Data Zone
Country/territory: Iceland
IBA criteria met: A4i, A4iii, B1i, B3 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 111,400 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
A peninsula in the north-east part of Iceland. The IBA extends from Presthólahraun, south of the town of Kópasker along the coast to Sveinungsvík, south-east of the town of Raufarhöfn. Habitats include an extensive and species-rich intertidal zone, coastal brackish lakes, cliffs, marshes, freshwater lakes, extensive heathland, and eroded gravel areas. Land-uses include eider husbandry (Somateria mollissima), grazing and fishing.
Key biodiversity
The area is relatively rich in breeding species of waterfowl, raptors and waders. Calidris maritima occurs at one of its highest breeding densities in Iceland, as does Lagopus mutus. The area is also important for staging waders and for moulting Anser anser. There are four seabird-nesting cliffs in the area (Snartastadanúpur, Raudinúpur, Ormarslónshöfdi and Súlur), of which Raudinúpur is the largest, and breeding species include Rissa tridactyla (c.15,000 pairs).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Melrakkasletta (Iceland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/melrakkasletta-iba-iceland on 23/11/2024.