Landowners have implemented a parking fee of ISK 1,000 ($8.13/€6.66) at the site of the ongoing eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula. Signs were placed in the makeshift parking lots by the hiking path this morning and an online payment system is now active. The proceeds will be used to build up infrastructure in the area, including permanent parking lots and roads to improve accessibility to the eruption.
“It’s come to the point that there’s a need for considerable construction in the area so it’s inevitable for landowners to take this route,” Sigurður Guðjón Gíslason told mbl.is. Sigurður is one of around 20 owners of the land named Hraun, on which the eruption began on March 19 and continues two months later. He says the money collected via parking fees will be used to build a new parking lot closer to the eruption itself as well as a road to ensure visitors’ safety and ease access to the eruption. The construction projects should shorten the hike to the eruption by three kilometres (1.8 miles). Visitors are already able to pay for parking as of today and electronic monitoring will start in the coming days.
Read More: Plans for Parking Lots, Paths, and Park Wardens at Eruption Site
Signs placed at the location read: “Parking fees are necessary to increase security, improve access and services and to protect nature. Thanks for your understanding.”
