Hlid, Alftanes

Hlíð in Álftanes was protected as a country park in 2002. In 2020, the country park was expanded, and the terms of the protection reviewed.

The aim of the protection is to ensure an area for outdoor activities and general public use and to protect birdlife, bird habitats and the biodiversity of the area. The protection aims to facilitate access to nature, areas for outdoor activities, nature viewing and education for the general public. The beach and adjacent marine areas are interesting for nature viewing such as bird watching and beach combing.

Access to the area is good, and therefore, it is ideal for education and outdoor teaching. Within the area are species such as brant geese, eider ducks, red knots, sandpipers and ruddy turnstone, which are responsibility species in Iceland and are recorded in Appendices II and III in the Bern Convention. The area also has rich benthic fauna in shallow waters and lively seaweed beaches. Furthermore, there are protected cultural remains (Skjónaleiði) within the country park.

The country park covers an area of 41 ha.