A tourist trying to capture a cool video has been slammed for being irresponsible. Photo / 123RF
A tourist trying to capture a cool video has been slammed for being irresponsible. Photo / 123RF
This is why we can't be trusted with nice things.
A tourist has been slammed as an "idiot" and a "moron" after posting a video of a hike they took in Iceland.
The footage, posted to YouTube, shows the unnamed hiker traversing a narrow ledge high up the Fjadrargljufur canyonin southern Iceland. It has angered the internet — as well as local Iceland tourism operators — for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's dangerous. The hiker doesn't appear to be using proper safety equipment, despite the fact the video shows them walking across a ledge barely wider than their foot in parts.
The Fjadrargljufur canyon and the Fjaora river runs for 2km, with drops of 100m.
"Now this person has made a video of their stupidity and posted it online, it will probably motivate more irresponsible tourists to do stupid things."
On YouTube, other travellers have crucified the unnamed tourist, saying it is ruining travel for everyone.
"What kind of stupidity is your illness? A******s like you are the reason for more and more restrictions worldwide, especially in Iceland.
"Such a shame some people don't know anything about respecting nature and don't have 1 per cent of common sense.
"Stay at home and please don't set one foot in an airplane again! What a dumb moron!"
Another commenter added: "It's people like you that cause the most nature vandalism in Iceland. You just motivated thousands of people to ignore ropes put up to protect nature. All the damage caused by those who you inspired is your fault."
TOURISM BOOM IS KILLING ICELAND
News.com.au has reported previously on Iceland's unique environment and how a tourism boom is literally destroying it. The number of visitors making their way to the Nordic island nation in Europe has more than tripled in six years.
Some 2.3 million tourists will trek through Iceland this year, according to forecasts, which is almost seven times the country's population of just 335,000.
Unfortunately, the Fjadrargljufur canyon isn't the only casualty of this. One of the country's famous moss-covered hills was recently defaced by tourists, who carved "SEND NUDES" into the moss. The moss could take decades to grow back.
Tourists carve "SEND NUDES" into one of Iceland's delicate moss-covered hills. Photo / Gunnar Birgisson Facebook
Another is the Brúarfoss waterfall. According to The Iceland Review, "unprecedented internet fame" is causing pushy tourists to damage the environment trying to get to the previously little-known waterfall.
The hordes of visitors forging paths in the untouched forest is leaving muddy furrows where grass once was and damaging tree roots.
The issue has even prompted Inspired by Iceland, the official tourism website for the country, to come up with a tourism "pledge". Called "The Icelandic Pledge", it encourages tourists to travel responsibly.
"I will follow the road into the unknown, but never venture off the road," a part of the pledge reads.
