First it was a tourist play, however, with the increase of the volcano activities in the Eyjafjallajökull the Iceland cyclist also asks himself whether one can travel in this summer certainly through Iceland. The unequivocal answer is: Yes, but! Since it cannot be excluded that certain roads also remain closed during the summer. Against differently announcements the ring road was already fully practicable after few days. We have gathered some infos and photos from the region.

Should it come to an outbreak of the Katla, however, the situation would be very different. A short-term blockages is to be calculated. However, Iceland is big, greater than people think and there are enough regions in which have no volcano activity.

On the Internet there is a topical map about the street blockages. In the 4/15/2010 the situation looked in Südisland as follows:

The ring road was closed to the south of Hvolsvöllur untill Vik. Because a spring tide was feared to the east of Mýrdalsjökull around Mýrdalssandur, the ring road segment east of Vik was clodes, too (however, it wa relatively fast lifted). Many other "closed signs" to the north and to the west Mýrdalsjökull are absolutely normal to that time of the year. By the way, no result of the volcano eruption, but for this seasonal period due to snow and meltwater. These highland roads are open according to their conditions every summer earliest in June.

The melt water which resulted with the volcano eruption under the Eyjafjallajökull flow over parts of the road 249. The glacier river Markarfljót is under normal level a big glacier river so it rised on a high peak. The ring road was broken up at the crossroad to the rd. 249 and dams was destroyed by workers to take pressure off the bridges. After the flood the street was reconstruced rapidly. To see as on the lower photo, all bridges are still "alive".

The restored ring road, look in the direction of the west, to Hvölsvöllur.

 

 An aerial photo during the flood. Copyright by the Icelandic road adminstration. On the right side you can see the "rest" of rd. 249. Horizontally through the picture leading line shows the course of the ring road.



The washed away ring road near the crossroad with rd.249.

 

It is interesting that the old ringroad further north which is normaly closed to traffic was used as an emergency bypass.



 The route to H34 Þórsmörk

The description of the route H34 is obsolete for sometime. The volcano eruption has washed away large parts of the road. The glacier lake has disappeared, as some bridges, too. A footbridge is missing, which you see on one picture between small icebergs in the middle of the river. According to statement of the road constructer, a new piste must be put on for about 4km length with a bulldozer. On another kilometre the road has disappeared completely. As long of the Eyjafjallajökull is active, the route remains closed.

The washed away footbridge at the picture is probably the bridge at km 27 of the route H34, which led you getting over drain of the glacier lagoon. But there is no the glacier lagoon any more.



Here look at the river Markarfljót and in the direction of Þórsmörk the runway has disappeared in the floods.

You find description after the "old" route Þórsmörk in route H34.

Before a tour through Iceland is recommended, no matter whether with or without an active volcano, to check the latest news about the the roads on the website of the Iceland Roadaministration. You find a map under www.vegag.is.