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| Fjardabbyggd Coat of Arms |
Our third destination in Iceland was broader. In hopes to get to know more about the country,
we decided to visit a couple of towns in Fard'byggd' municipality in the Easter Region of Iceland.
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| The valley around Fjardabyggd |
Our first stop was Reyd'arfjörd'ur, in a good harbor location at the bottom of the largest fjörd on the east coast, which gives the town it's name (fjord'ur refers to fjord)
As with most Icelandic towns, the landscape is surrounded by mountains, the largest being 972m (3.189 ft). It often has the highest temperatures in Iceland in the summer, although the climate is particularly rainy and foggy.
Reyd'arfjörd'ur is the second most populated village of Fjard'abyggd', with 1.182 inhabitants as of 2011.
From the early 20th century it was a trading and fishing post, and became the second largest Allied base in Iceland during WWII due to it's strategic location.
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| Alcoa Smelter (Fjardaal) |
During it's construction, Fjardaál employed over 2.600 workers from various countries (most notably Poland), over 1.800 more than the town's total population. It now only employs 450 people.
The smelter required the construction of a Hydropower plant in Fijotsdalscherad', a neighbor municipality which is a good candidate for the next stop.
Interesting Fact:
- Reydt'arfjördt'ur was the filming location of Sky Atlantic's Fortitude series.
While hiking in a mountain next to the city, we sighted what looked like an airport in a relatively small town, so we changed plans and headed it's way.
Only within throwing distance did we discover that it in fact was a museum, rather than an airport.
By chance, we visited the town's War Memorial Museum, occupying the old barracks used by British Forces during WW2. Interestingly enough, Iceland was never at war.
The only other memorable Town we visited in Fjar
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| One-way tunnel |
The building of the Fjardaál smelting plant in Reyd'arfjord'ur also reversed a severe depopulation crisis in the village.
Sildarvinnslan fish processing plant, one of the most advanced in Europe, is the main contractor here.
Ready for yet another museum experience, we visited the Museum House, which surprisingly is not just a museum, but also an art gallery, a natural history museum and a maritime museum all at once.
We contemplated a collection of Icelandic mammals, shellfish, birds, insects and stones, as well as many fishing equipment.
The other villages in the municipality are:
- Eskifjördur: with one of the most beautiful and rare stone collections in Iceland.
- Fáskrudsfjördur: a village with 662 inhabitants.
- Stodvsrfördur: a village with approximately 200 inhabitants which lost it's young to other villages and is now investing in attractions and creative centers.
- Mjófjördur: the smallest village of the muncipality, with only 55 people, and often reffered to as the smallest in the country whilst also one of the most diverse.
Interesting Facts:
- Iceland's first official national park was within the village, Nordfjardanipais, opened in 1972.
- Eistnaflug is a three-day metal, hardcore, punk, rock and indie music festival held in Neskaupstadt'ur in July. The festival started as a one day event in 2005 and has since grown significantly, attracting over 2.000 people, more than the town's total population.
- The 2002 Icelandic movie Hafidt' (The Sea) was filmed almost entirely in and around Neskausptadt'ur.
Let's visit that Hydropower plant and the dam!
I wonder what kind of amazing landscapes and natural formations are waiting for us there.
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