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Lomagnúpur mountain The mountain Lómagnúpur is among the most photographed mountains and natural wonders in the Icelandic Landscape. The 690-meter-high cliff at the southern end of the mountain stands tall. Something visitors driving the Ring Road approaching the mountain can not but admire as it lifts from the endless sand Skeiðarársandur south of Vatnajökull and Skaftafell. The mountain is like a magnet for the eye, and with its small ponds, rocks, and vegetation surrounding the cliffs is just a perfect item in the landscape to photograph. It is almost too easy to take beautiful photos of this magnificent mountain on a beautiful, calm day. Mt. Lómagnúpur is on the South Shore on the map of Iceand A cliff that has been around for a long time in Icelandic history Lómagnúpur from the west side with Öræfajökull glacer in the background Stories related to Lómagnúpur have been around for a long time. One of the oldest ones is from the famous Saga, Njála. One of the main characters, Flosi, originally came up with the idea to burn Njáls farm and lived at Svínafell farm near the Svínafell glacier. In one of his dreams, he saw a giant walk out from the mountains as it opened and named 25 men out loud, putting the flames to Njal's farm. After that, he walked back into the mountain. Possibly the story has its roots in the cliffs being so steep and high that people feel dwarfed in the presence of the mountain and gave it a supernatural force. An unstable mountain with a history of landslides Lómagnúpur is by the Ring Road nr. 1 One could argue that Lómagnúpur is one of the few mountains in Iceland that have unexpected landslides, even loaded with large bergs and rocks. One quite significant was documented around the middle of the 17th century on the west side. The landslide is still visible from the farm Núpstaðir. Another smaller landslide, also visible today both as a scar in the mountain and also at the root of the mountain, occurred on the east side in 1988. It is an unstable creature and possibly as it is the home of large giants. If you're planning to tour Iceland in a  rental car , make sure to  read this article  about the type of car that would be best for your trip.

Admission to Ögmundarhraun is free Visitors to Ögmundarhraun are not required to make any payment for entry. Despite the limited capacity of the parking area, it generally accommodates the number of visitors adequately without reaching full capacity. Regrettably, restroom and sanitary facilities are not provided at this natural attraction. Ögmundahraun lava field For many reasons, the lava field or lava carpet Ögmundarhraun in Reykjanes Peninsula is fascinating. The whole peninsula is home to hundreds of eruptions from thousands of years ago and also from historical times. The landform is an excellent example of how mother nature builds her land. And although this eruption at Reykjanes Peninsula was about 700 years ago, the whole peninsula is still defined as active when it comes to volcanos and eruptions as we have seen in recent years. Ögmundarhraun is the product of lava that spread from a volcano near the southern tip of the mountain ridge Vesturháls, which is one of two adjacent mountain ridges at Reykjanes Peninsula. The eruption occurred around 800 - 900 years ago. The lava in Ögmundarhraun is quite typical for moss-covered lava you can see in many places in Iceland and is also quite accessible. Ögmundarhraun lava field is at Reykjanes Peninsula on the map of Iceland Lava that flooded over farms The lava floaded out to the ocean at Ögmundarhraun At the time of settlement, Reykjanes Peninsula was not an attractive place to settle down in Iceland. Some people made an effort, but quickly it became apparent that it was a difficult place to make a living. Most of the land was covered with lava, as it is today, with limited access to the fertile soil. The water doesn't hold and quickly leeks deep to the ground. In the middle of Ögmundarhraun lava is a place called Húshólmi. It is a curious place as there are ruins that have been dated back to 870, around the time the first settlers came to Iceland. It is one of the oldest human-made structures in Iceland, deserted when the lava folded nearby and around the farm. So we can say that the eruption both ruined and preserved the farm and protected significant antiquities. Ögmundarhraun is also a place where you can see how lava from historical times formed the coastline. After floating from the craters, the lava ended in the ocean and moved the shoreline forward. Although there are places in Iceland where you can see the lava meet the sea, there are not many such places, and if you decide to walk hike to the shore, keep in mind that it is harsh and dangerous to walk the lava. Ogmundarhraun is easily accessible Shorlline by Ögmundarhraun lava field For those who have rarely or ever seen a lava field, this is a great opportunity and probably one of the best places in Iceland. When you drive from Grindavík town, on the south shore of the Reykjanes Peninsula, the road Suðurstrandarvegur Nr. 427, you will find a sign pointing south with the name Húshólmi. There are signs and a parking lot only a few meters from the intersection. You need to walk from the parking lot, which is a medium and refreshing hike. The distance to the shoreline is about two kilometers, and so is the walk to Húshólmi on a track in the middle of the lava field. By doing both, you will get a good view of a lava field that spreads over land and also lava that fights the ocean. Both are fascinating and quite photogenic. The whole hike should take about two to three hours but is extremely enjoyable and rewarding.

Single family homes in Þórshöfn north east Iceland Þórshöfn is a small remote village in the northeast region of Iceland, far away from most places and quite close to the Arctic Circle. It is located in a part of Iceland where nights are long and dark during winter, but daylight lasts for 24 hours during summer for weeks. While labeling this part of Iceland as remote, it must be kept in mind that most days of the year, one can drive to Akureyri in the northern part of Iceland, or even to the capital Reykjavík, within a matter of hours. Although Þórshöfn was never a large village, it reached its peak in the seventies, when around 500 people lived in it. Since then, there has been a decline in the population, and today less than 380 people live in the village as of January 2022. Historically, Þórshöfn is a village that originated from trading rather than fishing and fish processing, unlike most villages around the coast in Iceland. Nonetheless, the residents' main source of income and livelihood today is more or less related to the fishing industry. Þórshöfn’s origins can be traced to trading School and playground in Þórshöfn village Trading by German merchants was documented as early as the 15th century. Later, when the notorious Danish-Icelandic Trade Monopoly was established, trading was banned in Þórshöfn, and neighboring residents were forced to do their business in Húsavík, which was quite a distance away. It wasn't until the fourth decade of the 19th century that Þórshöfn became a place of trading once again and remained so until the middle of the 20th century. At that time the harbor was improved substantially, and the shift began from trading to fishing and fish processing. Initially, it was more like a hamlet or a cluster of houses rather than a village. Late to start in the fishing industry The indor swimming pool in Þórshöfn village Despite the trading history, Þórshöfn didn't start to develop into a village until the first decade of the 20th century. The foundation of later development was the shift from trading to fishing that is the main base of the town's economy today. Although motorboats came to many towns and villages in Iceland at the beginning of the 20th century, the first motorboats arrived in Þórshöfn in the third decade. Unlike some of the remote villages in Iceland that are struggling today, mainly because of the changes imposed by the government in the fishing quota system, Þórshöfn has a relatively good economy based on small boats. A village with all the essential services Village center in Þórshöfn north east Iceland Today Þórshöfn is part of a small municipality, Langanesbyggð, that includes the tiny hamlet Bakkafjörður and the rural areas of both villages. The municipality offers basic services to its residents. Like most communities in Iceland, the emphasis is on education, culture, and recreational activities. Þórshöfn has a preschool, a primary and a secondary school, an excellent indoor swimming pool, and a sports center. The community has adequate health care and takes good care of the elderly. Þórshöfn has a neat camping site and a restaurant Báran serving anyone traveling in the northeast region of Iceland. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Raufarhöfn, the remote and northern most village in Iceland Raufarhöfn is the northernmost village in Iceland and one of the country's smallest and most isolated villages. The distance to the Arctic Circle is measured in just a few kilometers from here. When you visit this tiny village on the verge of being abandoned, it is hard to imagine that it was once a reasonably large export harbor. It is also hard to imagine what keeps it alive, although fishing and fish processing in small boats are the core means of income. During the herring frenzy which dominated Iceland's economy in the forties and fifties, Raufarhöfn became an important location for salting and processing herring. Processing plants were built, and investments were made in houses and companies. Hundreds rushed to Raufarhöfn because jobs were plentiful and salaries were good. But in the late seventies, herring disappeared because of overfishing, as sometimes happens with fishing stock. The economic base of the village collapsed and has never recovered since then. Raufarhöfn was also a trading post The harbor in Raufarhöfn village Although the distance to the fishing grounds played a role in the village’s development, trade was also a contributing factor. The main reason was the good natural harbor. Therefore, Raufarhöfn was a prominent trading post from the early 19th century and was considered an excellent location for imports and exports. At that time, like other small villages and hamlets close to the Melrakkaslétta peninsula, the village offered necessary services to its residents. But you only need to look at a map of Iceland to realize how isolated and remote this village is and how harsh and exposed the environment is. A small village in decline Health care in Raufarhöfn village The small village of Raufarhöfn has never really recovered since the herring stock declined. For day-to-day necessities, the distance to other villages is quite far, not to mention the to-and-fro distances to larger towns with more variety and amenities, such as Akureyri. However, having said that, Raufarhöfn is far from being as isolated as many villages in a similar position, such as Utqiagvik in Alaska. These villages have no means of transport other than small airplanes and are thousands of kilometers away from the nearest urban area. But from Raufarhöfn, it only takes about nine hours to drive to Reykjavík, and the roads are getting better every year. Raufarhöfn is part of a larger municipality, Norðurþing Community center in Raufarhöfn village Iceland During the second decade of the 20th century and the upswing years, some of the necessary infrastructures were developed. A school was built in 1939, followed by a church designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, Iceland's most prominent architect, in 1927, and later a large community center. Today, with a population of approximately 180 people as of January 2022, Raufarhöfn is part of the municipality of Norðurþing together with the thriving town of Húsavík. But it still struggles to provide all the essential services expected of a town or village. For those of you who wish to explore the Melrakkaslétta peninsula and the northeast part of Iceland, Raufarhöfn offers a camping site and accommodation, a small café, and a roadside restaurant. Visiting the village is an experience, as is the drive around Melrakkaslétta. And here, you need to remember that even though it is pretty dark during winter, you also have daylight around the clock for weeks on end. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Blönduós is one of the popular spots on the Ring Road Blönduós is a small town with a population of approximately 880 as of January 2022. The town has always been an important service center and a popular pit stop for those traveling between the southern and the northern part of Iceland. Also, it is one of the popular spots on the Ring Road for people looking to view the natural beauty of Iceland. The village is located near the Vatnsnes Peninsula, beside some stunning natural wonders. Hvítserkur and Borgarvirki on the east side of Vatnsnes and many interesting natural wonders such as Kálfhamarsvík and Kolugljúfur. Blönduós, which means the mouth of the river Blanda, is one of the busiest tourist stops in Iceland. People traveling through the Ring Road stop here to rest, eat, and fill the tank. It is also ideal for a short stay of a day or two for exploring the fascinating nature and surroundings. One of the main characteristics of Blönduós is the river Blanda that splits the town into the south side and the north side. An agricultural service village by the shore Swimming pool in Blönduós Although mentioned in one of the Sagas as a landing place for boats, the town never became a fishing town in the typical Icelandic sense. It is probably the only town or village by the shoreline in Iceland that never developed into a fishing community. One reason might be the fertile soil and large farms in the surrounding area. Blönduós has been, from the beginning, more of a service center for agriculture and trading. The village is more like the inland towns of Selfoss and Hella in the southern region and Egilsstaðir in the east. Most of the homes are single-family houses The river Blanda in Blönduós village Like many towns and villages across Iceland, Blönduós didn't emerge as a village until the late 19th century. On the other hand, there are a few old houses in the village from the first half of the 20th century, on the south side of the river. The beautiful little church is from the late 19th century. Most of the houses are single-family houses built in the 50s through to the 80s. There is also an apartment building, but, historically, Icelanders prefer to live in single-family homes, particularly in small towns and villages. Blönduós is like most Icelandic towns and villages in the "warm" area. It is a "green" village with the amenity of sustainable geothermal heating. Read this article before you rent a car in Iceland Blönduós offers good service to its residents Homes in Blönduós village Most of the livelihood in Blönduós revolves around agriculture, service and tourism. It is considered an excellent town to live in, with good quality service for its residents. Education has always been a priority; thus, Blönduós has good schools, from preschool to secondary schools. The town also has excellent healthcare facilities for its residents and even a hospital serving the nearby agricultural area and nearby towns. Early on, Blönduós had a community center, an excellent sports facility, and a good swimming pool like most Icelandic towns and villages. The camping site is quite good, located at a beautiful spot by the river Blanda. Blönduós also offers a variety of accommodation, restaurants, cafés, and a good grocery store. If you choose to accommodate in Blönduós while traveling in Iceland, an evening stroll in the bright summer evenings by the south side of the river and a visit to the oldest part of the village must be on your itinerary. Accommodations, hotels, and guesthouses close to Blönduós town Direct booking on their website Hótel Blönduós Description:  A historic hotel originally built in 1900 as the sheriff's house and later repurposed in 1943 as a hotel. It has undergone a full refurbishment to offer guests a modern and comfortable stay while preserving its rich history. Quality Remarks:  As one of Iceland's oldest still-operating hotels, Hótel Blönduós provides a unique blend of history and modern comfort. Guests can enjoy cozy rooms, an on-site restaurant named Sýslumaðurinn, and proximity to the Blanda river. Glaðheimar Cottages Description:  Located along the Blanda river, Glaðheimar offers a variety of well-equipped cottages, ranging from 2-person to 10-person units. Each cottage features a terrace, kitchen facilities, and some include hot tubs for added relaxation. Quality Remarks:  Guests appreciate the serene riverside setting and the rustic charm of the wooden interiors. The cottages are praised for their cleanliness, comfort, and proximity to local amenities in Blönduós. Guesthouse Svínavatn Description:  A small and friendly guesthouse located 23 km south of Blönduós, offering a peaceful environment with beautiful views over Lake Svínavatn. Accommodations include rooms with either shared or private bathrooms, and guests have access to kitchen facilities. Quality Remarks:  Visitors value the tranquil setting and personal service. The guesthouse provides opportunities to witness extraordinary sunrises, sunsets, and the northern lights. Guests are also welcome to fish in Lake Svínavatn during their stay, free of charge.

Swimming pool in Hofsós tiny hamlet in the northern region in Iceland The tiny hamlet of Hofsós in the Northern Region of Iceland was a rather busy trading post in the 17th and 18th centuries. Located on the western side of the large Tröllaskagi (Troll Peninsula), Hofsós had all the historical prerequisites to become a large town. It was a trading post for the Danish Trade Monopoly, and it was close to the fishing grounds; it was centrally situated in the region and had a relatively good marine harbor. Despite the merchant activities, however, this small village did not grow as much as one could expect during the 20th century. Somehow, in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, most of the activity in the region moved to Sauðárkrókur, the town on the other side of Skagafjörður fjord. One of the oldest villages in Iceland The sunsets in Skagafjörður fjord and Hofsós are often spectacular in summer Although there are few attractions near Hofsós, the hamlet has an attractive neighbor, Hólar í Hjaltadal, which has great historical importance in Iceland as one of two suffragan bishops resided there during Catholicism in Iceland. Because of its early history as a trading post, Hofsós has one of the oldest houses in Iceland, Pakkhúsið, built in the late 18th century. The house is now a museum owned by the National Museum of Iceland, and it is an enjoyable spot to visit for anyone traveling in the country. The village also has a cluster of impressive old houses by the small bay, near the old landing spot by the harbor. Most of the other homes and buildings in the village are from the middle of the 20th century, when the fishing and fish processing industries first started developing here. Today, part of a larger municipality Hosós hamlet is a good place for photography Today, Hofsós is part of a larger municipality, Skagafjörður, which includes many former rural and agricultural municipalities in the region as well as Sauðárkrókur, the town on the other side of the Skagafjörður fjord. The municipality provides services to the residents at Hofsós. The village has a small preschool, a primary and secondary school, and a gorgeous swimming pool. Other services are part of the Skagafjörður municipality and not necessarily located in the village. Fishing is still the primary source of income Fishing is still an essential factor in the economy of Hofsós In recent years, Hofsós's economy has been shifting from fishing toward tourism, although fishing and fish processing is still its mainstay. Even though the village is relatively small, a population of approximately 160 inhabitants as of January 2022, it has two museums—the Pakkhúsið mentioned above and the Icelandic Emigration Center, dedicated to commemorating Icelandic emigrants to North America and promoting connections between their descendants and the people of Iceland. Hofsós also offers a few options in accommodation, a good camping site, a café, a small grocery store, and one of the nicest swimming pools in all the country's small towns and villages. The weather in the fjord Skagafjörður is often relatively calm in the summer evenings, offering an excellent opportunity for an evening stroll; sunsets during summer are often spectacular. An excellent idea for evening relaxation, and a wonderful way to enjoy the sunset, is to walk down to the coastline by the swimming pool to look at the unusual and beautiful basalt columns, Staðarbjörg. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Hvammstangi town center There are many reasons to stop at the pleasant village of Hvammstangi in Iceland’s Northern Region. Located on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, it neighbors some stunning natural wonders, such as Hvítserkur and Borgarvirki on the east of the peninsula and a number of interesting seal colonies north of the village on the west. The village became a certified trading post at the end of the 19th century, but no one lived there at the time. A community only formed there at the beginning of the 20th century, when people moved to the area around the trading post and started to settle down. Before the trading certification was issued, the surrounding area had consisted only of farms and agricultural enterprises. Services were sought from the other small villages and towns in the Northern Region. Opportunities arrived with new technology The old church in Hvammstangi village Like many towns and villages around Iceland’s coastline with origins in the 20th century, Hvammstangi is a product of new technology in fishing and fish processing and better communication, transportation, and trading. Up to that point, Iceland was a mainly agricultural society with a few densely populated areas or clusters of houses along the coastline. The village was established when new trade boosted the number of opportunities, and industries and Icelanders did not have to rely only on agriculture to make a living. A village developed in the 20th century Hvammstangi has a great restaurant The first houses were constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, when the Danish merchant Riis started trading. At the same time, the Icelandic Cooperative Society started important economic activities in Hvammstangi. In the late 1920's, an Icelandic merchant Sigurður Pálmason also started trading in the village. This made Hvammstangi a very progressive and competitive community for its time. In the decades that followed, new services, such as a new church, excellent schools, a community center, a swimming pool, and a health center, started to appear as the community developed further. Today, Hvammstangi boasts all the key services and institutions required by any civilized community to provide a superior quality of life to its residents. Hvammstangi is a good tourist spot Hvammstangi camping site is among the best in Iceland Located six kilometers from the Ring Road, Hvammstangi was never frequently visited by Icelanders or tourists until the beginning of the 21st century. Despite its proximity to the Ring Road, the village was slightly isolated as it was probably viewed as just another fishing village, which is odd given how pleasant it is. Today, however, Hvammstangi has become a village that people should not miss. Although it is not old, it is a neat and convenient place to visit. The community has taken significant steps towards promoting the new industry of tourism. It has one of the best camping sites in Iceland, Kirkjuhvammur, located in a beautiful setting in the hills above the village. The town also has a marvelous top-quality restaurant and excellent accommodations. Old houses in Hvammstangi village in Iceland Hvammstangi is a pleasant place to live in, providing good quality service to its residents. The village has good schools, an excellent swimming pool and sports center, and a church and provides quality care for the elderly. Hvammstangi is one of our favorite villages and has taken the eighth place on our list of the ten most interesting towns and villages in Iceland. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

The treasure chest is on the top of the mountain Athough at some distance from the main traffic and the Ring Road, Skagaströnd is a village worth visiting. It is a logical stop, for a meal, café, and the Museum of Prophecies on the way to the magnificent Kálfhamarsvík basalt column cove, and if you intend to take the loop from the Ring Road and travel to Sauðárkrókur and Siglufjörður. Like the neighboring village of Blönduós, Skagaströnd is close to some stunning natural wonders, including the Hvítserkur sea stack and Borgarvirki natural fortress on the east side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula, the Kálfhamarsvík cove, and Kolugljúfur. The Prophetess Mountain Local legend states that hidden somewhere on top of the Prophetess Mountain that towers over Skagaströnd is an enormous treasure chest loaded with valuables, with the key still in the keyhole. It is said that the chest was put there by Þórdís the prophetess many centuries ago. Since Þórdís was knowledgeable in witchcraft, a magic spell has been placed on the chest. Unless the spell is broken, the chest blends into the surrounding cliffs, apparently invisible to the naked eye. No one has been able to break the spell thus far, so apparently the treasure is still there. This story is a good example of how folklore lives through centuries and becomes a part of the town’s charm and the history of the local residents. An old trading place that developed slowly Homes in Skagaströnd village in the northern region in Icelan As far back as the 15th century, Skagaströnd was the trading post for the vast region around the southern and eastern part of Húnaflói, the bay east of the West Fjords. Even though the post developed into a small cluster of houses early on, had a harbor, and was considered a good landing place for vessels, it did not immediately evolve into a larger town offering services for its surrounding settlements. Many towns with a similar history in trading became main hubs for their area in the 20th century; unfortunately, this role was adopted by Blönduós, a bit south of Skagaströnd. The fishing village, Skagaströnd The town center in Skagaströnd village Although most of the trading and services developed at Blönduós in the 20th century, Skagaströnd continued to grow, nonetheless. Unlike Blönduós, it had a good harbor, and consequently the fishing and fish processing industries developed here. Today, they are the economic foundation of the small village. Important information regarding renting a car in Iceland article Skagaströnd has taken an interesting turn in the path to its development. The village is moving to new, interesting fields like research in biotechnology, which are in turn widening its economic base. It has also opened a residency for artists and is starting to shift toward more participation in tourism. A beautiful setting under the mountain Spákonufell Skagaströnd village and mountains in Westfjords on the other side of Húnaflói bay Skagaströnd is a neat fishing village offering most services required by residents in a modern Icelandic village. The town has a kindergarten, a primary and secondary school, and a sports center. It also boasts a community center, a church, and a health care center. The village has a charming location by the shore with the mighty mountain Spákonufell (Prophetess Mountain) in the background. Grocery stor in Skagaströnd village For anyone traveling in Iceland’s Northern Region, Skagaströnd has an excellent campsite and offers interesting hiking paths on the mountain Spákonufell. The village also offers accommodation and has a restaurant and a pleasant café.

The region around the small village of Búðardalur has a rich literary history; three of the main Icelandic Sagas (Laxdæla Saga, Saga of Eric the Red, and Eyrabyggja Saga), written in the 12th century are set here. The village itself, located at the entrance of the West Fjord peninsula, is relatively new and small. It is part of the Westfjords Road Trip route. The abundant lowlands and valleys in the area make it a largely agricultural and farming community. The entire Dalir region is bursting with sites of dramatic events from many centuries ago; one can read about them in the Icelandic sagas that are based here. Búðardalur is a small service village The store and restaurant in Búðardalur is a popular pit stop Tiny Búðardalur, with a population of less than 300, is located by Road Nr. 60, one of the two main roads leading to the Westfjords. The village’s first house was built at the end of the 19th century to accommodate a store and the store owner’s home. A few more houses were built in the early 20th century as well as a community center for the surrounding rural area. Although located on the coast, fishing or fish processing never developed in Búðardalur, probably because it is located at the bottom of the broad and large Breiðafjörður fjord with limited fishing grounds nearby. Instead, the many farms in the region have made it an agrarian area. Subsequently, a small dairy processing plant was built in Búðardalur, which created the main base for its development and economy. Most of the homes are relatively new Old renovated house in Búðardalur When you drive around the village, it is evident that most of the houses in Búðardalur are from the 1950’s, ’60’s, and ‘70’s. The Cooperative Society in Iceland also opened a store and various services. Most of the people who settled in the new and growing village around that time worked in farms, companies serving the rural area, and nearby agricultural companies. Just as many small rural districts and towns in Iceland have merged into larger municipalities in recent years, today Búðardalur is a part of the Dalabyggð municipality. One of those small villages with all essential services Búðardalur has a great camping site Even though the village is relatively small, it offers most of the essential services expected of any municipality. It has a school for its young residents, an all-in-one preschool, and a primary and elementary school where children can also attend music lessons. Nearby Laugar has a swimming pool and a sports center. There are four community centers in the Dalabyggð municipality and a small harbor in Búðardalur. In this tiny village, one can also find an art gallery and a local museum, an excellent camping ground, a café, and a restaurant. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Sauðárkrókur has a strong place in the fishing industry Sauðárkrókur has quite a remarkable status in Iceland. One of Iceland’s most powerful companies with interests and equity in many other companies, Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga (The Skagafjörður Cooperative Society) is located in Sauðárkrókur; its economic and political influence extends to diverse corners of the region and Icelandic society. Sauðárkrókur town has an interesting economic base Sauðárkrókur swimming pool Sauðárkrókur has a unique and remarkable history. It has continually fought setbacks and difficulties throughout the last 150 years and has developed the most diverse economy of all the smaller towns and villages in Iceland, giving it an extraordinary status among its ilk. Today, Sauðárkrókur has an admirable economic base compared to any small town in Iceland. Sauðárkrókur’s great cafés, restaurants, and accommodation—including an excellent camping site in the town center—make it an ideal place to visit. Although there are not many natural wonders located near Sauðárkrókur, Drangey, Grettislaug, and Ketubjörg are all exciting attractions and driving to the Skagi Peninsula makes for an excellent day trip. In addition, the neighboring tiny village of Hofsós is also an interesting place to visit when in the fjord Skagafjörður. Sauðárkrókur is more like an agricultural service center than a fishing town The fiber insulation factory in Sauðárkrókur Although Sauðárkrókur is by the coast and not inland, it has always served more as a service center for the vast agricultural area in Skagafjörður, rather than as a fishing town. Many of the town’s services and companies have originated as agriculture-focused and trading enterprises. During its time as a trading post, Sauðárkrókur had to compete with the small village and trading post of Hofsós on the other side of the fjord. In 1857, Sauðárkrókur received a certification to trade, and the town’s businesses took off. Since then, trading has become quite lively and many trading companies and shops compete in the small market. Fish processing came late in the town’s development The town hall in Sauðárkrókur Fishing and fish processing did not develop in Sauðárkrókur until the third decade of the 20th century. One reason was this was the lack of a good harbor. It was only after a protective wall was built that the ideal conditions for development in the fishing industry were created. Since then, Sauðárkrókur has developed and maintained its share in the fishing industry. Today, the town has a firm economic base for enterprises as wide-ranging as agricultural and fishing-related industries and a large fiber insulation factory. A town with excellent service for residents Headquarters of Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga (The Skagafjörður Cooperative Society) The town provides excellent service to its residents. The community consists mainly of single-family houses and a few apartment buildings. Sauðárkrókur’s source of heating is geothermal, from one of the oldest geothermal heating plants in Iceland. The town has good kindergartens, excellent primary and secondary schools, and a high school. It has state-of-the-art sports facilities for indoor and outdoor sports and training. In Sauðárkrókur, health care is excellent as are the services for the elderly. The town has a great library and has always been enthusiastic about history and historical interest. Art has always been highly appreciated in Sauðárkrókur, and the town has one of the oldest amateur theaters in Iceland. Two of Iceland's favorite writers, Hannes Sigfússon and Gyrðir Elíasson, come from Sauðárkrókur as do many renowned painters and artists. The town has a good campsite, a few nice restaurants, and an excellent bakery with a café. It also offers good accommodation during summer and winter. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Old house in Djúpavík at Strandir West Fjords In essence, Djúpavík can hardly be called a village as it is merely a tiny cluster of houses that remain as remnants from the past and more as a symbol of the ambitious dreams of larger-than-life entrepreneurs. Decades ago, the hamlet used to be one of the busiest villages in Iceland but only for a short period. Located at the remote Reykjarjförður fjord on the east coast of the Westfjords, it was never an ideal site for a village or a town because of the numerous landform factors resulting in communication and transportation difficulties. In spite of that, some people, investors, and bankers thought it was worth the try. It was mainly because of the ideal natural conditions for a harbor and the short distance to catch the herring stock. The story dates back to 1917 when an entrepreneur named Elís Stefánsson decided to build a herring factory in Djúpavík. The timing was, of course, all wrong, what with the Great War raging in Europe followed by an economic depression. Consequently, the whole enterprise went bust in 1919. Although Elias's creditors tried to take over the business, they realized it was dead duck, and so it ended up abandoned during the 1920s. Big things in a small setup The old herring factory at Djúpavík This failure didn't prevent the resettlement of Djúpavík in 1934. A new Herring factory was built and business boomed for a few years. It was a major factory, no less than the most technologically advanced globally, and the factory building was amongst the most significant concrete structures in Europe. Everything was transported by sea as no road led to Djúpavík, and the road connecting Djúpavík to the main road system in Iceland was only built in 1969. In 1944, the herring stock started declining, vanishing altogether in 1948. The owners tried to process other fish, but their attempts were futile. Again, this enterprise too went bankrupt in 1954. All the residents moved away and the buildings were abandoned to deterioration. The third attempt is underway but smaller in scale Homes and hotel in Djúpavík But the story didn't end there. The optimism of the individuals that fueled the factories in the past was so solid that they wanted the buildings to last forever and withstand any forces the Arctic chose to throw at them. As a result, the buildings just didn't rot, and 40 years later, they were once again put to use when the first of the old factory buildings (the Women's Quarter) was converted to a hotel. Today, this fjord of melancholic beauty is a great place to visit and has become a highly interesting tourist attraction not only because of its history but also because of the beautiful landscape surrounding the small hamlet. Today, you can stay at the hotel and fine-dine at a restaurant while driving in the Strandir part of the Westfjords. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland

Flateyri harbour in the Westfjords Unlike most small villages on the coast of Iceland, notably the Westfjords, Flateyri started as a trading outpost rather than a fishing post. At the end of the 18th century, the store at the nearby village of Þingeyri started an annex in Önundarfjörður fjord. With a few other buildings besides the store, the location soon developed into a small hamlet with more fishing and fish processing, parallel to the commercial activity. In the second half of the 19th century, shark catching was lucrative, and entrepreneurs at Flateyri participated quite enthusiastically. Later, a Norwegian investor settled in the small village and started a relatively large whaling operation. Soon, more such ventures developed in the 19th century, rather than just cod catching for the next meal, as was the case with many small villages around the coastline. Although, the village had several decked vessels for catching in the nearby fishing grounds. Flateyri was at that time a breeding ground of sorts for entrepreneurs; businessmen from even Germany and other European countries started and ended their ventures in Flateyri at that time. Flateyri, an apparent victim of the fishing quota imposed by the Icelandic government Homes in Flateyri village in West Fjords in Iceland During the 20th century, after the advent of motorboats, the village became an active fishing village and had many small boats and a large trawler in the early seventies. This was a typical development path for a small village in Iceland. The hamlet grew in the fifties, sixties, and seventies, with homes and small service companies popping up. The population was near 500 at an active and kind of boom time for the small village. Much of the infrastructure and services in the community also developed at that time. However, when the Icelandic Government implemented the fishing quota system in the nineties, things took a turn for the worse, and the village started declining. In recent decades, Flateyri has lost much of its former status as a place with a flourishing fishing industry and population. In 1998, the population was around 370 inhabitants, but today, as of January 2022, only around 160 people live in Patreksfjörður. A struggling community in a larger municipality Church in Flateyri West Fjords Icelan Today, the small village of Flateyri, with a population of approximately 160, is part of the Ísafjörður municipality. This merger became possible in the latter half of the 20th century when a tunnel between the two villages opened and enhanced transportation to a new and safer level. Earlier, mountain passes had been the only means of communication in addition to flying. Like many small communities in Iceland, Flateyri has always provided good services and still does. The village has a preschool, a primary school, and a middle school. It also has a community center and sports facility and good access to other services through the larger municipality of Ísafjörður. The avalanche in 1995 Playground in Flateyri village in West Fjords Iceland Early one morning in late October 1995, a large avalanche hit the village. This was a major blow to the small settlement; 20 people lost their lives—ten men, six women, and four children. The disaster was unexpected and unusual, being quite early in the winter. Since then, Iceland monitors snow accumulation in the mountains throughout the winter and large defenses have also been constructed in the slopes above the village for protection. If you visit Flateyri, you can also visit a shield erected in the town’s center, with the names of all the victims to honor their memory. The entrepreneurial spirit still remains alive Old houses in Flateyri village in the West Fjords Like so many small towns and villages that have lost their foremost means of livelihood, fishing and fish processing, Flateyri has recently taken a step toward tourism to broaden its economic base. This might be difficult as the whole area of Westfjords is some distance away from the most popular natural wonders in Iceland and is often difficult to visit in winter. But in a village that has produced entrepreneurs throughout its history, the spirit still thrives. Flateyri offers exclusive and popular sea angling tours where you can catch both cod and halibut. The tours have become quite popular and only prove that there is always opportunity. The village also offers good accommodation and, like all towns and villages around Iceland, has a swimming pool, a convenience store, and a gas station. Know what to look for when you rent a car for your vacation in Iceland