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Places of
interest in the North of Iceland.
Asbyrgi
Asbyrgi certainly is one of nature’s wonders.
It is a 3½ km long canyon with up to 100 m high
walls occupied by fulmars during the breeding season.
It is the northernmost part of the National Park
Jokulsargljufur under the management
of the Forestry Service
Siglufjordur
Siglufjordur (population 1800) is a good starting place
for several hiking routes.
Here is a brief description of 7 different
hiking trails crossing the mountains and valleys
of the Siglufjördur area:
The pass Siglufjardarskard (5-7 hrs.)
Skollaskál and the eastern part of Siglufjördur (5-7 hrs.)
Skarddalur - Hafnarfjall - Hvanneyrarskál (5-7 hrs.)
Dalaskard - Úlfsdalir (3-6 hrs.)
Kálfsdalur - Nesdalur - Siglunes (10-14 hrs)
To Hédinsfjördur via Hestskard (10-14 hrs)
To Hvanndalir (10-12 hrs.)
Hiking Siglufjordur-Hedinsfjordur-Hvanndalir-Olafsfjordur
( Information's obtained from www.Siglo.is )
There are two routes walkers can follow to Hedinsfjordur
from Siglufjordur, the pass Holsskard (620 m)
leading eastward from Holsdalsbotn,
and Hestskard, east from Skutudalur.
Although Hestskard pass (590 m) is steep and quite
difficult to travel,
it is also the shortest route to Hedinsfjordur and the one
most people
follow even today. The journey can be expected to last 5-6
hours.
Hedinsfjordur is somewhat shorter than Siglufjordur
(measured from the innermost
coastal ridge).
A large lake named for the same fjord, some 2.5 km in
length, is located
just beyond the top of the coastal ridge.
Lake Hraunsvatn.
This beautiful lake is situated in the middle of
Oxnadalsheidi (Öxnadalsheiði)
Lake Hraunsvatn has an area of 2,4 km². Its greatest depth
is 50-60 m and it is situated at 500m above
sea level just below the strange pinnacle called
Hraundrangi (1075m). The catch is lake char, up to 6
pounders.
The walking distance uphill is about 2,5 km (½-1 hour).
Highly recommended is to walk around the lake.
That takes around two hours.
Thordarhofdi ( Þórðarhöfði )
I highly recommend hiking around Thordarhofdi. To hike
around it will take around 4-5 hours. From Thordarhofdi
you will have an excellent view towards Drangey and
Malmey.
Thordarhofdi looks like an island but is attached
to the mainland by two thin gravel banks which surround
the lake Hofdavatn, near Hofsos. The cape is a former
volcano with a crater at the top. Thordarhofdi rises
202 meters from the sea and the view from the cape is
magnificent.
There are a number of pleasant walks around the point
but beware not to disturb the elves and the hidden people
who live there.
Three tuff rocks are said to be their alter, shop and
house.
Myvatn
Myvatn lies in the northeast of Iceland on the western
edge of the volcanic active zone that runs across the
country from southwest to northeast. Mývatn is 37 square
kilometers in area and 278 m above sea level.
The lake is shallow with about 50 small islands.
The vegetation in the Mývatn area and along the
river Laxá is luxuriant and varied. Mývatn gets its name
from the multitude of midges that thrive on the rich
supply of
nutrients in the lake. Mývatn is one of the best
fishing lakes in Iceland and the bird life in the Mývatn
area is world-famous.
Hrisey - the Pearl of Eyjafjordur
Hrisey lies in the outward reaches of Eyjafjordur
and is the second largest island in Iceland, coming after
Heimaey. It also comes second to Heimaey in its number of
inhabitants.
On Hrisey there are three mapped walking routes all of
which
are easily traversed and everyone should be able to find
something to suit themselves. Along the way, signs have
been posted giving information on various points of
interest regarding wildlife, plants and geology
besides touching on the history of the island.
The Icelandic Emigration Center at Hofsos
A non-profit
organization, is a highly recommended place to visit.
Across the bridge by the harbor are two imposing
buildings devoted to the memory of the Icelandic emigrants
and their descendants.
Grimsey an independent administrative borough, is the
island nearest to Iceland, and the Arctic Circle runs
straight through it. The island is 5.3 km² in size and
lies about 70 km from the coast. It is only possible to
approach Grimsey from the south. The island is covered
with vegetation, and at its highest point reaches 105 m
above sea-level.
There are many places of interest in northwest Iceland.
This sparsely populated part of Iceland covers three
districts and one eighth of the country in terms of square
kilometers, but the population is only about ten thousand.
The landscape varies enormously: mountains, fields, lakes,
rivers, marshes, and lava fields.
Recommended hiking in this area would be, to hike between
Siglufjordur and Olafsfjordur, via Heðinsfjordur.
Hiking the Maelifell 1140meters is a pleasant 4 hours
walk.
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