Vestmannsvatn (523)
Iceland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Vestmannsvatn
Central coordinates: Latitude: 65.7667, Longitude: -17.3167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 20 to 40
Area of KBA (km2): 10.69357
Protected area coverage (%): 47.76
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of shallow riparian lakes, 30 km south of the town of Húsavík, and including rivers, streams, pools and freshwater marshes, surrounded by Betula wood and cultivated land. `Rocky areas' are vegetated lava and eroded gravel areas. Land-uses include grazing and fishing.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The area also supports a wide variety of wildfowl including notable numbers of breeding (200-400 pairs) and staging duck (Anatidae).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 9 | |
| Shrubland | 9 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 18 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 64 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Predation by introduced American mink Mustela vison is a threat, as is the impact of net-fishing.