Olafsvik, Snaefellsbaer, Iceland - 09/01/17

Olafsvik

Guide To Iceland

This time we are exploring West Iceland, before we leave for another country, which we'll soon decide as a group.

Our exploration took us to Olafsvik, the westernmost sizable settlement in Europe.
Olafsvik is a small town with a notable trading history, specially with Denmark. The town is on the western end of Snaefellsnes Peninsula, in Snaefellsbaer, which has been named 'Iceland in Miniature', because many national sites can be found there, including: Snaefellsjokul volcano, with 1.446m/4.744ft and a glacier on top, which can be seen from as far as 120 km (74 mi) away in Reykjavik. The mountain is also known as the setting for the novel "Journey to the center of the Earth" by Jules Verne.

Interesting Fact:

• Nearby, in Hellissandur, one of the two other towns in the region, is the tallest structure in Western Europe, the Gufuskalar radio mast, 412m (1.351ft) high.

• The population was 1.010 in 2010

Our only cultural visit in the area was Pakkhus Museum, the regional museum of Snaefellsbaer, located on the second and third floors of an old building from 1844 which then served as a trading store.

Honestly, we have no concrete memories from the displays in the museum, only memories of an old cozy house, with frozen memories from the past, as if held the past in a bubble, and a deep respect for the locals which were making handcraft items.

• Now during summer it is open from 12:00 to 17:00 pm, but during the Winter it's only open on request. 

• A general store and a shop selling handicrafts are on the ground floor.

Next we continued walking, planning to visit the regional Park, the notorious Snaefellsjökull National Park. 

The park is replete of landscapes, including volcanoes, caves and waterfalls, which such diversity that we made it a personal decision to visit everything by choice: Some decided to stop at Anadarstapi, a small village close-by, (which was in our route at some point) and take a small, but rather dangerous, 2.5 km (1.55 mi) hike to Hellnar on the cliffside, others headed to the glacier on the top of the mountain, while others went to see the lave on the volcano site.

When we regrouped, we were finally ready to visit our next and probably last destination in Iceland, the capital Reykjavik, 142 miles away.

Reykjavík, the capital and largest city of Iceland. The world's northernmost capital.