Gunnarsholt

Gunnarsholt is just one of the farmlands which was desolated by Hekla erruptions. The farmers had spent many decades trying to protect the land from sandstorms and travelling dunes but it was all destroyed. In the 19th century, the farmers moved the farm into further South Iceland. In early 20th century the farm had to be completly abandoned. A year later, the land reclamation in the area was started and currently the landscape is lush green and partially wooded.

Gunnarsholt has since been the headquarters of, the government operated, Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, established in 1907. The SCS holds 12.000 hectares of farmland which only 80 years ago was a vast sand desert. Experiments are carried out and used for combating desertification, sand encroachment, soil erosion and restoration of degraded land. Grass and lupine seeds are coated with dust and fertilizer to prepare them for distribution from the air in the most desolated parts of the country.

A rehabilitation centre for alcoholics was also run in Gunnarsholt until it was closed down on October 1st 2003.

Picture from Land.is