Practising highland heterotopias: Automobility in the interior of Iceland

• Published in: Mobilities
• Main Authors: Huijbens, Edward H., Benediktsson, Karl
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Automobility; Heterotopia; Iceland; Jeep tourism; Spatial history
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/practising-highland-heterotopias-automobility-in-the-interior-of-; https://doi.org/10.1080/17450100601106518

The paper describes the history and current enactments of automobility in the highland interior of Iceland and interprets this phenomenon through the notion of spatial history. We elucidate how the currently widespread practices of automotive travel in the highlands are mediated through the technological assemblage of the 'jeep' and its user. We argue that the travelling is done in a double sense; through an 'inner' space of the vehicle and an 'outer' space of the highland terrain. A heterotopic spatial history emerges, which offers detailed insights into this specific form of automobility. In the final part of the paper, implications of these travel practices for the politics of nature are discussed.