Isafjordur, Scenes Around Town

 

Residential District. The Old Hospital, which is now the Edinborg Cultural Center

 

Looking back towards the Port.

 

Closeup of the Cultural Center (formerly Old Hospital), which also houses the Tourism Office. You can't miss it. It dominates the town.

 

Business District (easy walking distance from the Port).

Osvor Museum, Bolungarvik

Meet Johann. Dressed in skins from head to toe, he related tales of the Bolungarvik fishing fleet (in Icelandic). That is why Kristin was there (to translate).

 

This fishing boat is an exact replica of the boats used in the rough seas of the Westfjords.

 

Johann found the skins quite warm, but heavy. Ropes were tied in strategic places to enable his fishing mates to rescue him, should he fall overboard in the rough seas.

 

Home, Sweet Home.

 

The catch of the day, drying to preserve the food.

A Sunny Day in Bolungarvik

 

Bolungarvik Church. Approximately 80% of Icelanders belong to the National Church of Iceland (Lutheran).

 

When we visited, this young lady was performing for us. She was the premier performer in the national accordion contest we were told, but I have searched and cannot find her name. If anyone knows her name, please leave that information in the comments.

 

Church graveyard.

 

Bolungarvik, near the end of the Westfjords. (It looks like a troll might have sat on the mountains behind the town.)

Driving in Iceland Video.

Hiking in Westfjords, Iceland. (Link)

Oshlidargong Tunnel, between Hnifsdalur and Bolungarvik

I realize that tunneling in certain parts of the world is an old, established system of getting through mountains (Norway and northern Italy, for example). But this concept is a recent one for Iceland. Since our visit, the OSHLIDARGONG TUNNEL has been completed (end of September 2010). I find this report fascinating. A map is provided to show the route. (This may take a short while to load, but it is worth the wait.)

 

The tunnel begins just after you pass through the village of HNIFSDALUR. This village is subject to avalanches, just as the coastal road was continuously subject to avalanches, falling rocks (boulders), and icing.

 

Mini-tunnels were constructed to protect the most vulnerable areas.

 

Fencing was added along the road in other areas to protect against rock slides.

 

This is the tunnel entrance from the Bolungarvik side.

Isafjordur, Iceland. First Views

ISAFJORDUR is in a protected inlet surrounded by steep mountains.

 

First views of town by ship.

 

Opposite the town--upper road, with airport landing strip by the seaway.

 

Departing Isafjordur to travel to Bolungarvik.

 

Cemetery, on the Isafjardardjup ("Deep Ice Fjord")

Grundarfjordur to Isafjordur

Traveling from Grundarfjordur to Isafjordur (Westfjords) can be time-consuming if you drive. I have marked the towns with arrows, so that you can get a better perspective of the area.

Note the close proximity to the Arctic Circle.


Isafjordur. Arrival option--Fly in from Reykjavik. (See Airstip on the right) Credits: www.airports-worldwide.com. I was fascinated with the brevity of the landing strip, but was unable to accurately show this from a land view.

 

Or take a leisurely cruise, arriving by sea. Ocean Princess.