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The area of west Iceland is defined by Hvalfjorður (Whale Fjord) in the south (just outside Reykjavik) to the Westfjords in the north and Langjokull glacier in the east with the countryside of Borgarfjordur and Snaefellsnes peninsula in middle stretching out towards west. West iceland has all the elements; glaciers, lava formations, waterfalls, geothermal activity and history.
Borgarfjordur is Iceland´s second largest lowland area, rich in farming, lakes and rivers for fishing, but also rugged scenery with chasms and waterfalls, overlooked by glaciers on the western rim of the highlands.
West Iceland was home to some of the great names in Iceland´s cultural history. This part of the country is the richest in Saga literature and is connected with an abundance of Sagas, such as The Book of Settlements, Gunnlaugssaga, Hardarsaga Njalssaga, Laxdaelasaga, Egilssaga, Eyrbyggjasaga. Iceland´s greatest saga writer, Snorri Sturluson lived in Reykholt where visitors can see an interesting Saga exhibition and the geothermal pool where Snorri took his daily bath. The pool is filled with water from the hot spring Skrifla by means of the original stone aquaduct used in Snorri´s day. At Eiriksstadir there is a replica of a viking farm. Eiriksstadir was the home of Eirík the Red who Iceland to settle Greenland and birthplace of Leif Eiriksson, who discovered America in the year 1000.
Some of the sights in West Iceland include the highest waterfall in Iceland, Glymur in the bottom of Hvalfjordur (Whale fjord). Glymur cascades down impressive 198 meters. Other beautiful waterfalls are Hraunfossar (Lava waterfalls) and Barnafossar (Children´s waterfalls) in Borgarfordur.
The water in Hraunfossar seaps underground through the edge of a lava field before coming out at the edge of a birch forrested top of a small canyon. Just a few hundred meters away is the neighboring waterfall of Barnafossar.
West Iceland is very rich of lava caves, the largest one being Vidgelmir in Fljotstunga which is one of the world´s largest lava caves, around 198.000 m3 and 1585m long. Vidgelmir contains beautiful traces of ice prints, lava flows, stalactites and stalagmites. Other large lava caves in the area include Surtshellir and Stefanshellir. Surtshellir is a cave in the Hallmundarhraun lava fields and is 1970m long. Close to Surtshellir is another cave called Stefanshellir which is in the same area but a rock-fall has separated the two. Together the caves are about 3500m long. It is possible to go for guided tours to see otherworldly ice formations and stalactites inside the caves.
At the tip of Snaefellsnes peninsula, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier rises almost from sealevel to crown the beaches and sea cliffs brimming with birdlife. Snaefellsjokull is Iceland´s newest national park and Iceland on the web has a special section on all national parks in Iceland.
Coastal villages include Ólafsvík, a whale watching cruise base and from Stykkishólmur, travellers can take cruises or a ferry across Breiðafjörður Bay with its swirling waters, "countless islands" and period-piece houses on Flatey island, once quite a cultural centre.
Hvalfjörður is a scenic, mountainous fjord said to be one of the most beautiful in all Iceland. After World War II, a whaling station was started here and was the longest running station in the country.
Borgarnes is the centre of a region steeped in history. Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson was the first to settle there and made his home at Borg near Borgarnes. Borgarnes derives its name from his great manor, although the headland on which it stands was initially called Digranes.
Deildartunguhver in the Reykholtsdal valley is the biggest geothermal spring in Europe, if not the world, producing 180 liters per second at 97°C. Both Akranes and Borganes are supplied with hot water by this spring. The piping carrying the water to Akranes is 64 km long and to Borganes, 34 km long.
Langjökull is Iceland´s second largest glacier, 950 square kilometres and mostly between 1200 and 1300m high, although the highest point is 1355m above sea level. Trips by snowmobile and snow trucks are offered up the glacier in summer. There´s a good view to the glacier from Husafell, a popular vacation place for Icelanders. There´s a swimming pool in Husafell as well as a small golf course.
The mountain Grabrok in the Nordurardal valley is the biggest crater of three along a short volcanic crack.. There are very good walking paths up to the crater and it´s well worth the visit. |
