This mossy canyon in the highlands of Iceland is located on the edge of the Vatnajökull ice cap. With its towering waterfalls of up to 120 meters (394 feet) height and rugged rock faces it appears like a painting from a fairytale book. This dramatic landscape was formed by volcanic and glacial processes and represents a unique ecosystem. Here, a meltwater stream of the Vatnajökull ice cap is draining into this 400 meter (1300 feet) deep canyon. Two of Iceland’s most active volcanoes, Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga, are located beneath the ice cap, which is up to 1000 meters (3200 feet) in thickness.

The permanent high humidity has transformed this canyon over time into a living painting of moss cushions, which thrive as pioneer plants on the volcanic basalt and obsidian, which is a volcanic glass. These mosses form dense, bright green carpets and are perfectly adapted to the harsh environmental conditions. They are among the oldest land plants on Earth and have an ideal survival strategy thanks to their tolerance of dry conditions and their ability to absorb water directly from the air and precipitation. They also contribute to the gradual formation of organic soil, store considerable amounts of water and provide a habitat for numerous insects, which in turn attracts birds and makes the canyon home to hunters such as the Arctic fox. Thereby, these mosses not only form an enchanting green carpet for the viewer’s eye, but also a silent ecological foundation. They tell of the resilience of life under extreme conditions and are essential for the long-term development of stable ecosystems in Iceland’s highland regions.