Akranes (Iceland)
Akranes is located on the west coast of Iceland, 50 km north of the country’s capital. South of Akranes is the fjord Hvalfjordur, this is one of the widest glacial fjords in the West. The name of the fjord is translated as “whale fjord” because of the whaling that unfolded here in the past. The fjord is known for being the longest underwater tunnel in the world. Its length is 6 km, and the maximum depth is 160 m below sea level. This tunnel has significantly reduced the distance between Reykjavik and Akranes, now in order to get to the city, you do not need to go around the fjord. Langisandur sandy beach in Akraneswhere locals like to have picnics and sunbathe on sunny days. In the west of the city there is an old lighthouse, in its upper part there is an observation deck overlooking the city and the Hvalfjordur fjord.
Pine trees grow in the forested area of Gardalundur, there are artificial lakes and there are many walking paths. There are several museums in the Gardar urban area – the National Museum, which tells about the history of the settlement of the region and the development of industry, the Stone Museum, the Museum of the Icelandic Geodetic Society and the Sports Museum, most of whose exposition is devoted to football – the favorite sport of the townspeople.
Mount Akrafyal rises near Akranes, its height is 643 m. You can climb it and view all the surroundings from a height. Akrafjala is home to many seagulls. Glymur Falls is located in the Hvalfjordur fjord area. This is the highest waterfall in Iceland – 198 m. It is part of the Botsna River, the waters of which fall into a canyon with green moss-covered walls. Not far from Akranes is the small town of Reykholt
. It is located among the hills and hot springs. The greatest medieval Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson lived here, his monument stands in the center of the city. In honor of the poet, an artificial reservoir is named, which is a round pool lined with stones, with a diameter of about 4 m. It is filled with water from a hot spring located 100 meters from here.
Akureyri (Iceland)
Akureyri is the largest city in the northern region of Iceland. It is located in the depths of the Eyjafjordur fjord, on its southern shores, just 40 km from the Arctic Circle. The city is surrounded by hills and mountains, among which two peaks stand out – Mount Sulur (1213 m) and Mount Hlidarfjall (1116 m).
The first mention of Akureyri dates back to 1562. Despite such a northern position, the city has a lot of trees, for which it is often called “green”, there is even a forest park Kyarnaskigur. Along the main pedestrian street, Hapnarstraiti, there are residential wooden houses from the 19th century. Walking down the street to Akureyrakirkya Cathedral with two towers. Its interior is very interesting, especially the stained-glass window above the altar. It was brought from the British Coventry Cathedral, which was destroyed during the Second World War. It is worth visiting the Botanical Garden, which features about 2,000 species of arctic plants and plants from around the world. By ferry or plane from Akureyri, one can reach the northernmost point of Iceland – the island of Grimsey .
To the north of the city is Mount Hlidarfjall., whose height is 1116 m. On its slopes at an altitude of 500 m above sea level there is a ski resort. On its territory there are extensive snow fields with opportunities for night skiing. The longest track is 2.5 km long. 6 lifts deliver tourists to the slopes.
Not far from Akureyri is also one of the most popular dive sites in Iceland – the underwater volcano Stritan. It is a cone, the top of which is at a depth of 15 m. At its base, at a depth of 70 m, a hot spring beats.
Vestmanaeyjar (Iceland)
The city of Westmanaeyjar is located in the north of the island of Heimaey, which is part of the Westman Islands. This is a group of 16 islands, most of which appeared as a result of the eruption of underwater volcanoes about 10 thousand years ago, they are located south of the island of Iceland. Only on the island of Heimaey do people live, the rest of the islands are uninhabited. The area of Heimaeyya is 13.4 square meters. km. In the center of the island, east of Westmanaijar, there is a volcano Eldfel, its height is 279 m. It erupted for the last time in 2001, and the largest eruption occurred in 1973, when half the city was covered with lava, and all residents were evacuated.
Rocky cliffs rise along the coastline within and beyond the city. It is here that he settles the largest puffin colony in Iceland . Tourists come to Vestmanajar mainly to watch birds or whales, which can be seen during boat trips. The coastal waters near the city will be of interest to divers. Here you can see frozen lava flows and even octopuses underwater.
Isafjordur (Iceland)
According to localbusinessexplorer, Isafjordur is the capital of the Westfjords region. It is located on the shallows of the Skutulsfjordur fjord and is surrounded by water on three sides. In the Old Town you can see the buildings of the 18th century. The main attraction of Isafjordur is also located here – the Western Fjords Maritime Museum. The museum complex consists of several old houses, which display maritime exhibits and photographs of the region. The city park is very interesting. The entrance to it is decorated with an arch made of a whale’s jaw.
Not far from Isafjordur, two valleys stretch – Tungudalur and Engidalur. This place is famous among hikers. There are many trails here, especially in the wooded areas of the valleys.
Usually tourists come to Isafjordur in order to go on a trip to the Western Fjords. These places are considered among the most beautiful in Iceland. If you look at the map, this region looks like a paw in shape. From a geological point of view, the Westfjords are the oldest Icelandic region left from the Thule volcanic plateau. Here flows the river Dinyandi with a waterfall, which brings down its waters from a height of 100 m, and below is divided into five smaller waterfalls, eventually reaching the ocean. Off the coast, a ridge of Laatrabjarga cliffs stretches for 12 km. Their height ranges from 40 to 400 m. Here is the westernmost point of Iceland and throughout Europe – the Bjargtangar lighthouse. This place is perfect for bird watching, among which you can see the symbol of the country – the puffin bird.
Seydisfjordur (Iceland)
Seydisfjordur stands on the shores of the fjord of the same name in the east of the country. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and its fourth side looks at the expanses of the fjord, whose length is 16 km. A ferry runs between Seydisfjordur and the Scandinavian countries, so many tourists constantly come here to go on a trip to Iceland.
The river Fjardara flows through the city, which, flowing into the waters of the fjord, forms an extensive harbor. Numerous routes start from Seydisfjordur. Going inland, east of the city, you can see the extinct volcano Snayfell, it reaches a height of 1833 meters. Climbing it is easy enough. Also worth visiting is the Skaftafell National Park., where hikers are offered hikes to the nearby Skaftafellsjokull glacier. The glacier is gradually decreasing in size and has lost about 1 km in diameter over the past 50 years. The active volcano Grimsvetn is located on the territory of the park. He is famous for throwing out a column of steam 10 km high in 1998. One of the most popular routes in the East also passes through Seydisfjordur – it starts from the northern village of Borgarfjordur Eistri and ends in the southern village of Breiddalsvik.
Not far from Seydisfjordur in coastal waters, you can dive to the sunken ship El Grillo. This is a 147-meter tanker that sank in 1944 as a result of German bombing. Defensive guns were preserved on the tanker.
