PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 



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near Myvatn to 550 metres. Birch coppices occur on the moun- 

 tains of Vindbelgur (540 metres) and Dalfjall (550 metres). In olden 

 times there were in Kroksdalur and Yxnadalur a continuation 

 of Bardardalur considerable woods up to 450 metres. On the 

 south coast the birch coppices do not as a rule extend so far up- 

 wards on the mountains; in Kollumuli near Lon birch coppices oc- 



Fig. 27. Woods in Hallormstad ; June 1909. 

 (Phot. A. Hesselbo.) 



cur, however, at a height of about 500 metres, but, nowhere else 

 along the south coast did I find birch coppices at that altitude. 

 The forest of Nupsstadaskogur, south of Vatnajokull, reaches to an 

 altitude of 400 metres, Bsejarstadaskogur in Orsefi to 320 metres, 

 and coppices in Haukadalsheidi to 380 metres, but in the southern 

 lowlands the limit for birch coppices usually occurs at a height of 

 200300 metres; in some places at a slightly higher, in others at 

 a slightly lower level. According to the Ordnance map the upper 

 limits of the coppice-woods in South Iceland are as follows: 



Skaftafell in Orsefi 280 metres 



Jokulfell (Bcejarstadaskogur) 320 



Nupsstadaskogur 400 



Thorsmork 320 



