One of the local Icelanders has A warning message has been shared About a seemingly harmless activity that tourists engage in: construction Cairns rocks.
Building new cenotes not only detracts from the original ones, but also disrupts and destroys the surrounding environment, which can take years to recover from.
The poster read: “Please stop building stones in Iceland.” r/visiticeland com.subreddit. They explained that this trend among tourists is “quietly causing a lot of damage.”
Rocky cairns, or “vörður” in Icelandic, are tall piles of rocks that served as navigational markers for early settlers and travelers throughout Iceland’s outback.
These rock markers, which have remained standing for hundreds of years, helped guide people safely through “mountains, lava fields, and high deserts,” especially in adverse weather conditions, as the original poster described.
Many tourists have imitated and built new rock towers while visiting these normally protected heritage sites across Iceland, perhaps as a way to leave their mark. These newly constructed mounds are left behind as travelers venture to new locations.
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Building new cenotes and leaving them is dangerous for hikers and travelers who still rely on the original cenotes for navigation. New piles of rocks can not only confuse travelers, but also direct them away from their intended path, which can be risky in remote areas.
Rocks also act as soil stabilizers, preventing soil erosion, and allowing plants and micro-ecosystems to form. Picking up rocks to build these towers disrupts the ground, damages fragile plants, and can accelerate soil erosion.
The original poster wrote: “Do not add stones, do not move them, and do not build new ones.” “You take only memories, and leave only footprints.”
Posts like this are important reminders and necessary to keep Cultural heritage sitesEnsuring that future generations can enjoy these historic landmarks for years to come.
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Making modifications to these sites – whether intentional or not – risks damaging them, which could affect their longevity.
In another example of irresponsible tourism elsewhere, people placed coins between stones on the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. The accumulation and expansion of rust on these stones creates enough pressure to cause cracks and crumbling in the rocks.
In some cases, such as in Yosemite National Park, spontaneously destroying built-up rock blocks can help keep visitors safe and on track.
“I kick them wherever I see them in the world, I hate them.” One commenter books. “If I wanted to see man-made rock towers, I would go to the city.”
“My grandmother still uses gemstones and some new people have led her to Grindavik,” Another user subscriber. “This isn’t funny, guys.”
It was pretty much the city of Grindavík They were evacuated and abandoned After a volcanic eruption in 2023.
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