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What to Do in and Around Höfn HÖFN Í HORNAFIRÐI

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What to Do in and Around Höfn HÖFN Í HORNAFIRÐI What to do in and around Höfn HÖFN Í HORNAFIRÐI Höfn í Hornafirði is a thriving community close to the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull, in the south eastern part of Iceland. The district’s most densely populated area is Höfn. Höfn’s growth in the 20th century In this region you are located at the from a small village to today’s town base of Vatnajökull, and the scenery was a result of the development of is breathtaking. Vatnajökull National a relatively diverse fishing industry. Park, the largest national park in The landed catch is now more varied Europe, is situated in the community. than in other fishing towns, including In the last few decades tourism has high-value species such as the Norway grown enormously and has in fact lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). In become a major economic sector in recent years the town has promoted the community. Diverse services are lobster as a central part of its image, provided including hotels, camping for instance with a “lobster festival” sites, restaurants, shops, swimming that is held each summer. Höfn actually pools, golf courses, marked hiking means harbour, though repeated trails and various museums, such as dredging has proved necessary to keep maritime museum, two national park the entrance of the harbour safe. visitor centres and the centre of the great writer Þórbergur Þórðarson. HÓTEL HÖFN RING ROAD NR. 1 1 ÆGISSÍÐUFOSS 17 JÖKULSÁRLÓN WATERFALL DIAMOND BEACH 2 MOUNTAIN DÍMON 18 THE ÞÓRBERGUR CENTRE 3 SELJALANDSFOSS 19 HOFFELLSJÖKULL & GLJÚFRABÚI 20 LÓNSÖRÆFI 4 KATLA AKUREYRI 21 HÖFN VESTRAHORN 5 DYRHÓLAEY 22 STAPAVÍK 6 SKÓGAFOSS 23 HVALNES LIGHTHOUSE 7 REYNISFJALL 24 BELJANDI 8 FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR 25 ICELANDIC WARTIME 9 LANDMANNALAUGAR MUSEUM 10 LANDMANNAHELLIR 26 PETRA´S STONE COLLECTION 11 DÓMADALUR 27 FARDAGAFOSS 12 LAKAGÍGAR 28 SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR 13 DVERGHAMRAR 29 STÓRURÐ 14 SKAFTAFELL 30 EGILSSTAÐIR 15 SVARTIFOSS 31 SKRIÐUKLAUSTUR 16 FJALLSÁRLÓN 32 VÖK BATHS 33 STUÐLAGIL CANYON REYKJAVÍK ÆGISSÍÐUFOSS WATERFALL (368 km from Hótel Höfn) Ægissíðufoss waterfall is a well known fishing location on the river with its salmon ladder. The waterfall is magnificent all year round, as the flow is quite steady. Any changes to its flowrate can for the most part be attributed to spring thaws. A popular hiking trail lies from Hella down to Ægissíðufoss along the Ytri-Rangá river and is much used by both locals and visitors. MOUNTAIN DÍMON (342 km from Hótel Höfn) The mountain is only 178 meters high and is a fun hike for both adults and children alike. Near the mountain a sign has been erected by the Saga Center of Hvolsvöllur which tells of battles fought in the area during the times of the settlement of Iceland in the most famous of Icelandic sagas, Njálssaga. Dímon has a sister mountain called Litli Dímon or Little Dimon. The name is thought to come from Latin, meaning twin mountains or two alike. SELJALANDSFOSS & GLJÚFRABÚI (331 km from Hótel Höfn) A unique waterfall in the river Seljalandsá. It is 60 meters high with a walking path behind it at the bottom of the cliff. Seljalandsfoss is very picturesque and therefore popular among photographers. Access to the waterfall is from the farm Seljaland. A little further to the west several more waterfalls can be seen. Among them Gljúfrabúi which is partially hidden in its own canyon. Access to it is from the farm Hamragarðar along the road, east of Markarfljót. KATLA (223 km from Hótel Höfn) Katla Geopark includes geological features of global significance. Over 150 volcanic eruptions have been recorded in the area since the 9th century. The lava from these eruptions created the landscape and influenced where people settled. Through the centuries, man and nature have affected the region’s history. The area is constantly changing due to the volcanic activity. The oldest bedrock in the area is about 2.5 million years old, and can be found at the base of Lómagnúpur, an old sea cliff (671 m). DYRHÓLAEY (290 km from Hótel Höfn) Dyrhólaey is a 120 m high promontory. The place got its name from the massive arch that the sea has eroded from the headland. (The name literally means “door-hole”). When the sea is calm, big boats can sail through it. There has even been an extremely daring pilot that flew through the arch in a small aircraft! The view from the top of Dyrhólaey is outstanding. The headland is thought to have been made in an underwater volcanic eruption late in the glacial period, not unlike the eruption of Surtsey. SKÓGAFOSS (305 km from Hótel Höfn) Only a few kilometres away from the south shores of Iceland lies the village of Skógar along the Southern Ring Road. It is a popular summer resort surrounded by unusually beautiful scenery. The greatest attraction of Skógar is of course the beautiful 60 metre high Skógafoss. An old legend tells of the settler Þrasi who is said to have buried his chest of gold under the waterfall. In sunny weather one is likely to see a rainbow in front of the waterfalls. The path leading to the top of the waterfall continues along the river upstream where numerous beautiful waterfalls of sheer beauty are to be found. REYNISFJALL REYNISFJARA BLACK SAND BEACH (273 km from Hótel Höfn) Reynisfjall is a 340 m high tuff mountain that was formed in a subglacial volcanic eruption during the penultimate Ice Age, located near the village of Vík. Alternating in an irregular manner are layers of tuff, pillow lava and columnar basalt veins and loops. Reynisdrangar stacks are a collection of 66 m high rock pillars that rise out of the sea and are of the same type of geological formation as Reynisfjall. On Reynisfjara beach a very beautiful basalt formations in the south part of the mountain can be seen and there you will find an exceedingly beautiful cave called Hálsanefshellir. FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR (209 km from Hótel Höfn) Fjaðrárgljúfur is a magnificent and massive canyon that stands at about 100 m deep and two km long. The canyon has sheer walls and is somewhat serpentine and narrow. The bedrock in Fjaðrárgljúfur is mostly palagonite formed during cold periods of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old. The river Fjaðrá runs through the canyon and when the waterflow is low hikers can safely choose to walk inside the canyon. Most people choose to walk along a walking path up on the canyon’s edge while simultaneously enjoying the view. LANDMANNALAUGAR (297 km from Hótel Höfn) Landmannalaugar derives its name from a hot pool that runs from underneath the Laugahraun lava field and has LANDMANNAHELLIR been a resting stop for travellers, for (320 km from Hótel Höfn) centuries. The landscape is unique and famous for its diverse colours. Many The name of Landmannahellir is beautiful mountains can be seen from drawn from a cave which was used Landmannalaugar: Barmur, Bláhnúkur, for centuries to shelter both men and Brennisteinsalda, Suðurnám and horses. At present, the location is a Norðurnám. The most popular hiking popular stop for both hikers and riders trail in Iceland, Laugavegurinn, starts in who stay there during the summer. Landmannalaugar. DÓMADALUR (304 km from Hótel Höfn) A valley at the west side of Dómadalshraun lava field. It has a small lake with brown trout in it. F225, Dómadalsleið lies through it. In former times this was the meeting point for people coming from two counties in the flatland, separated by strong rivers (dómur=judgement). LAKAGÍGAR AND LAKI (243 km from Hótel Höfn) Lakagígar is a row of craters, formed in one of the world’s largest mixed eruptions in recorded history. The craters are regarded as a globally unique phenomenon and are as such a protected natural monument. In 1783, a huge lava flow streamed from Lakagígar in what became known as the “Skaftár Fires.” This is believed to have been one of the greatest lava flows in a single eruption in the history of the world. SKAFTAFELL (136 km from Hótel Höfn) Scenic nature, favorable weather conditions and a network of hiking trails makes Skaftafell an ideal destination to enjoy outdoor activities in Icelandic nature. Short and easy trails lead to the waterfall Svartifoss and Skaftafellsjökull glacier, but for those who want to reach further out Morsárdalur valley and Kristínartindar mountain peaks are perfect in terms of distance and labour. Skaftafell is the perfect base camp for those who seek to climb Iceland’s highest mountain peak, Hvannadalshnúkur. Private travel companies operate in Skaftafell and offer guided hikes on the nearby glaciers and mountains. Also, on offer are sightseeing flights over Vatnajökull glacier and other renowned attractions. DVERGHAMRAR (188 km from Hótel Höfn) Dverghamrar is formed out of peculiar and beautiful formations of columnar basalt. On top of the columns there is cube-jointed basalt. The landscape is thought to have been moulded at the end of the Ice Age. The sea level was higher at that time and it is believed that the waves caused the peculiar look of the rocks. Dverghamrar is a protected natural monument. Columnar basalt is formed when lava flow cools down and contraction forces build up. Cracks then form horizontally and the extensive fracture network that develops results in the form of hexagonal columns. HÓTEL HÖFN Hótel Höfn is located in Höfn í Hornarfirði: A fishing village on the south eastern coast of Iceland, famous for its delicious lobster. A charming hotel with a friendly atmosphere and a beautiful view of Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. Hótel Höfn is Hótel Höfn was founded in 1966 and the perfect place to stay built with great ambition and was on your travel through the south and a real breakthrough in tourism in east of Iceland.
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