UltraMarathon Planned in Iceland in June

The Environment Agency of Iceland has given the travel agency Arctic Yeti ehf. permission to hold a so-called Volcano UltraMarathon in Iceland June 26-July 3 this summer, Morgunblaðið reports.

According Javi Gálves, CEO of Arctic Yeti, this is a six-day, 280-km (174-mile) marathon. Such an event has previously been held by the company in Costa Rica, but never before has it been held in Iceland. According to Gálves, if all goes well, this could become an annual event in Iceland.

About 50 participants are expected, and the running route will include the Fjallabak area in the highlands and Þjórsárdalur valley, both of which are nature reserves. The route will be a combination of main roads in the area, dirt roads and highland hiking paths.

Camps will be set up by Arctic Yeti in Þjórsárdalur valley for the participants, who will stay in tents overnight. They will be provided with necessities. The route will be marked with organic and biodegradable tape. Signs will be put up at crossings and wherever they are deemed necessary for guiding the runners. Those signs will be taken down once the marathon is over.

Park rangers at the nature reserves will meet with the organizers before and after the marathon to make sure that all conditions for the permit have been met. Care must be taken by the organizers to emphasize the importance of staying on the marked route to prevent damage to vegetation or wildlife. Part of the route includes geothermal areas and wetlands.