Vonarskarð is notable among other things for the fact that it is the site of the water divide between north and south Iceland, and where the sources of both Skjálfandafljót and Kaldakvísl can be found. In the western part of Vonarskarð there is a geothermal high-temperature area, with nearly all the phenomena that are known to exist in such areas. This is a remote place, and although some believe that the settler Gnúpa-Bárður went through the pass during the Age of Settlement, the first recorded instance of anyone travelling in the area was about 1839. There is no road for cars that leads to Vonarskarð, but it can be reached on foot from Kolufell, Gjósta and Nýidalur.

Vonarskarð has a geothermal high-temperature area at an altitude of about 950-1100 metres and unusually diverse vegetation, a colourful hot spring and rare geothermal organisms with high conservation values. It is also the site of one of the highest-altitude mires in the country, at 900 m above sea level. The landscape is unusual, spectacular and varied, there are glaciers and tall mountains, sand plains and gravel banks, glacial rivers, streams without glacial water, warm natural pools and colourful hot springs. Vonarskarð is the site of the water divide of Skjálfandafljót and Kaldakvísl, which flows into the river Tungnaá. The sandy volcanic rock bottom has streams running over it apparently side by side, which eventually reach the sea either in the south or the north of Iceland. The unique nature of Vonarskarð, its wide expanses and tranquility will make an impression on all those who visit the area.

The area's proximity to the volcanic belt and the hot spot over the mantle plume that is under Iceland defines its unique geological character. The centre of the mantle plume is now believed to lie under the northwestern part of Vatnajökull, which is also the site of Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn, two of the largest and most active central volcanoes in Iceland. The volcanic system of Bárðarbunga is connected to two of the principal crater systems in the country, the Veiðivötn system to the southwest and the Dyngjuháls system to the northeast, in both of which major eruptions have occurred in historical times. The area has many impressive geosites that are accessible to visitors and that bear witness to the fact that this is a site where a plate boundary meets a hot spot, partially covered by a glacier. Even though the area is far from the nearest human habitation, eruptions that occur there can have wide-reaching and permanent effects on large parts of Iceland, due to the resulting ashfall and glacier outburst floods.

Mantle plume, volcanic activity and geothermal heat

Vonarskarð

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Conservation value

Mantle plume, volcanic activity and geothermal heat

Hiking trails in Vonarskarð

Svarthöfði - Vonarskarð

Nýidalur - Vonarskarð - Nýidalur

Tvílitaskarð

Gjósta - Vonarskarð