Isafjördur

The capital of the Westfjords is Ísafjörður, with some 2800 inhabitants. The fjord has two valleys, Tungudalur and Engidalur, and is surrounded by high and steep mountains. The two valleys are the main outdoor activity areas of Ísafjörður. In Tungudalur there is a large golf course, ski slopes, campsites and hiking routes around the forestry area. Ísafjörður town has a long history and has for a long time been one of the largest fishing industry centres in Iceland. Neðstikaupstaður, a part of Ísafjörður town, consists of the oldest buildings in Iceland including four buildings from the 18th century. 

In the second half of the 16th century, foreign merchants put up a trading post on the sandbank in Skutulsfjördur, which grew into the main trading centre of the West Fjords. In 1786, a couple of years before the Danish monopoly on trading were abolished, Ísafjörður was given municipal status as one of six official trading centres in Iceland. The best-preserved cluster of 18th century houses in Iceland is to be found in the Neðstikaupstaður in Ísafjörður. These are the buildings of Danish monopoly merchants, warehouses as well as residential houses. The maritime division of the West Fjords Folk Museum is located in one of them, the so-called Turnhús.

Skutulsfjördur fjord is a narrow fjord, surrounded by high, steep mountains. Inside the sandbank an excellent natural harbour is to be found. The mountain ridge is serrated by four valleys; Arnardalur valley cuts into the eastern corner of the mouth of the fjord, while the valleys Engidalur, Dagverdardalur and Tungudalur lie to the south of the fjord.

Hnífsdalur is a small fishing village further out along the coast, at the head of a shallow inlet, wedged between sheer dark basalt mountains. The cliffs surrounding the village provide shelter, but have also been the source of disastrous avalanches in the past. The drive is along the steep slopes of Oshlið valley. This scenic road, at the foot of the mountain range that fronts on the Djúp inlet, affords fine views along the Djúp and to the coastal ranges crowding the opposite shore and the snowy ridges of facing Snæfjallaströnd. Along the route, you come to the town of Bolungarvík.

Cultural life has flourished in Ísafjörður through the ages and still does. The regional library was founded in 1889 and Iceland's first music school was established here in 1911. A secondary grammar school was opened in 1970 and now has a branch in nearby Patreksfjördur. There is also a newly founded art school in Ísafjördur, bearing the name of Iceland's first architect, Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, not to mention the art gallery Slunkaríki, one of the smallest yet most noteworthy galleries in the country, mounting exhibitions all year round. The West Fjords Folk Museum has a remarkable collection of traditional tools and relics.

Industry in Ísafjördur has always been at the forefront of Iceland's enterprises. The Ásgeirsverslun trading company, which also controlled fishing ships and fish processing, was in its heyday, the biggest and most powerful business enterprise in the country. Ísafjördur was a pioneer in canning and shrimp fishing in Iceland. The fisheries industry in Ísafjörður is still second to none, but demands change with the times. Thus, one of the leading companies of high technology electronics for the fisheries industry is now to be found in Ísafjördur.

Tourism is a growing industry too, and in this area of service, Ísafjördur boasts all that a town its size can be expected to offer: Ísafjördur has superb facilities for outdoor activities, offering many interesting routes for the hiker. The sheltered Tungudalur valley is the town’s main area for outdoor activities, accommodating a golf area and campgrounds, and optimal conditions for enjoying the beauty of Iceland. Not far away, there are ski slopes for beginners and advanced alike, equipped with state-of-the-art lifts and facilities. The area also lends itself particularly well to cross-country skiing. Ísafjördur is a good starting point for those who want to experience the magnificent natural beauty of the West Fjords. Tourist agencies offer a variety of sightseeing excursions around Ísafjördur and surrounding areas, to Hornstrandir and to other parts of the region, giving the tourist a choice between travelling on land, on sea, or by air.