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Akranes: Places of Interest
Akranes has the advantage of being close to the capital yet situated in the countryside giving it close access to all forms of activity and lifestyle.
Akrafjall Mountain
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Location: Beside the town of Akranes. Right turning from road no. 51, gravel road to the foot of the mountain.
Akrafjall is a picturesque mountain close to Akranes.
The mountain was smoothed on the top by a glacier and surrounded by water during the Ice Age.
The mountain offers one of the best views in West Iceland across Faxafloi Bay and a panoramic view from Reykjanes to Snaefellsjokull Glacier.
It is easy to ascend the mountain from the Akranes Water Works car park, where a sign points the way to Haihnukur (555m), the shoulder on the right side of the mountain seen from Akranes. A visitor's book is at the top. A somewhat longer hike takes you to the highest peak in the range, Geirmundartindur (643m).
Other places of interest in the area Hallgrim's Church , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
The mountain was smoothed on the top by a glacier and surrounded by water during the Ice Age.
The mountain offers one of the best views in West Iceland across Faxafloi Bay and a panoramic view from Reykjanes to Snaefellsjokull Glacier.
It is easy to ascend the mountain from the Akranes Water Works car park, where a sign points the way to Haihnukur (555m), the shoulder on the right side of the mountain seen from Akranes. A visitor's book is at the top. A somewhat longer hike takes you to the highest peak in the range, Geirmundartindur (643m).
Other places of interest in the area Hallgrim's Church , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
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Hallgrim's Church
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Location: 50 km from Reykjavík on the northern part of Hvalfjord.
Church built in 1957 as a tribute to the 17th-century hymn writer Hallgrimur Petursson, one of Iceland's best-loved poets.
Hallgrimur Petursson served at Saurbaer 1651 - 1669, a poor leprous pastor who composed Iceland's most widely known religious work, 50 Passion Hymns. Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja church is also named after him. He was married to a woman who had been abducted from the Westman Islands by Algerian pirates and bought free again.
The church contains beautiful stained glass work by one of the first widely known Icelandic woman artists Gerður Helgadóttir. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
Hallgrimur Petursson served at Saurbaer 1651 - 1669, a poor leprous pastor who composed Iceland's most widely known religious work, 50 Passion Hymns. Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja church is also named after him. He was married to a woman who had been abducted from the Westman Islands by Algerian pirates and bought free again.
The church contains beautiful stained glass work by one of the first widely known Icelandic woman artists Gerður Helgadóttir. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
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Whale Fjord
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Location: Road no. 47 takes you to Whale Fjord (Hvalfjord)
Whale Fjord (Hvalfjord) is 30km long and 84m deep.
Whale Fjord was the site of much British and US military activity during World War II. Some ruins from this period can still be seen in the fjord.
Hotel Glymur in Hvalfjordur offers WW II storytelling trips. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall , Hallgrim's Church , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
Whale Fjord was the site of much British and US military activity during World War II. Some ruins from this period can still be seen in the fjord.
Hotel Glymur in Hvalfjordur offers WW II storytelling trips. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall , Hallgrim's Church , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale station in Hvalfjordur , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
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Whale station in Hvalfjordur
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Location: In Hvalfjordur on road no. 47, 75 km from Reykjavik.
The old whaling station in Hvalfjordur plays an important role in Iceland's whaling history. The whaling station was in full operation until 1988 when commercial whaling in Iceland was banned by law.
Today it is used for whale research. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall , Hallgrim's Church , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
Today it is used for whale research. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall , Hallgrim's Church , Akrafjall Mountain , Laxness Museum , Staupasteinn , Whale Fjord , Geirsholmi , Hafnarfjall mountain
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