Colours of Iceland 

A pretty hard climate, glaciers, volcanic activity and flocks have an immediate effect on vegetation: only one quarter of the island has permanent vegetation.
Despite this environment, you can find 470 different species on the island, some only living in Iceland. Besides, 450 species of lichen exist here.

Plants are small, from moss and lichen, to small trees. They are very well designed for this environment.

Recent lava fields have no vegetation, but older ones are covered by a moss and lichen carpet.
That’s the first step to more diversified vegetation: small trees, ferns and then birches. The whole process takes a long time and the nature must be protected during this period.

Before year 1 000, Iceland had one quarter covered with a forest mainly made of birches.
Sheep and most of all the use of wood by settlers for houses, boats and heating have reduced this surface to only 1%.

Today, Icelandic people are very conscious about an important reforestation plan: more than 4 millions conifers have already been replanted and many children take part in special plans during their holidays.

Many berries are eatable and embellish hikes and bivouacs: blueberries, bilberries,…

Some plant as the “Leaved Cotton Grass”, have a special part in the history of Iceland: its flowers look like cotton and were used to burn in petrol lamps.