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The small town of Grundarfjörður is situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland. The town has 850 inhabitants. It is the only town in Iceland outside of the capital area around the capital Reykjavík with a growing number of inhabitants.
The reasons are the good possibilties for earning money. The town has become rich through the fishing industry. The fact shows in the houses: Some of them are really original and looking luxurious.
The town received the right to do commerce in 1786. Around 1800, French people, who were into commerce, went for some time to Iceland and lived in Grundarfjörður, where they even constructed a church and a hospital of their own.
The town is situated in front of an impressive mountain range having a slightly alpin look. On the sea side, there is a volcanic mountain which is called Kirkjufell and forms a small peninsula.
On the way to Stykkishólmur the road crosses a big lava field, called Berserkjahraun. This is partially warm, so that snow is not lying everywhere in the winter. The name of the lava field comes from a saga, which tells us that two Berserker, meaning slaves, where slain here by their master, because one of them had had the face to love his master's daughter.
See also
External links
- Photo Kirkjufell near Grundarfjörður (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/icepics/kirk.htm)
- Photo Berserkjahraun (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/icepics/berserk1.htm)
- Photo: On the road from Stykkisholmur to Grundarfjörður (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/icepics/47-08.htm)de:Grundarfjörður