Jökull - 01.12.1983, Page 90

Fig. 1. Alpine landscape south of Reydarfjördur
from Oddskard. The picture shows the mountain
ridge between Reydarfjördur and Fáskrúdsfjördur
from Godaborg to beyond Studla. Eyrardalur, Jök-
ulbotnar and Hrútadalur are all hanging valleys in
Reydarfjördur while the valley spurs between
Berutindur, Eyrarfjall, Kambsfjall and Hádegis-
fjall are serrated edges (arétes). Glacial cols can be
seen at 350-400 m.a.s.l. on valley spurs. cf. Fig. 9.
— Photo G. Sigbj.
Mynd 1. Alpalandslag sunnan Reyöarjjarbar frá Odds-
skarði. A myndinni sést fjallshryggurinn milli Reyöar-
fjarðar og Fáskrúðsfjarðarfrá Goðaborg inn fyrir Stuðla.
Eyrardalur, Jökulbotnar og Hrútadalur eru allt hangandi
dalir við Reyðarfj'órð á meðan dal-múlamir á milli þeirra
Berutindur, Eyrarjjall, Kambsfjall og Hádegisfjall eru
jökuleggjar (aréte). Greina má jökulaxlir í 350-400 my.s.
utan í dalmúlunum sbr. 9. mynd. — Ljósm. G. Sigbj.
assemble some of the most compelling factors to
support this view.
Two types of landform have mainly aroused my
interest in field trips to the coastal areas of the
country. On the one hand there is the factor of how
extensive areas exclusively or predominantly dis-
play characteristics of alpine glaciation. The high-
land in Tröllaskagi, Snæfellsnes and the eastern
fjord mountains (Fig. 1) are clear examples of this.
These landforms are widespread elsewhere if one
looks closely for example in the western fjord moun-
tains, in southeast fceland and the Skaftafell moun-
tains in the Öræfi district. On theother hand there
are highly developed wave-cut cliffs and promon-
tories (Fig. 2) which not only extend seawards from
various headlands, exposed to wave attack at the
present sealevel, but also for a considerable distance
landwards, requiring a sea level 20-40 m higher
than today for their formation, and even as high as
100-120 m a.s.l. Látrabjarg, Hornbjargand Gerpir
are examples of promontories which extend sea-
wards today, while Lómagnúpur, Eyjafjöll, the
western slopes of Esja and Hafnaríjall are examples
of promontories having well developed strandflats
beneath.
Fig. 3 is a map of lceland showing promontories
and definite wave-cut cliífs, which reach more than
60 to 80 m above theirpresent base,whether it issea
level, strandflat or sedimentary infill. On Fig. 3 are
also shown all those areas where the glacial geo-
morphology shows predominantly alpine landscape
characteristics. Various other areas should also be
considered, where certain mountainous areas have
a composite form. The map as a whole can neither
be considered as complete nor exact. Time neither
permits description of individual features of the
map nor explanation of those features which appear
doubtful but I have based it on various definitions of
Sugden andJohn (1976) and Krúger (1974).
FORMATION OF THE ALPINE LANDSCAPE
The main characteristic of alpine glaciers is that
their location depends almost exclusively on the
Fig. 2. Finnurinn (foreground) and Hvannadala-
bjarg (distance) are typical fjord promontories as
they occur in the western fjords, northern Iceland
and eastern fjords north of Gerpir. The picture is
taken from Ólafsfjardarmúli at the mouth of Ólafs-
fjördur. — Photo G. Sigbj.
Mynd 2. Finnurinn (neer) og Hvanndalabjörg (Jjter) eru
dtemigerðir fjarðarmúlar eins og þeir gerast um Vestjirði,
Norburland og Austjirði norðan Gerþis. Myndin er tekin í
Ólafsjjarðarmúla fyrir mynni Ólafsfjarðar. — Ljósm. G.
Sigbj.
88 JÖKULL 33. ÁR