Hallormsstaðaskógur

Hallormsstaðaskógur
View to Hallormsstaðaskógur National Forest
Coordinates: 65°05′36″N 14°44′50″W / 65.09333°N 14.74722°W / 65.09333; -14.74722Coordinates: 65°05′36″N 14°44′50″W / 65.09333°N 14.74722°W / 65.09333; -14.74722
Country	Iceland
County	Norður-Múlasýsla
Municipality	Fljótsdalshérað
Area
• Total	7,4 km2 (29 sq mi)
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)

Hallormsstaður National Forest is located in Fljótsdalur east Iceland, about 25 kilometers inland from the town of Egilsstaðir. It is one of the larger forests in Iceland, covering 740 hectares (ha), and includes the only village in Iceland that is located in a forest. The forest is a recreation area in a varied landscape. There are over 40 km of marked trails and footpaths as well as an arboretum, two camp-sites, picnic areas, a hotel, and boat and horse rentals.

The birchwood remnants at Hallormsstaður farm were protected in 1905 and thereby became Iceland‘s first national forest. Birch forest and woodland now covers about 350 ha within the original fenced area and a variety of tree species have been planted on another 200 ha. Large areas have been annexed to the forest more recently, both to the north and south, and either planted or allowed to regenerate naturally with birch. A total of 85 tree species can be found in the forest from over 600 places around the world.

The forest provides food, nest sites and protection from predators for several bird species. Year round residents include common redpoll, wren, goldcrest, willow ptarmigan, and common raven. In summer the forest fills with redwings, snipes and meadow pipits along with Eurasian woodcocks and wagtails. Besides birding, the forest offers opportunities for botanizing and picking berries and mushrooms. Edible mushrooms include larch bolete, birch bolete, and slippery jack. Rock bramble is common and raspberries and redcurrants can be found in parts of the forest. Clear streams form a characteristic part of the forest and the water in all of them is drinkable.