The journey through the Icelandic highlands takes in a number of locations:
When the helicopter TF-GRO makes an appearance it appears coming over Ljótipollur (Ugly Puddle) in Landmannalaugar. Ljótipollur, a crater formed by a volcanic explosion in 1480, is famous for its intense colours. The deposits of iron-ore colour the sides of the crater red, which contrast with the bright blue, green of the water, quite impressive. With a depth of only 14 meters and covering an area of 45 hectares it is a popular fishing lake being stocked with brown trout.
Below Búðarháls ridge was the location where the Stewart and Elín were ambushed. Búðarháls is now the site of the Búðarháls Hydroelectric Station utilising the power of the Tungnaá River.
The Tungnaá is a glacial river of 175 m3/sec, starting in Vatnajökull’s western side and ending in Þjórsá. The Landmannaafréttur-area is partly given its borders by Tungnaá and partly cut in two by it. The river’s geographical situation and its amount of water have made it a major hindrance for travelling from the southern flatland into the highlands. Sheep and horses could swim over at special spots under normal circumstances.
A ferry for sheep and people was built in 1936, another one already existed, down near Þjórsá and there, a creel was built in 1964. A ford for big trucks was found in 1950 and in 1967 Sigalda built a bridge for all vehicles. In 2002 another bridge was built down by the creel at Hald. In Tungnaá there are the second and third biggest of Iceland’s hydroelectric power stations, Sigölduvirkjun and Hrauneyjafossvirkjun with their reservoirs totaling 23 km2. Tungnaá’s main side-rivers are the Jökulgilskvísl and Kaldakvísl. [1]
An image of the Kláfur car ferry bridge over the Tungnaá, which was used during the filming of the production, can be seen here.
Next location
Notes
Images © BBC Scotland, © The Bagley Brief.
1. Landmannalaugar.info (2011). ‘Landmannalaugar Glossary’ [online]. URL [Accessed Jan. 1st 2015]
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