Húsavík

Húsavík, which lies to the north of Iceland, about 463 km from Reykjavik, is a beautiful port-town in Norðurþing Municipality, which has an airport and is popular for fishing, tourism and its iconic wooden church, Húsavíkurkirkja, which is said to have been built in 1907. 

Húsavík, which lies to the north of Iceland, about 463 km from Reykjavik, is a beautiful port-town in Norðurþing Municipality, which has an airport and is popular for fishing, tourism and its iconic wooden church, Húsavíkurkirkja, which is said to have been built in 1907.

Written records in the Book of Settlement reveal that Húsavík was the first place to be settled by a Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson for one winter in 870 AD. He is said to have left behind a few people who established a farm near the shores of Skjálfandi Bay. Húsavík,  located on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay, literally translates to ‘Bay of the Houses’, probably referring to Garðar’s homestead. This port-town is also known as the ‘whale capital of Iceland, simply because of the 23 different species of whales seen in the bay, including the Blue Whale and various popular whale-watching tours offered in the region. 

The Húsavík whale museum and Exploration Museum too are popular. The town also has a monument honoring Apollo astronauts who trained around this town during the 1960s. The town also has various other attractions close by, including Mývatn region, Ásbyrgi Canyon, Jökulsargljunfur National Park, besides some amazing waterfalls – Dettifoss, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss.

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