In June 2008, Vatnajökoll National Park was founded, joining the Vatnajökull ice cap and the former Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur National Parks to form one 12,000 sq km megapark – 11% of the entire country. In practice, not much has changed on the ground (although four new visitor centres at Skríðuklaustur, Höfn, Mývatn and Kirkjubæjarklaustur are being built over the next few years). The park’s creation is predominantly a political move to draw attention to the alarming speed at which the ice is melting.