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East - Attractions

Vatnajökull The largest Glacier in Europe

Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Iceland and Europe, over 8,000 km2, its highest point being Bárðarbunga (2,000 m). The highest point in Iceland is Hvannadalshnúkur (2,119 m) on the Öræfajökull glacier. The road up...
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Historical sites

Hafnarnes An abandoned group of farms

By road no. 96 south from Fáskrúðsfjörður
An abandoned group of farms on the south side of Fáskrúðsfjörður. Formerly a busy fishing centre with 8 farms and a school. The French hospital was moved there from Fáskrúðsfjörður and served as flats and a school.
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Sænautasel An moorland farm

Sænautasel, south of the lake Sænautavatn (“Sea-monster lake”), occupied 1843-1942. Its buildings have been renovated and are well worth a visit
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Skeggjastaðir A church and parsonage

By road no. 85, between Bakkafjörður and Þórshöfn
A church and parsonage. A little to the west is a strange rock, Stapi, rising straight out of the sea. The churc was built in 1845, the pastor Rev. Hóseas Árnason paying out of his own pocket for all the work, since both...
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Skriðuklaustur A substantial farm for centuries

By road no. 933 at the end of Lagarfljót
Skriðuklaustur, a substantial farm for centuries, site of a monastery from 1493 until the Reformation, then a church till 1792. Home of a number of prominent men, e.g. sheriff Hans Wium (1715-88), who is buried there. In...
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Snæhvammur The outermost farm on the northern side of the Breiðdalur valley

Snæhvammur, the outermost farm on the northern side of the Breiðdalur valley. Late in the 18th century a polar bear was killed right at the front door after having chased a man who was walking there on his way from Stöð...
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Teigarhorn A farm

By road no. 1 about 5 km north from Djúpivogur
A farm about 5 km from Djúpivogur. Timber house built in 1880-82. A photographic studio was operated there around 1900. In the keeping of the National Museum since 1992. Zeolites found there are said to be the most beaut...
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Valþjófsstaður An ancient manor farm, church and parsonage

By road no. 933, Few km south of Skriðuklaustur
An ancient manor farm, church and parsonage. The famous Valþjófsstaður church door, one of the finest items in the National Museum at Reykjavík, came from there. The door now on the church is an exact replica. Tröllk...
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Hot Springs

Laugarfell Hot Spring, Possible to bath

The spring has a round shape with 3.5 m in diameter. The depth is 0.7 m. There are no changing facilities but there is a shelter for horses, which is possible to use. The banks around the spring are laid with paving st...
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Islands

Papey A large island opposite Búland and Hamarsfjörður

Papey, a large island opposite Búland and Hamarsfjörður, surrounded by islets. Formerly a substantial farm but now deserted. The name indicates that Irish monks lived there before the settlement. A popular tourist attrac...
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Skrúður A high grassy Island with cliffs

Skrúður (161 m) a high grassy island with cliffs. Many seabirds, including gannet. Famous from a folktale about a giant said to have lived there in a cave. He put a spell on the daughter of the pastor at Hólmur in Reyð...
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Mountains

Sandfell A 743 m high mountain south of Fáskrúðsfjörður

Sandfell, a 743 m high rhyolite mountain south of Fáskrúðsfjörður. It is a typical laccolith believed to be 600 m thick and one of the best examples of mountains from the tertier period in the northern hemisphere. It can...
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National Parks

Skaftafell National Park

By road number 1 between Vík and Höfn
Skaftafell National Park, westernmost estate in Öræfi built high on the southern slopes of Skaftafellsheiði moor because of the destructive forces of Skeiðará. Extensive birch woods, rich vegetation (Saxifraga cotyledon,...
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Vatnajökull The largest Glacier in Europe

Natural wonders

Álfaborg Elves Rock

Álfaborg, (“Elves’ rock”) a picturesque rock, from which the fjord gets its name. Said to be the home of elves. Public park.
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Bjólfur A mountain, named after the first settler to come to this fiord

Bjólfur, (1,085 m) a mountain. Named after the first settler to come to this fiord and make it is home. On the highest peak of the mountain there was supposedly a temple in ancient times. Snow and mud avalanches have oft...
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Breiðdalsheiði A mountain road

Breiðdalsheiði, (470 m) a mountain road across the moor between Skriðdalur and Breiðdalur, steep at the Breiðdalur end. A small lake, Heiðarvatn, not far from the road, where trout has been introduced and seems to thrive...
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Breiðdalur The biggest of the valleys cutting into the eastern mountains

Breiðdalur, the biggest of the valleys cutting into the eastern mountains, wide towards the sea but dividing into two valleys, Norðurdalur and Suðurdalur, further inland. The highway goes through the latter. The valley i...
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Bustarfell Sharp-topped mountain - A manor farm through the ages

Bustarfell, sharp-topped mountain, with two lakes on top, Þuríðarvatn and Nykurvatn, good view. View-dial. On December 31st 1990 a youth fell off the cliff by the view-dial to a stream bed in the scree 70 meters below...
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Gunnólfsvík The northermost farm on the Langanesströnd

Gunnólfsvík, the northernmost farm on the Langanesströnd coast, now abandoned. Once a fishing-station. To north is Gunnólfsvíkurfjall (719 m). Good views. This marks the eastern end of the tuff area of northern Ice...
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Hallormsstaður A manor farm in its time

Hallormsstaður, a manor farm in its time. Church till 1895, parsonage till 1880. Domestic science school founded in 1930, still in use, now as an annex of Menntaskólinn á Egilstöðum (Egilsstaðir College), in cooperation...
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Hellisheiði Eystri Mountain road

(655 m) A mountain road across the moor between Vopnafjörður and Jökulsárhlíð, passable for all cars. Not kept open in the winter. Much used as a trade route to Vopnafjörður in former times, and as an emergency route whe...
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Heydalir A farm, church and parsonage

Heydalir, often called Eydalir, a farm, church and parsonage, formerly considered one of the richest parishes in Iceland. Community centre Staðarborg, school. Among the best known clergymen of Heydalir was the poet Einar...
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Hólmatindur One of most majestic mountains off Reyðarfjörður

Hólmatindur, (985 m) one of most majestic mountains off Reyðarfjörður, with the spur Hólmaháls ridge reaching onto the Hólmanes peninsula. Hólmanes and part of the ridge have been a nature reserve since 1973. On the ...
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Húsey The outernmost farm in Hróarstunga

Húsey, the outermost farm in Hróarstunga in the middle of the flat land, near the confluence of the rivers Jökulsá and Lagarfljót. It once had the greatest amount of seal hunting in the Héraðsflói district.
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Ingólfshöfði A cape

Ingólfshöfði, a cape on the coast 9-10 km south of Fagurhólsmýri, 76 m high, 1,200 m long and 750 m wide, birdcliffs, a shelter and a lighthouse. A jeep-trail goes to it across sands, mud-flats and many rivers. Formerly ...
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Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

By road no. 1 between Skaftafell and Höfn

Jokulsarlon - Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (Jökulsárlón), the biggest river on the sands, though very short, only about 1,500 m. Comes from a 100 m deep lake, or lagoon, Jökulsárlón, at the foot o...
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Krossavík An ancient manor

Krossavík, an ancient manor farm on the east of Vopnafjörður. Home of Geitir and his son Þorkell of Vopnfirðinga saga. The home around 1800 of sheriff Guðmundur Pétursson (1748-1811), a wealthy and enterprising man.
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Lónsöræfi The lagoon wilderness

Lónsöræfi, (“The Lagoon wilderness”) a broad unbuilt area east of Vatnajökull. In recent years it has become increasingly popular to walk in this area, huts have been put up and footbridges built on the most difficult ...
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Selárdalur The northernmost of three valleys off Vopnafjörður

Selárdalur, the northernmost of three valleys off Vopnafjörður, ca. 30 km long to the mountain Mælifell (822 m). Shallow with low moors and ridges on both sides. Selá is a good fishing river. 6-7 km from the road is the ...
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Skaftafell National Park

Skeggjastaðir

Skeggjastaðir, a group of farms, in one of which lived the 19th century psychic Ingunn Davíðsdóttir.
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Snæhvammur The outermost farm on the northern side of the Breiðdalur valley

Rivers

Jökulsá á Brú (Jökulsá á Dal) River

Jökulsá á Brú (or Jökulsá á Dal), a glacial river, at 150 km the longest river in eastern Iceland. Not fordable at any point because of its depth and strong current. Considered the muddiest of Icelandic rivers, it carrie...
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Lagarfljót A broad river

Lagarfljót, a broad river, the inner part of which is a lake extending from Fljótsdalur to beyond Egilsstaðir. Deep, max. 112 m, average 50.7 m, at least 30 km long and 2.5 km at its broadest point, area 53 km2. Natural ...
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Volcanos

Vatnajökull The largest Glacier in Europe

Waterfalls

Hengifoss - Hanging falls Waterfall

By road no. 933

Hengifoss Waterfall

One of highest waterfalls in Iceland, 118 m, in the river Hengifossá near the farm Brekka. In the gorge there, which is pretty and varied, are lignite and fossils. Another waterfall further ...
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