Iceland is home to the world’s richest landscape diversity. Shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activity, extreme weather and the activity of majestic glaciers, the landscape of the island nation is spectacularly changing.
Glacial glaciers, barren lava fields, towering waterfalls and volcanic volcanoes create breathtaking landscapes, unlike anywhere else on Earth. With extraordinary nature, both ethereal and surreal, inspiring endless, Iceland is becoming one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world.
Most striking, the iconic beauty of this Nordic island is the green color that covers all places. Visitors can easily find moss and green lichen covering mountains, valleys to fields, waters and even waterfalls and volcanoes.
The vast natural space, without any kind of artificial construction, becomes artistic and astonishing with the combination of green moss and spectacular terrain types. In particular, each blue picture has a unique, unadulterated nuance that Mother Nature cleverly paints.
If you drive on the road in rural Iceland, you’ll notice the moss on the lava fields never ends. The green color seemed to spread and covered the horizon, like endless green clouds lying on the ground, constantly changing shades. The wonderland covered with moss looks like coming out of a science fiction movie, making visitors surprised when admiring.
According to the University of Iceland ecology professor, Ingibjorg Svala Jonsdottir, there are about 606 different types of moss found in the island nation. The most common species, Woolly Fringe Moss, often referred to simply as Icelandic moss, "dominates" the lava fields across the southern and western parts of the island.
In addition to contributing to the picturesque landscape, Icelandic moss also plays an important role in the country’s ecosystem. First of all, moss prevents soil erosion, a problem that has arisen in Iceland since the forest was destroyed in mass. Besides, this plant absorbs water and retains moisture, thus storing countless microorganisms needed for the land here.
Although, can thrive in harsh environments, mosses still need a lot of water, air temperature and sunlight to reproduce as well as spread. If it is too cold or too dry, moss will stop growing and wait for better living conditions.
With the abundance and prominence of many types of landscapes, besides the attractive, attractive appearance, the moss mats often attract the curiosity of visitors. Many visitors want to sit or even walk on moss. However, this is strictly prohibited and strictly enforced to protect the fragile beauty of the country’s nature, especially the spread of moss covering most of the island’s harsh volcanic fields. island.
