{"id":1620,"date":"2024-10-02T19:49:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T19:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goeggit.com\/?p=1620"},"modified":"2024-10-04T21:10:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T21:10:52","slug":"icelandic-moss-internet-memes-how-to-protect-icelands-fragile-ecosystem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/goeggit.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/02\/icelandic-moss-internet-memes-how-to-protect-icelands-fragile-ecosystem\/","title":{"rendered":"Icelandic Moss & Internet Memes: How to Protect Iceland\u2019s Fragile Ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"

What do Internet memes and Icelandic moss have in common? More than you might think!<\/span><\/p>\n

In September 2016, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber played two shows in K\u00f3pavogur, then shot a video for the song \u201cCold Water,\u201d <\/span>a collaboration<\/span> with American electronic band Major Lazer and Danish musician M\u00d8.<\/span><\/p>\n

The video shows four dancers jumping and dancing on top of moss-covered boulders in Iceland\u2019s Eldhraun lava field; it provoked widespread controversy in Iceland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association, criticized the pop star and his team\u2019s behavior. Snorri Baldursson, head of the association, told\u00a0<\/span>V\u00edsir<\/span><\/a><\/em>, \u201cThis is probably the worst treatment you can imagine for the moss, to jump on it. This type of moss <\/span>that we have<\/span> in the Eldhraun lava field is\u2026 one of the country\u2019s most sensitive ecosystems.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It is also strikingly beautiful. The video is gorgeous, and it\u2019s one of a long list of popular films and music videos shot on location in Iceland. Shooting the music video reportedly took around four days and twenty people. The number of Iceland adventure tours it\u2019s inspired? Countless.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A tourist wanders off the designated path to take photos in the moss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Iceland\u2019s moss and lichen<\/span>, though,<\/span> are both fragile essential ecosystems and cultural treasures.<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Eldhraun is <\/span>the<\/span> largest lava field <\/span>in Iceland<\/span>.<\/span> It formed between 1783 and 1784 when the Laki fissure and the adjoining Gr\u00edmsv\u00f6tn volcano erupted. It can <\/span>be seen<\/span> from Ring Road 1 before <\/span>reaching the<\/span> turning to Fjadrargljufur.<\/span><\/p>\n

And <\/span>that\u2019s<\/span><\/em> where Bieber\u2019s Icelandic moss problems started.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll Show You” in Fjadrargljufur Canyon<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Environment Agency of Iceland\u00a0closed all public paths to Fjadrargljufur Canyon in 2019 for all but five weeks out of the year after it became clear the fragile canyon was struggling under the strain of its popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Fjadrargljufur<\/p>\n

Fjadrargljufur Canyon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The primary reason <\/span>cited<\/span> for the closure was environmental damage caused by an ever-increasing number of visitors. <\/span>Visitor<\/span> numbers to the canyon increased from 150,000 to 282,000 <\/span>between 2017 and 2018<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Iceland has many gorgeous natural formations, Fjadrargljufur has become especially popular for multiple reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n

Its tall, slender canyon walls are sheer, creating beautiful lighting and effects photographers love. <\/span>Photos were going viral<\/span><\/a> on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other<\/span> reason Fjadrargljufur has become so popular<\/span>? Another<\/span> Justin Bieber music video,\u201cI\u2019ll Show You,\u201d was filmed there in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gu\u00f0mundur Ingi Gu\u00f0brandsson, then Iceland\u2019s Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed to <\/span>The Guardian<\/span><\/a> it was \u201ca bit too simplistic to blame the entire situation on Justin Bieber\u201d but urged visitors, especially famous or otherwise influential ones, to consider the consequences of their actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Justin Bieber\u2019s defense,\u201d Gu\u00f0brandsson added, \u201cthe canyon did not\u2014at the time he visited\u2014have rope fences and designated paths to show what was allowed and what was not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The nature conservation areas Fjadrargljufur Canyon and Sk\u00f3gahei\u00f0i at Sk\u00f3gafoss reopened on June 1 with more infrastructure <\/span>in place<\/span> to guide visitors and protect the moss.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sk\u00f3gahei\u00f0i<\/p>\n

Sk\u00f3gahei\u00f0i at Sk\u00f3gafoss, Nat Hab Expedition Leader \u00a9 Eddy Savage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit South Iceland shared that the Environment Agency of Iceland reopened the sites, requesting all guests to walk only on designed paths and not to step over fences or go into restricted areas with sensitive vegetation or wildlife. The reopening statement included:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been difficult for our rangers to hold the areas closed, and sadly, many people ignore the closures. The areas are <\/span>very<\/span> damaged because of too much traffic, too much pressure on nature and a lack of infrastructure to protect the vegetation. Help us protect nature and follow the rules in the nature conservation areas.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On <\/span>Nat Hab\u2019s Iceland & Greenland: A Nordic Discovery<\/span><\/a>, you can enjoy an early hike up on the rim of Fjadrargljufur Canyon, a narrow, <\/span>serpentine<\/span> gorge <\/span>contained<\/span> by 328-foot-high vertical walls covered in bright green moss. Walking along the rim, you can look down into its shadowy depths where the twisting, silver Fjadra River flows and see exactly what drew Bieber to the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Icelandic<\/p>\n

Icelandic turf sustainable houses<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sustainable Travel Infrastructure to Protect Iceland\u2019s Spectacular Sensitive Ecosystems<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Inga Hlin Palsdottir, director of the national tourism agency Visit Iceland, told <\/span>CNN Travel<\/span><\/a> that it\u2019s not fair to blame overtourism\u2014or music videos, or individual pop stars\u2014for Fjadrargljufur\u2019s closure:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a natural wonder that <\/span>wasn\u2019t meant<\/span> to be that popular. We need to build a better infrastructure there so we can invite people all year-round. We need paths that <\/span>can be discovered<\/span> all year-round. It\u2019s not only because of nature; it\u2019s a safety issue.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Given Iceland\u2019s spectacular landscapes, it\u2019s a wonder more people haven\u2019t<\/span> always <\/span><\/em>visited.<\/span><\/p>\n

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