sq miles) and it is situated nearly 10 km east of the Sprengisandur road, one of the highland tracks which cross Iceland from the south to the north, and a similar distance west of the largest glacier Vatnajökull. Immediately to the south is the lava field Hágönguhraun. It is fed by various streams consisting of meltwater from Vatnajökull and is drained by Kaldakvísl, a tributary of the Þjórsá, both of which flow in a southwest direction towards the southwest coast.

The Kaldakvísl river was dammed in 1998 and a lake was formed and consequently most of the geothermal manifestations are now under water. Only geothermal activity on surface is in Sveðjuhraun lava field, where signs of alteration and a little steam flow are encountered. In winter, ice free areas in the ice cap of the lake indicate the submerged geothermal area in the lagoon.

Hágöngur geothermal area lies within the volcanic zone in mid Iceland. The area is named after two distinctive mountains Hágöngur i.e. the southern Háganga (1284 m) and the northern Háganga (1278 m) both rising more than 400 meters above their surroundings. A geothermal area is situated in the near vicinity to the east of themountains and has earlier been referred to as the geothermal area at Köldukvíslarbotnar.

Clear surface manifestations of a high temperature system were encountered on the river bed of Kaldakvísl river, with steam vents and fumaroles as well as geothermal alteration. Geothermal research in the area started in the nineties with mapping of geothermal manifestations and the geology of the area. The Hágöngur geothermal area in Central Iceland is among the larger geothermal areas of the country. Surface exploration studies including geology and geothermal manifestations mapping, Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) resistivity surveys, Magnetotelluric (MT) soundings and geothermometry assessments have been conducted in the area, along with the drilling of one deep exploration well (HG-01) near the center of the resistivity anomaly.

The Fögruhverir hot springs in the Hágöngur area were completely submerged and lost when a reservoir was created for power projects in the area of the rivers Þjórsá and Tungnaá. Current proposals for a power plant in the area would place the plant in the middle of the Iceland Highlands, at the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. These proposals would entail much greater damage and disruption than previous dam construction in the area, and the requisite 60 km power lines would completely transform the area’s appeal.

Enough is enough. Stop damaging our vulnerable highlands.  We don’t need more dam’s ore drillings in Iceland.

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View over Kleifarvatn, Hellutinda and Vatnshlíð at Reykjanes Peninsula -  #Iceland

View over Kleifarvatn, Hellutinda and Vatnshlíð at Reykjanes. This Volcanic mountains are called Sveifluháls. Sveifluháls. View over Kleifarvatn, Hellutinda and Vatnshlíð at Reykjanes. This Volcanic mountains are called Sveifluháls - Sveifluháls is one of the largest multi-summit . . . All Information’s, Saga and Camera settings you will find on: https://www.patreon.com/RafnSig

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The Kaldakvísl River in the highlands of Vatnajökull National park - #Iceland

The river Kaldakvísl is truly a hidden gem. Words are unequal to the task of describing the landscape’s beauty and contrast witch is the river’s main characteristics. On the 12 km (16 mile) beat, one can find . . . All Information’s, Saga and Camera settings you will find on: https://www.patreon.com/RafnSig

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Landscape from Hrafntinnusker Highlands -  #Iceland

A large obsidian field located in the highlands of Iceland, just east of the infamous Mount Hekla. Hrafntinna is the Icelandic name for obsidian... Obsidian is black and glassy, and forms when rhyolite cools very   . . . All Information’s, Saga and Camera settings you will find on: https://www.patreon.com/RafnSig

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Gunnuhver Geothermal Fumarole in the Blue hour -  #Iceland

The area is close to Reykjanes lighthouse and is collectively named Gunnuhver after a female ghost that was laid there. She had caused great disturbance until a priest set a trap for her and she fell into the spring. This happened about . . . All Information’s, Saga and Camera settings you will find on: https://www.patreon.com/RafnSig

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