One of Iceland's Most Beautiful Places Is Now Closed to Tourists
One of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions has temporarily closed to visitors — and Justin Bieber may be at least partially to blame.
Remember that time Justin Bieber filmed a music video for his song “I’ll Show You” in Iceland? Frolicking through the fields of lava rock and moss may have looked really cool on film in 2015, but it’s not so great for the actual environment.
The Environmental Agency of Iceland just shared that Fjaðrárgljúfur, a very popular canyon region in the south featured in Bieber's video, will be closed until June to repair damage caused in part by the influx of tourists.
To be fair to Bieber, Fjaðrárgljúfur didn't need to be featured in the young pop star's music video to give everyone a case of wanderlust: It's been a highly visited area for a long time. And though the music video's success (more than 440 million views) has certainly advanced the canyon's popularity, it's not the only reason Fjaðrárgljúfur needs a break.
According to CNN Travel, the canyon was previously shut down in 2018 to repair weather-related damage.
As the snow and ice begins to melt rapidly in the springtime, there's extra wear and tear in the area, given its delicate geology. And keeping an area like this open poses a major safety risk.
With Iceland (and, specifically, the Fjaðrárgljúfur region) being such a hiking hot spot, any deteriorating conditions need to be swiftly addressed. In an interview with CNN Travel, Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir — director of Visit Iceland and Creative Industries at Promote Iceland — shared some insight behind the closure.
"It's just a natural wonder that wasn't meant to be that popular," she said. "We need to build a better infrastructure there so we can invite people all year round. We need paths that can be discovered all year round. It's not only because of nature, it's a safety issue."
Other tourist-heavy attractions and destinations such as the Amalfi Coast, Machu Picchu and even the newly opened Hudson Yards in New York City have resorted to selling tickets or mandating timed entry. And introducing a system like this at Fjaðrárgljúfur would certainly take away from the sense of untamed wilderness that makes Iceland so incredibly special.
Across the island nation, many systems have already been established to help maintain (and protect) popular attractions. Five years ago, for example, parking was free to travelers visiting the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall. But if you've visited in the past two years, you'll have noticed a mandatory fee for anyone parking in the lot. That money goes straight to maintaining the waterfall, but with the new fee came a kiosk for purchasing parking passes. Shortly after, a food stand followed. Now, there's even a souvenir stand.
When a new system is implemented, it's common for additional infrastructure to follow. But few would argue that it detracts from the remoteness that sells so many people on the destination in the first place. So, will travelers visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur this summer be charged an entry fee, or be forced to walk through a gift shop selling posters of Bieber log-rolling through the canyon? And if we can't be custodians of these stunning landscapes, should we be allowed to visit at all?
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.