Núpsstaður UNESCO World Heritage Center.
The aesthetic beauty of the landscape in Núpsstaður is well known. The area reaches from the seashore and the black sands, to high white glaciers and includes a green vegetation belt with a native birch forest, willow scrubs and flourishing undergrowth (with e.g. Dactylorhiza maculata) in between. The area is adjacent to Skaftafell National Park. It has numerous impressive geological formations, among them are. various types of lava, rock-glaciers, waterfalls, gullies, canyons, geothermal areas, a central volcano, tectonic fissures, scree slopes, a glacial lagoon, glacial rivers and part of the Vatnajdkull glacier. The farm, Núpsstaður, is situated in the immediate neighborhood of the vast Skeiarcirsandur sands, south of the huge mass of the Vatnaj6kull glacier. East of the farm, looms the majestic cliff of Lómagnúpur, known from the Njál's saga. At Núpsstaður stands a turf and stone farmhouse and it is a typical middle- sized farm, like those found throughout the 19th century in the southern parts of Iceland. There is a complete group of remarkable old farm houses, as well as a whole set of the usual stables and other outhouses.
A church was built at Núpsstaður in earliest Christian times, or at least sometime before 1200 AD, In the Catholic Period. The church was dedicated to St. Nicholas and there were few people in the parish at that time. In the year 1765 however, it was abolished as a parish church, but the building served as a chapel fbr the fanner and his people. After 1783, the building was reduced to the state of a storehouse. In 1930 the National Museum of Iceland took over the old house and in 1958-1960 gave it thorough reparation. Like other turf and stones faffns, Núpsstaður has a long and continuous evolution over many centuries. The same family has lived in Núpsstaður since about 1730.
The farmstead of Núpsstaður forms an unusually well-preserved cultural landscape, offering a great deal of information about the use of the area before modem changes. The area has always been an agricultural landscape.
Critiques | Translate
Karmenu (1408) 2007-12-02 4:34
Look likes captured from a film scene of the vikings.
Thanks also for your interesting note.
mesutilgim (80602) 2007-12-02 4:35
Very nice capture ! Very good pov and nice colors. With your nice info's this capture has gotten a unique "TE JOB" !
TFS and have a nice weekend
holmertz (37681) 2007-12-02 4:43
Great picture, taken from a perfect angle leading the eyes diagonally across the photo and further up towards the rugged rocks. Very fine texture of the wooden façades. Percet colours and exposure. An extra plus for the ambitious note.
grantlp (2113) 2007-12-02 4:49
This is a dynamic image of a wonderful contryside, made even more impactful by these mountainside dwellings....with their own roof top gardens! The old wooden walls and doors seem to have so much history to them and I can only wonder who inhabited them. The bright blue sky along with the wispy clouds is a fantasic backdrop to the scene. Very well done.
FrankT (192) 2007-12-02 5:23
Beautiful, this country is already for years on our wish list. It would be great to see this (and make pictures)
medio (466) 2007-12-02 5:42
bonita toma, la composición y el encuadre es muy bueno y los colores son excelentes, preciosa foto!!!
Aviller (3866) 2007-12-02 6:11
Very nice composition. The clouds almost seem to be moving and the colors are very vivid and strong. The wooden hut is placed perfecly here.
asajernigan (20616) 2007-12-02 7:00
Excellent composition showing these farm houses from a great angle to show the mountains in the background and the great sky above. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF. This actually looks like a Hobbit villiage from the Lord of the Rings.
jonathan_hart (21274) 2007-12-02 8:05
très bon angle
bonne composition dynamique
belle lumière et bonnes couleurs
un endroit beau et très intéressant
angela926 (1884) 2007-12-02 17:49
Absolutely stunning photo! great compostion and pov. very good sharpness and wonderful colors.
Nolme (6827) 2007-12-03 9:07
de mémoire de hobbit, on a pas fait mieux pour lutter contre le froid et le vent
bon baiser de paris
France (125) 2007-12-03 9:33
Oh, oh, Michel !
On copie ma photo postée il y a quelques jours ? Faut dire que tu as bénéficié d'un temps superbe ce jour-là et qu'il aurait été dommage de ne pas montrer Nupsstadur aussi sous ce bel aspect. Magnifique ciel, belle composition légèrement différente de la mienne. Couleurs éclatantes.
Un très belle photo,
Benedict (7076) 2008-02-16 20:43
does it ever get hot in the summer in iceland?
i thought that the vegetation roofings would cool the inhabitants inside in the summer, hence that question,
amazing, colors of verdant green all around and the clusters of clouds peeeping through the blue sky give the accent to the compo. beautiful!
- Copyright: Michel Detay (mdetay) (4865)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2007-08-23
- Categories: Architecture
- Camera: Nikon D2X, Kikkor AF-S 12-24mm f1.4 G ED
- Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2007-12-02 4:31
- Favorites: 1 [view]