Grundarfjörður, Iceland

Grunndarfjörður is a municipality and a town in Iceland. The Grunndarfjörður municipality is located in the west of the country, in the Westurland region, on the shore of the fjord of the same name, which is part of Breiðafjörður. The area covered by the municipality is 148 km². The population is 918 (as of 1 December 2007), of which 846 live in the town of Grunndarfjörður. The town is situated on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Nearby lies the Helgindur mountain range. The main occupation of the locals is fishing, catching scallops and shrimp, as well as serving tourists. The surroundings of Grunndarfjörður are a favorite place for nesting and raising chicks of numerous seabirds.

According to Icelandic sagas, the first residents in the Grunndarfjörður area appeared back in the 8th-9th centuries, during the time of the first Icelandic settlers. During the Danish trade monopoly period (1601-1786), a Danish trading post was established here, around which a settlement grew. After the abolition of the monopoly, Grunndarfjörður was granted the right to trade and quickly developed.

Modern-day Grunndarfjörður is a beautiful port included in many cruise ship itineraries. The town is surrounded by exceptionally beautiful mountains. Each year, tourism plays an increasingly important role in the life of the town. Grunndarfjörður’s central location relative to all the sights in the region makes it ideal for excursions around the area: the main natural wonders are literally just a few minutes’ walk away.

The main attraction is the Snæfellsjökull National Park with majestic glaciers and landscapes of breathtaking beauty: lava fields, waterfalls, caves, calderas, and basalt rock formations. This area has been a source of inspiration for many Viking sagas, and in more recent times-for “Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne. The Snæfellsnes peninsula is distinguished by such a variety of landscapes that it can quite reasonably be considered “Iceland in miniature.”

The climate here is maritime, moderately cool, with strong winds, humid and changeable. July and August are the warmest months in Grunndarfjörður. The average annual temperature in the town is +1-2 °C, the average January temperature is +1 °C, and in July +11-12 °C.

Dark hours last from mid-November to the end of January. At this time, the height of the Sun at its highest point does not exceed a few degrees (there is no polar night in Iceland). Throughout the summer, visitors can observe “white nights”; on 21 June the sun rises at 02:54 and sets at 00:02 the following day. December, unlike June, is the darkest month-the daylight lasts no more than 5 hours.