• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2000 baseline)
A glacial outwash plain formed by the Markarfljót river. Habitats include small marshes of sedge (Carex, Eriophorum), sandy areas with rushes Juncus, and flat areas of glacial outwash gravel that are partly vegetated. The native vegetation cover has been increasing since barriers were built to prevent the Markarfljót river from changing its course. Land-uses include grazing.

Key biodiversity
Numenius phaeopus occurs at the highest density recorded in Iceland, or possibly in the world (42 pairs/km²). Not much information on birds is available for the area, but the breeding avifauna includes a good variety of ducks, waders and other waterbirds.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Markarfljotsaurar (Iceland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/markarfljotsaurar-iba-iceland on 24/11/2024.