Hvalfjörður

akranes

borgarfjörður

snæfellsnes

dalir

West iceland Sagalandw

ww

.wes

tice

land

.is

hva

lfjO

RÐu

R www.visith

valfjordu

r.is

GlymurThe highest waterfall in Iceland

The pagan and Christian pastand present

Family friendlyHiking trails Laxá River in Kjós

Hallgrímur Pétursson (1616-1674) was a priest at Saur-bæ r by Hvalfjörður. One of Iceland’ s most important poet s, he is best known for his Passion Hymns.

Experience the wonders of winter in West Iceland

Taste Smell Riding over the old Bláskeggsá River bridge

Sagaland

akR

an

eS ww

w.visita

kran

es.is

Akrafjall Mountain

History of sailing and fishing Perfect for a swim Find your direction

Breiðin

Langisandur Iceland’s sports capital

Living by the sea

Irish or Scottish monks are said to have settled in Iceland in the 9th century, before the Norse-men arrived. Iceland’s Celtic herit-ag e is still celebrated in Akranes with an annual Irish festival.

Sagaland

bORg

aRfj

ORÐ

uR www

.visitb

orgarnes.is

Egill Skalla-Grímsson was the Nordic countries’ greatest pre-Christia n poet. His father, Skalla-Grímur (Bald Grímur), was the first settler in Borgarfjörður. Egill was wise, but also raving mad, a killer who committed his first murder at the age of seven. Borgarnes

Wool colored by nature Folktales and trolls Find your muse at Húsafell

Sagaland

Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241) is the best known Icelandic poet of any era. He was born in Dalir and lived at Borg and Reykholt. You can still see his outdoor bath (and the ancient tunnel leading to it) at Reykholt.Borgarnes

Cultural heritage at Reykholt And more loveSkorradalur A forestry center

Sagaland

Snæ

fell

SneS

www.visitsna

efellsne

s.is

Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir was the first European woman to give birth to a child in America, just around the year 1000. One of the most widely-travelled woman of her times, she was born on Snæfells-nes. Guðríður was a Christian and made a pilgrimage to Rome.

Snæfellsjökull glacier A national park

Lava fields and West Iceland’s largest caves

Orcas off Grundarfjörður Djúpalónssandur

Icelandic men lift heavy rocks to test their strength

Sagaland

Sanctuary for sea eagles See and taste shark

Volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson at the Volcano Museum

Djúpalónssandur

Icelandic men lift heavy rocks to test their strength

Catch of the day in Stykkishólmur

The geology of Snæfellsnes is a microcosm of Iceland as a whole and it´s environmental policy is now certified by EarthCheck

da

liR

www.visitd

alir.is

The bloom of youth

Leifur Eiríksson (Leif the Lucky, 970-1020) was the son of Eiríkur rauði (Erik the Red) from Haukadalur. Leifur founded the first colony in Greenland. This Nordic explorer is thought to have been the first European to reach North America, nearly 500 years befor e Christopher Columbus. Leifsbúð in Búðardalur

Rounding up sheep from the hills around Búðardalur

Sagaland

Guðrúnarlaug.

Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur West Iceland – the cradle of the Sagaland.

Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur

West Iceland is the cradle of Iceland’s sagasFarm-fresh produce

Auður Djúpúðga (Aud the Deep-Minded) led a group that sailed from Scotland to settle the Dalir region around 890 AD. Auður was a Christia n. She put up crosses on her land and prayed regularly at the hill called Krosshólaborg, where there is now a monument to Auður.

Guðrúnarlaug A natural pool in Sælingsdalur

Krosshólaborg

Published by: West Iceland Marketing Office Design: Ólafur J. Engilbertsson / Sögumiðlun Editor and photography director: Rósa Björk Halldórsdóttir Photographers: Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson, Snævarr Guðmundsson,Friðþjófur Helgason, Pálmi Einarsson, Þórdís Björnsdóttir, Brynjar Ágústsson, Þorkell Þorkelsson, Gígja Einarsdóttir, Björn Anton Einarsson, Olgeir Andrésson, Margrét HalldórsdóttirSaga paintings: Sigurjón JóhannssonPrinting: Litróf-HagprentProofreading: Olga Johannesson, Ian Watson

HraunfossarA lava field turned waterfall

West Iceland Marketing Office

All senses awaken in West Iceland SMELL the fresh sea breezeTASTE freshly-caught scallops

SEE colourful sunsetsTOUCH the soft, ancient mossLISTEN to the sound of silence

www.westiceland.is