Temps forts : The Westfjords are the westernmost part of Iceland and the whole of Europe. The Westfjords are home to some off the most beautiful natural gems and off the beaten track attractions in Iceland.
The Westfjords are a wide area stretching as a peninsula to the northwest of the mainland. The peninsula is all mountainous with numerous fjords of varying length.
The town Isafjordur in the fjord Skutulsfjordur serves as the capital of the region, with around 3000 inhabitants. There are many fishing villages in the fjords, as good fishing banks are found around the Wesfjords.
The agriculture is very scant, due to the steepness of the mountains and the lowland is limited. Below are some of the best natural attractions you can find in the Westfjords.
Hornstrandir nature reserve
Many places in the Westfjords are now deserted, such as the northernmost part of the peninsula: Hornstrandir. Hornstrandir is a holy place for travelers who seek solitude, wildlife, breathtaking scenery and great hiking trails. Don´t miss it if you´re looking for peacefulness.
Dynjandi waterfall
Dynjandi ('Thunderous') is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. This is really a series of waterfalls, seven altogether, with a cumulative hight of 100 meters. The trapezoidal shape of its main uppermost tier is particularly notable (40 m wide at the top, 60 m at the bottom.
Latrabjarg Birdcliff
Europe’s westernmost part is in The Westfjords, the massive vertical seacliff Latrabjarg, over 400 meters high with millions of seabirds nesting there. In 1947 a British trawler stranded there. Local farmers managed to safe most of the fishermen by heaving them by rope 190 meters up into the air. This heroic deed has been filmed.
Raudisandur Beach & Sjounda
The beach by the cliff is called Raudisandur, rare for its pale red, almost pink sand. Along with many seabirds, the beach also features hundreds of seals.
Innermost of Raudisandur are the remnants of the farm Sjounda. At the beginning of the 19th century it was a site for one of Iceland’s most famous murder cases.
Two farmers lived there with there wives but the one farmer fell in love with the other's wife and she with him and they were later sentenced to death for murdering their spouses. This dramatic event later served as an inspiration for Icelandic author Gunnar Gunnarsson's masterful novel Svartfugl (The Black Cliffs).
Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Emstrur
Located in the Westfjords of Iceland, Patreksfjörður is a charming village of approximately 650 inhabitants.
This settlement, in the southern part of the region, is close to many major attractions. Those in the nearest vicinity include Dynjandi, one of the country’s most unique and spectacular waterfalls, Látrabjarg, Iceland’s best birdwatching spot, and Rauðasandur, a beautiful beach with orange sands.
Patreksfjörður has several options for accommodation, restaurants, cafes, and a swimming pool, making it a perfect place to stay for those exploring the Westfjords.
Between Patreksfjörður and Bíldudalur is the village of Tálknafjörður, in the southern region of the Westfjords. Despite its meagre population size, around 300 inhabitants, the village has chosen not to merge with its closest neighbours into a new municipality, therefore keeping its unique local charm and community character.
History
Historically, the village was settled much later than other villages across Iceland, with development not occurring until the early 20th century. In the 1940s, a harbour was built to both maximise the village’s sheltered coastal position and to begin fishing operations in the fjord. In the next decade, the fish processing plant, ÞórsBerg, was built, and thus the settlement's economy began to develop. However, as with many small fishing villages in Iceland, Tálknafjörður’s growth was halted by the introduction of fishing quotas in the 1990s. Since then, the economy has diversified with large swathes of tourists now visiting Tálknafjörður for the deep sea angling.
Culture
Today, Tálknafjörður has all the amenities of a modern-day village. There is a post office, convenience store, a bank, guesthouses, a restaurant, a mechanic and even a cosmetics store, Villimey Cosmetics, which produces herbal ointments and creams. There are also natural hot springs north of the village from which energy is cultivated for the village’s trout farms, house heating and Tálknafjörður swimming pool.
To Do
A short drive away from Tálknafjörður, there are cement-lined geothermal pools called Pollurinn (literally translating to “The Puddle”), a favourite spot amongst the local residents (some of whom go there to soak every day). The water at Pollurinn comes directly from the ground, unfiltered, meaning that the pools can have a somewhat slimy feel to them. A wooden cabin stands adjacent to the pool, offering changing room facilities.
