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Seyðisfjörður - Town - East Iceland

Region: East

GPS: N65°15.785 W14°00.114

About: (Description)
(pop. 730) municipality lying beside a long and narrow fiord of the same name on the east coast of Iceland. The fiord is surrounded by rugged mountains. The municipality is divided into two main parts, called Búðareyri and Alda.

The principal industries are the fishing industry, iron industry and tourism. Posts of the police commissioner, pastor and doctor are in Seyðisfjörður as well as a church, a hospital, an indoor swimming pool and steam bath, the community meeting hall, Herðurbreið the county library and a technology museum.

In the vicinity of the technology museum one can visit the oldest mechanics smithy in Iceland in addition to the oldest telegraphy station in the country. The
first town in Iceland to have electric streetlamps installed.

Art exhibitions and numerous events are held the whole year round in Skaftafell, which is the visual art center for the East of Iceland. There is an art festival held annually from June through August with various interesting events on the agenda.

The international ferry, Norræna (Smyril line), which sails between Iceland and the European continent the whole year, stops at Seyðisfjörður. This demands a great deal of tourist services.

In the year 1906, a sea telephone cable was laid to Seyðisfjörður from Europe, thus enabling Iceland to commence telecommunication with foreign countries.

After the turn of the century around 1900, Seyðisfjörður was a very prosperous town, mostly owing to a good harbor. Otto Wathne (1834-1898), a Norwegian entrepreneur, lived there at this time and a monument was later made in his honor. In Seyðisfjörður there is also a monument to honor Ingi T. Lárusson (1892-1946), the composer. Commerce began there in 1843.

How to get there:
Take road no. 93 from Egilsstaðir direct to Seyðisfjörður. It is about 28 km between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður

source Iceland Road Atlas

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