The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration has issued a reindeer warning after a large herd of the animals were spotted near Háreksstaðaleið, the road that goes through the Jökuldalsheiði heath in East Iceland. RÚV reports that the advisory was issued alongside various updates about travel conditions around the country, large sections of which are experiencing high winds or patches of ice, but very little traffic in the first days of the new year.
Reindeer warnings are not uncommon in East Iceland, particularly in the winter months, when the country’s reindeer herds generally stay in low-lying areas closer to the coast. This means that they are more likely to be found on or around eastern roadways, which causes a fair number of accidents every year.
Travelers are reminded to drive with caution throughout the countryside, particularly in the winter. Current road conditions and travel advisories can be found in English at http://www.road.is/.
