Around Iceland 2015: Hveragerði
Photo: Árni Sæberg
Iceland’s national newspaper Morgunblaðið is on a six-week 2015 tour of Iceland!
The paper’s journalists and photographers will be bringing us news and images of everyday life, culture, business, nature, education, services and more from the four corners of the land. Today’s destination: Hveragerði.
Hveragerði
Hveragerði is relatively large town just 45 km to the east of Reykavik, in South Iceland. With a population of over 2,000, it is surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and is a frequent stop for tourists exploring South Iceland.
Hveragerði, South Iceland. Photo: Google Maps
Iceland Activities is a family-run Hveragerði-based tour operator organising exciting bike and surfing tours of the area. According to one of the owners, Andrés Úlfarsson, Iceland Activities prides itself on the personal approach it uses when organising tours for visitors.
Riding in South Iceland. Photo: Iceland Activities
Jakob Veigar Sigurðsson found solace in art after a difficult battle with alcoholism. His work has been displayed in Hveragerði, he is currently finishing an art degree and will soon be departing to begin post-graduate art studies in Vienna.
Art as a lifeline. Photo: Eggert Jóhannesson
The nearby port of Þorlákshöfn is one of two departure points for ferries to the Westman Islands. A works programme costing some ISK 2 billion (approx. €14 million) is under way to enable the port to take ships of the Icelandic fleet and cruise ships.
Works are expected to be completed by 2018. Photo: Jón H. Sigurmundsson
Helga Gustavsdóttir runs an Icelandic-dog-breeding business at Miðengi, to the north-east of Hveragerði. Icelandic sheepdogs apparently make good, well-behaved pets and Helga exports around half the dogs she breeds, mostly to America.
The company is called 'Kersins Kennel'. Photo: Sólrún Ragnarsdóttir
Check out Iceland Monitor for Morgunblaðið ’s next destination in Around Iceland 2015: Árborg.
