Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Predation by introduced American mink
Mustela vison is a threat. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Melrakkasletta (Iceland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/melrakkasletta-iba-iceland on 23/12/2024.
