Flatey, which translates to ‘flat’ is an island located in an archipelago of about 40 small and big islands in Breiðafjörður Bay, off the north-western coast of Iceland. The small island has no hills, which along with the other surrounding islands were forged from under the weight of a glacier during the Ice Age.
Flatey, which translates to ‘flat’ is an island located in an archipelago of about 40 small and big islands in Breiðafjörður Bay, off the north-western coast of Iceland. The small island has no hills, which along with the other surrounding islands were forged from under the weight of a glacier during the Ice Age.
The island was a cultural hub until the 19th century, despite the fact that it was mostly occupied only during the summer. Commercial activities also intensified after Flatey, which had a monastery, received its own charter in 1777 from the Danish crown. Flatey, which is about 1 km wide and 2 km long, also has a church which was built in 1926, besides being home to the smallest and oldest library in Iceland which was set up in 1864 and also had the largest collection of medieval Icelandic manuscripts. The largely pristine island which has not been largely explored by tourists has one single road leading from the ferry dock. Flatey is also a good spot for bird-watching, especially puffins that nest towards its highest point, which is known as Lundahryggur or ‘Puffins ridge’.
Of course, one must not get confused with another Flatey, which is located in Skjalfandi. And like several locations in Iceland this island too is a popular location for films and among the popular ones include ‘The Honor of the House’ based on a short story by Iceland’s only Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness.
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