Around Iceland 2015: Norðurþing
Hafþór Hreiðarsson
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: Norðurþing.
Norðurþing
Norðurþing is a large municipality in North Iceland with a total population of nearly 3,000, the vast majority of whom live in the town of Húsavík, famous among tourists for its whale-watching activities. Many of Iceland’s most famous tourist attractions are in or near Norðurþing.
Norðuþing, to the east of the city of Akureyri. Photo: Google Maps
The Húsavík Ornamental Garden is for many the heart of the town and celebrates its 40 th birthday this year. It contains the iconic sculpture Dance by artist Sigrún Guðmundsdóttir, which was given to the garden on its tenth birthday in 1985.
'Dance' in the Húsavík Ornamental Garden. Photo: Hafþór Hreiðarsson
September is the season of sheep round-ups in Iceland and Sunday sees one of the most famous, in Aðaldalur to the south of Húsavík. 25 farmers have gone out into the mountains to round up 5,000 sheep. Hundreds will enjoy the merriment of the sorting ‘ceremony’ this weekend.
Sorting 5,000 sheep is no mean feat. Photo: Örvar Birgisson
Located in the town of Raufarhöfn, Arctic Henge is – according to the website – “a newly built monument for the island’s Pagan worshippers [...]. [...] Arctic Henge is like a huge sundial, aiming to capture the sun’s rays, cast shadows in precise locations and capture the light between aligned gateways.”
Iceland's Stonehenge. Photo: Silja Jóhannesdóttir
Birna Björnsdóttir is the new Head of the tiny Raufarhöfn Primary School. For instance, there are just nine pupils in total between Year 1 and Year 6. Each pupil gets personalised tuition and study material suited to their ability and a good deal of personal attention.
The Head and some pupils on a field trip. Photo: Birna Björnsdóttir
Check out Iceland Monitor for Morgunblaðið ’s next destination in Around Iceland 2015: Akureyri.
