Nature and Travel | Iceland Monitor | Tue 1 Sep 2015 | 16.40 GMT | Modified 2 Sep 2015 9.13

Around Iceland 2015: Vesturbyggð

Photo: Kristinn Ingvarsson

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: Vesturbyggð.

Vesturbyggð

Vesturbyggð is a municipality in the West Fjords of Iceland. It is known for its magnificent landscape and untouched nature. The main towns are towns are Patreksfjörður and Bíldudalur and the total population is just under 1,000 .

Vesturbyggð is on the SW tip of the West Fjords. Photo: Google Maps

Fjarðalax is a company which produces salmon in Vesturbyggð and adjacent areas. Conditions for fish-farming are said to be particularly good in the southern West Fjords and the company expects to process over 3,500 tonnes of salmon this winter.

Fjarðalax employs 55 over three sites. Photo: Helgi Bjarnason

South of Vesturbyggð is the 30km sandy coastal area of Barðaströnd. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and great historical significance. Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first man to deliberately sail to Iceland, set up winter camp here in the ninth century.

In olden days, Barðaströnd was something of a gateway to the West Fjords region. Photo: Elva Björg Einarsdóttir

A group of young people from Vesturbyggð set up a new feminist assocation – Þjóðgeður – this summer. The group has attracted men and women of all ages. The aim is to foster positive debate on feminism and promote equality for all.

The founding meeting of Þjóðgerður drew a good crowd. Photo: Halla Kristín Einarsdóttir

Látrabjarg is the westernmost point of Iceland and home to millions of birds, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Investment is currently being made in infrastructure to cope with the tens of thousands of tourists who visit each year.