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Icelanders are categorising the highlands: 1) "háls" meaning a broad mountain ridge between valleys, like f.ex. near Langavatn north of Borgarnes; 2) "heiði" which means the real highlands like along Sprengisandur road.
The numerous glaciers like Vatnajökull, Langjökull and Hofsjökull are also mostly part of the Icelandic Highlands. Vegetation is only to be found on the shores of the glacier rivers. There is also the danger of glacier runs.
Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland with volcanic activity are to be found in the Highlands, such as Landmannalaugar and the region around Askja and Herðubreið.
The Highlands can only be crossed during the Icelandic summer (June to August). For the rest of the year the highland roads are closed down. The best known highland roads are KaldidalurThe Kaldidalur is the shortest of the highland tracks traversing the Highlands of Iceland, therefore the nickname "highlands for beginners". It begins a bit to the north of THingvellir and to the west of the volcano Skjaldbreidur, which really comes up to, KjölurThe Kjolur highland road is the second longest of the roads through the Highlands of Iceland. It begins in the south of Iceland near Haukadalur and behind the Gullfoss waterfall and it ends in the north near Blonduos''. Like Sprengisandur highland road, t and Sprengisandur. People who want to cross the Highlands will need a car with 4-wheel drive , because one would have to ford rivers. Explorers are not permitted to leave the roads as the scarce vegetation is very sensitive.