Pollengi-Hrosshagavík (492)
Iceland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Pollengi-Hrosshagavík
Central coordinates: Latitude: 64.1667, Longitude: -20.4167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 40 to 80
Area of KBA (km2): 16.72087
Protected area coverage (%): 38.74
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large area of rivers, streams, lakes, pools and extensive riparian marshes/mires of sedge (Carex, Eriophorum), c.18 km south of the Geysir hot-spring area. Tunguey is an island. Pond-weed Potamogeton is common in pools, and Salix bushes are common on land in the drier areas.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Hrosshagavík is important for staging waterbirds in spring and autumn. A wide variety of waterbirds breed in the area.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Predation by introduced American mink Mustela vison poses a problem, and hunting causes disturbance to birds. The Tungufljót river, which flows into Hrosshagavík, has changed from a glacial to a freshwater river, after its glacial tributary, the Farid, was dammed in the highlands. Sediment deposition in Hrosshagavík and Pollengi has thus probably been sharply reduced, with unknown ecological consequences. Most of the IBA is protected, but important parts of the area, such as the northern parts of Pollengi and Hrosshagavík, are not protected.