Krossá river
Gravel plains.
Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0
Þórsmörk is a mountain ridge and valley in South Iceland named after the Norse god Thor, lying between the Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers, about 131 km east of Reykjavík in a straight line. It is one of Iceland's most popular hiking areas. Strictly the name refers to the ridge between the Krossá, Þröngá and Markarfljót rivers, but it is often used for the wider area up to Eyjafjallajökull. The Krossá winds between the mountains in the valley, which is enclosed by glaciers, with Mýrdalsjökull at its head. This gives it a relatively warm climate, better than the rest of South Iceland, so moss, ferns, birch woods and shrubs grow here. Wide gravel plains with braided rivers fill the valley, ringed by hills and sharp rock peaks covered in green moss, with white glacier tongues gleaming above. Mountain huts for hikers and campsites are scattered through the valley. Visitors arrive by special highland buses or 4x4 vehicles, as the road fords unbridged rivers that ordinary cars must not cross. They walk short trails to viewpoints or set off on longer hikes and stay in huts in summer, which is the season to go.
Gravel plains.
Above the valley.
A warm climate.
Between Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull, South Iceland
Only by highland bus or 4x4.
Summer.