Skagafjörður and Sauðárkrókur

Skagafjörður is a fjord and bay in the north of Iceland, about 40 kilometers long and fifteen kilometers wide, located west of the peninsula Tröllaskagi. The entire region has 4,500 inhabitants, and it is one of the most prosperous places for agriculture in Iceland; mainly sheep and cattle farming, even though the bay is very well known for its horse breeding –you could say that it is the only municipality in Iceland where you find more horses than men. 

This is the perfect place to stay with local families and learn about the lifestyle of  today´s Icelandic farmers. Many young people come from abroad to stay for a few months and get experience working on an Icelandic farm.

Whether you enjoy rafting on the glacial rivers, spectating the magical northern lights, horse riding amongst breathtaking landscapes, relaxing in hot springs or going by helicopter to the top of the Tröllaskagi mountains and skiing, Skagafjörður offers a variety of activities for every season. 

Skagafjörður is also an area rich in history and many historic sites can be visited. Horse riding and rafting on the Jökulsá glacial river are two of most typical and unforgettable activities the region has to offer. If you are planning a trip, the website of the town is full of great holiday ideas and activities to suit a wide range of tastes.

There are currently more than 4,400 people living in the region, with the majority living in the town of Sauðárkrókur. Since the late nineteenth century the town has gradually grown to become a prosperous place where agriculture, fisheries, tourism and services unite to serve the 2,600 residents who live there and the thousands of visitors who come each year. 

InSauðárkrókur you will find everything you need including supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses, museums, sports amenities, a hospital and a pool.

The museum of popular culture, Minjahúsið, which is also where you can find the tourist office, consists of four studios ,each providing some history and images from the city‘s past. The area is also one of the few places in Iceland where there have been sightings of polar bears. 

Since 1874, going to the theater is a popular activity in Sauðárkrókur, and locals gather regularly to attend performances, plays, dances or other cultural events related to this art. Sæluvika (Happy week) in Skagafjörður is a nationally regarded arts and culture festival with lots of history and tradition. Sæluvika occurs at the end of April /beginning of May, and the people of Skagafjörður offer a huge amount of cultural activities over the whole week. It is a good way to learn about Icelandic culture in a fun and entertaining way.

For breathtaking views of Sauðárkrókur and the Skagafjörður fjord, you can go to Nafir which are huge rocks that overlook the city. East of Sauðárkrókur, you will find the beach Borgarsandur that spans almost four kilometers, and to the south, on the shores of lakesand Áshildarholtsvatn and Miklavatn, you can admire the hundreds of birds that inhabit the area in summer.

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Skagafjörður

Skagafjörður is a wide fjord, maybe even a bay, in Northwest Iceland (not the Westfjords) which is home to the large town of Sauðárkrókur and some lovely natural surroundings.

Another great thing about Skagafjörður is that it’s a little bit off the beaten track because, despite the presence of Sauðár- krókur, the Route 1 highway does not pass through. Or, more accurately, it only passes through very briefly and you could easily miss it.

Skagafjörður is a fertile farming region and particularly famous for its horses. Apparently it is even the only part of Iceland where horses outnumber people. For the record, sheep outnumber people in Iceland as a whole. Just so you know.

The people of Skagafjörður are known for being open and eccentric, in a nice kind of way. The tiny town of Varmahlíð – which Route 1 actually does pass through – is the base of North Iceland white water rafting on the East Glacial River. This is one of the top spots for rafting in all of Iceland.

Sauðárkrókur has over 2,500 people, which makes it the second biggest town in the north, after Akureyri. Icelanders generally find it hilarious to translate the name of the town directly as Sheep River Hook. Weird, right?

The town is pleasant, modern and open with a few good attractions including a museum and a surprisingly interesting rock exhibition. In the winter there is a well-liked ski area by Sauðárkrókur and plenty of hiking opportun- ities. There are also a couple of islands in the fjord and boats in the harbour you may be able to get there on.

Skagafjörður is home to Glaumbær farm, a beautiful old fashioned agricultural centre, now open air museum – and one of the cutest opportunities to take quaint oldy-worldy photos anywhere in the country.

The Icelandic Emigration Centre is in the Skagafjörður region and you will find it in the town of Hofsós, which is a pleasant village of 200 people which has recently been remodelling itself to better cater to tourists. This means, among other things, that the place is well-maintained.

Skagafjörður is roughly a hundred kilometres from Akureyri and 300 kilometres from Reykjavík. There is an airport in Sauðárkrókur which is not used for scheduled flights. Akureyri, on the other hand, has lots of scheduled flights and there are plenty of coaches (and even city buses) along Route 1.

Peter, Mars 2015
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