Icelandic Times, siðmúla 29, Reykjavík (2024)

09/09/2024

Leather Designer
Quality Icelandic design and leather handcraft is much sought after. “My first leather design was a handbag painted with colourful artwork and patterns,” says Guðrún Stefánsdóttir, a successful independent architect who found a second career in creative leather designs.

Guðrún designs leather handbags and now she’s added necklaces and earrings to her Ark Art accessory collection. “I wanted to use the leather cut-offs for something useful when I came up with the idea to use them to make jewellery carrings and necklaces.”

Guðrún’s Ark Art leather jewellery is recognisable by her use of thin leather rings or squares and use of colours. It is a sophisticated yet simple design, skilfully using geometric shapes and colours. Guðrún graduated from the Royal School of Architecture in Denmark in 1986.

After working at an architect’s office, she started her own business. “I’ve worked on some amazing projects, ranging from large buildings to single-family homes. My favourite projects are those where I design everything from A-Z for private homes. Those projects would typically involve the house and interior design, the landscaping around the house and the furniture inside.” Her services are available upon request.

The Ark Art collection is available at the National Art Gallery, Snorrastofa in Reykholt, at Rammagerðin at the Keflavík International Airport, and directly from Guðrún. More information can be found on Facebook: Arkart-leather design.

Quality Icelandic design and leather handcraft is much sought after. “My first leather design was a handbag painted with colourful artwork and patterns,” says Guðrún Stefánsdóttir, a successful independent architect who found a second career in creative leather designs. Guðrún designs leat...

08/09/2024

Always Something to See
A cold and wet summer is coming to an end in Reykjavík—a summer where the temperature never exceeded 18°C / 64°F in the capital, and sunshine hours were far below the average of recent years, even decades. Icelandic Times put its best foot forward, with a camera on the shoulder, to capture the greyness of the capital yesterday; capture the city’s vibe that persists despite everything. Life inevitably goes on, despite the unpredictable climate. Walking around and capturing Reykjavík remains rewarding, regardless of the weather.

A cold and wet summer is coming to an end in Reykjavík—a summer where the temperature never exceeded 18°C / 64°F in the capital, and sunshine hours were far below the average of recent years, even decades. Icelandic Times put its best foot forward, with a camera on the shoulder, to capture the ...

06/09/2024

Unexpected & Unplanned
Photographer Kári Sverriss is showcasing his exhibition Being Me at Hafnartorg by Reykjavík Harbour, featuring images of individuals and people who inspire him. Capturing beauty in the moments when he slows down, focusing on small things that give life meaning. Daydreams that come unexpectedly, people he meets by chance. Or simply the light that greets him. Because photography is a positive magic, one that Kári knows how to conjure. Over the past decade plus, he has worked both locally and internationally as a fashion photographer for major publications like ELLE, Glamour, and Marie Claire, as well as companies like Nikon, Six Mix, and Kormákur & Skjöldur.

Photographer Kári Sverriss is showcasing his exhibition Being Me at Hafnartorg by Reykjavík Harbour, featuring images of individuals and people who inspire him. Capturing beauty in the moments when he slows down, focusing on small things that give life meaning. Daydreams that come unexpectedly, pe...

06/09/2024

1,000 Years of Fish
A small fishing village has turned into an export hub
Fishing is in the blood and heritage of the Vikings of Iceland. Starting out as a small settlement founded by one of the first settlers, Molda-Gnúpur, in about 934, Grindavík has been in the fishing business for over 1,000 years. With rich fishing grounds not far from shore, for many years small, open boats set out to bring in a catch.
However, fishing around Iceland is not for the faint-hearted. It’s coasts are famous for their rich fishing grounds—and notorious for their tumultuous seas and shipwrecks. As fishermen across the world know, their profession is a dangerous business and the price of fish could be measured in men’s lives. With no real harbour, and the very powerful, rough seas to contend with, many lives were lost over the years. The cry, “Row for your lives!” meant just that, as the tired fishermen tried to beach their boats on the shore. The broken remains of a trawler, tossed almost 100 metres inland, gives an idea of the powerful forces at work here.

A small fishing village has turned into an export hub Fishing is in the blood and heritage of the Vikings of Iceland. Starting out as a small settlement founded by one of the first settlers, Molda-Gnúpur, in about 934, Grindavík has been in the fishing business for over 1,000 years. With rich fish...

06/09/2024

A Secret
One of those beautiful secrets in the capital area is Gudmundarlundur. A recreational area like no other with a delightful grove of trees, it’s a place few people actually visit because the place is something of a secret. Gudmundarlundur lies on the outskirts of the capital area, a unique location, like taking a trip south to mainland Scandinavia, while still being in Kópavogur. Gudmundarlundur is named after Gudmundur H. Jónsson, the founder of BYKO, who started planting trees there on Vatnsendaheidi in 1961. Thirty-eight years later, in 1999, Gudmundur donated the area to the Kópavogur Forestry Association, which named these 11 hectares of land Gudmundarlundur [“Gudmundur’s Grove”]. The area, which is just above the uppermost developments in Kópavogur today, is a fantastic recreational spot, and it boasts one of the best frisbee golf courses in the country, a 10-hole course where all the tees hit the mark—which can also be said about the entire area.

One of those beautiful secrets in the capital area is Gudmundarlundur. A recreational area like no other with a delightful grove of trees, it’s a place few people actually visit because the place is something of a secret. Gudmundarlundur lies on the outskirts of the capital area, a unique location...

06/09/2024

The Churches in Kópavogur
Pentecost weekend is approaching, one of the major religious holidays for Christians. In Kópavogur, the second-largest municipality in Iceland with nearly 40,000 inhabitants, there are three churches: Kópavogskirkja, Digraneskirkja, and Lindakirkja. Kópavogur is a young municipality that split from Seltjarnarnes in 1948 and gained town rights in 1955. Initially, Kópavogur was primarily a residential area, conveniently located just south of Reykjavík in the center of the capital region. Now, it also boasts strong commercial and service industries, including the largest shopping mall in the country, Smáralind, the tallest building, Turninn next to Smáralind, and BYKO, the largest hardware store in Breidd.

The first written records of settlements in the Kópavogur area date back to 1234, referencing a residence at Vatnsendi near Ellidavatn. The name Kópavogur first appeared in records in 1523. Kópavogur has a sister city relationship with eight towns: Norrköping in Sweden, Tampere in Finland, Odense in Denmark, and Trondheim in Norway. Additionally, Angmassalik in Greenland, Mariehamn in the Åland Islands, and Klaksvík in the Faroe Islands. The only sister city outside the Nordic countries is Wuhan in China, now best known as the place where COVID-19 first emerged in the world two and a half years ago.

Pentecost weekend is approaching, one of the major religious holidays for Christians. In Kópavogur, the second-largest municipality in Iceland with nearly 40,000 inhabitants, there are three churches: Kópavogskirkja, Digraneskirkja, and Lindakirkja. Kópavogur is a young municipality that split fr...

03/09/2024

Sprengisandur: The Desolate Centre of Iceland
The geographical center of Iceland is Sprengisandur, a desolate highland plateau in the heart of the central highlands. An ancient mountain route crosses Sprengisandur, connecting the north and south of the country. Today, this route is a jeep trail passable only in the height of summer, stretching from Thjórsárdalur in the south to Bárdardalur and Eyjafjördur in the north. Sprengisandur lies between Hofsjökull to the west and Vatnajökull to the east, and it is where the Thjórsá River, Iceland’s longest river, originates. This river generates the majority of Iceland’s hydropower. The mouth of Thjórsá is just west of the village Hella in the south. The Fnjóská River, Iceland’s largest spring-fed river, which flows north into Eyjafjördur, also has its source in Sprengisandur. In the middle of Sprengisandur is Tungnafellsjökull, a prominent landmark, and surrounding it and in Thjórsárver east of Hofsjökull are unique oases of vegetation in the central highlands, encircled by barren land and glaciers.

The geographical center of Iceland is Sprengisandur, a desolate highland plateau in the heart of the central highlands. An ancient mountain route crosses Sprengisandur, connecting the north and south of the country. Today, this route is a jeep trail passable only in the height of summer, stretching....

02/09/2024

Iceland’s Ugliest Locations
Not every place can be like Gullfoss and Geysir, natural wonders visited by nearly two million tourists every year. There are places in Iceland that are downright ugly, places that people should definitely not visit. Öxarfjörður in the north, Bíldudalur in the Westfjords, or Laki, north of Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the south—likely in Southeast Iceland—are places you should avoid like the plague.

Bakkafjördur, a unique place in North Múlasýsla County in Langanesbyggd
Of course, this previous paragraph is just a light-hearted jest. All of these places are exceptionally beautiful. Icelandic nature is unique, with its weather, seasons, and light creating unforgettable moments in these locations. In fact, there isn’t a single place in the country that one should avoid, except perhaps the overpriced parking lots at natural attractions. It’s reasonable to charge for services, but it’s unfair if you can’t stop and experience Iceland’s nature without paying a fee at every single parking spot—especially in places that offer no other services, not even restrooms. We need to take good care of the land, but we also need to treat those traveling around the country fairly. By charging a reasonable fee for goods and services, every location will be beautiful—even the ugly ones…

Not every place can be like Gullfoss and Geysir, natural wonders visited by nearly two million tourists every year. There are places in Iceland that are downright ugly, places that people should definitely not visit. Öxarfjörður in the north, Bíldudalur in the Westfjords, or Laki, north of Kirkj...

02/09/2024

Tenderness at Hafnarborg Gallery
Thórhildur Tinna Sigurdardóttir is the curator of the exhibition Unknown Affection, currently open at Hafnarborg Gallery in Hafnarfjordur. For Hafnarborg’s autumn exhibition, she brings together fourteen female artists in a showcase that emerges from the need to find magic and enchantment in times when everything seems to require definition, often leading to dullness and a lack of joy. This is an exhibition about tenderness, which is essentially just affection and joy, a celebration of color that is strongly present in the exhibition. Unknown Affection is at once thought-provoking and nourishing, as summer ends and autumn begins. The fourteen participating artists are Björg Thorsteinsdóttir (IS), Edda Karólína (IS), Elsa Jónsdóttir (IS), Hildur Hákonardóttir (IS), Juliana Irene Smith (US/FI), Kate McMillan (UK), Kata Jóhanness (IS), Kristín Morthens (IS), Ra Tack (BE), Patty Spyrakos (US), Sigrídur Björnsdóttir (IS), Suzanne Treister (UK), Tabita Rezaire (FR), and Tinna Gudmundsdóttir (IS). Hulda Hákonardóttir, born in 1938, is the oldest of the artists, while Kata Jóhanness, born in 1994, is the youngest, nearly sixty years her junior.

Thórhildur Tinna Sigurdardóttir is the curator of the exhibition Unknown Affection, currently open at Hafnarborg Gallery in Hafnarfjordur. For Hafnarborg’s autumn exhibition, she brings together fourteen female artists in a showcase that emerges from the need to find magic and enchantment in tim...

01/09/2024

Bessastadir – Where the Presidents Reside
Bessastadir, located on Álftanes between Hafnarfjördur and Reykjavík, have been the residence of the President of Iceland since the establishment of the republic. Previously, for about five hundred years, Bessastadir was the seat of Danish royal officials, the Governors of Iceland. In fact, Bessastadir has been the residence of officials and chieftains in Iceland for nearly a thousand years and has been a church site since the year 1000, when Christianity was officially adopted in the country. Bessastadir Church, the church that adorns the site, was built over a period of fifty years, with construction beginning in 1773 and completed half a century later in 1823. The Danish king imposed a tax on all the churches in the country to finance the construction. A little over a century later, the church had fallen into disrepair, and the State Architect, Gudjón Samúelsson, was tasked with restoring the building when Iceland finally gained independence from Denmark. He enlisted the artists Finnur Jónsson and Gudmundur Einarsson (from Middalur) to create stained glass windows for the church. They did not look to the Bible for inspiration, however; instead, they turned to Iceland’s history and fate for their models.

Bessastadir, located on Álftanes between Hafnarfjördur and Reykjavík, have been the residence of the President of Iceland since the establishment of the republic. Previously, for about five hundred years, Bessastadir was the seat of Danish royal officials, the Governors of Iceland. In fact, Bessa...

01/09/2024

North, South, East, West +3
The northernmost town in Iceland is Raufarhöfn on Melrakkaslétta, Once a significant herring fishing town, it‘s now a small, close-knit community with 183 residents according to the Icelandic Bureau of Statistics. The southernmost town, on the other hand, is Vestmannaeyjar on Heimaey island, home to 4,444 people today. The easternmost town is Neskaupstadur by Nordfjördur, with a population of 1,460. Patreksfjördur, located by the fjord of the same name, is the westernmost town not only in Iceland but in Europe, with 756 residents today. The most populous town in Iceland is the capital, Reykjavík, with 145,710 inhabitants. In second place is Kópavogur, with 41,345 residents. Hafnarfjördur is the third most populous town in the republic, with 32,308 residents according to the National Registry. Kópavogur and Hafnarfjördur are both part of the Greater Reykjavík area.

The northernmost town in Iceland is Raufarhöfn on Melrakkaslétta, Once a significant herring fishing town, it‘s now a small, close-knit community with 183 residents according to the Icelandic Bureau of Statistics. The southernmost town, on the other hand, is Vestmannaeyjar on Heimaey island, hom...

01/09/2024

Rauðinúpur is a 73 m high cliff located on the western most point of Melrakkaslétta and is a well known landmark from sea.
The view from there is very panoramic. Rauðinúpur is believed to have formed in an eruption during the late ice-age. Its distinct red colour is due to volcanic scoria. There are two picturesque rock pillars of equal height in front of Rauðinúpur called Sölvanöf and Karlinn (the man) or Jón Trausti, after the well known writer who lived at Núpskatla during his childhood. A lighthouse was first erected in the year 1929.
The current lighthouse was built in 1958 and modernized in 1988.

Rauðinúpur is a 73 m high cliff located on the western most point of Melrakkaslétta and is a well known landmark from sea. The view from there is very panoramic. Rauðinúpur is believed to have formed in an eruption during the late ice-age. Its distinct red colour is due to volcanic scoria. Ther...

24/08/2024

Gunnhildur Pálsdóttir
Gunnhildur is born in Westman Islands and lived there until she moved to Reykjavík in 1969 to study at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafs. She graduated from the College in 1973. Later, 1989-1992, she studied and graduated from the ceramic division of the Design School Kolding in Denmark. Gunnhildur / Hildur has been teacher of art most of her working life. Her paintings are first and formost figurative works with the man / woman in the foreground in interaction with nature and telling micro-stories of life

Gunnhildur is born in Westman Islands and lived there until she moved to Reykjavík in 1969 to study at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafs. She graduated from the College in 1973. Later, 1989-1992, she studied and graduated from the ceramic division of the Design School Kolding in Denmark. Gunnh...

22/08/2024

Culture & Science
The centre of culture and science in Iceland is located in Vatnsmýri, Reykjavík. In this small area, just west of Reykjavík Airport, you’ll find not only the University of Iceland with the majority of its operations but also two of the country’s most powerful biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, deCODE Genetics and Alvotech Iceland, as well as the Nordic House and Gróska, the hub of innovation in Iceland. Three years ago, the Mayor of Reykjavík, the Rectors of the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University, the CEO of Landspítali (National University Hospital), and the Chairman of the University of Iceland Science Park signed the establishment of the Science Village in Vatnsmýri. This project is marketed internationally under the name Reykjavik Science City by Business Iceland. Icelandic Times visited the area, which is centrally located in the capital but still somewhat secluded. When—or if—the Borgarlína transit system is established, Vatnsmýri, between the University of Iceland and Landspítali, will become the country’s main transportation hub and possibly even a train station for Keflavík Airport.

The centre of culture and science in Iceland is located in Vatnsmýri, Reykjavík. In this small area, just west of Reykjavík Airport, you’ll find not only the University of Iceland with the majority of its operations but also two of the country’s most powerful biotechnology and pharmaceutical ...

21/08/2024

Majestic Mountain Names
Esja, Katla, Hekla, Askja, then Herdubreid, Skjaldbreid, Tindastóll, and Kaldbakur. These are names of some of the more renowned mountains in Iceland. Beautiful and exceptionally strong names that are so deeply symbolic of the land and the nation, but also of the language that has lived with us for nearly 12 centuries. Subsequently, these mountain names have also been used for businesses such as car dealerships, fishing companies, a meat processing plant, a sports club, and a cultural center in the east fjords. This is hardly surprising, as Because these are powerful names for majestic mountains.

Esja, Katla, Hekla, Askja, then Herdubreid, Skjaldbreid, Tindastóll, and Kaldbakur. These are names of some of the more renowned mountains in Iceland. Beautiful and exceptionally strong names that are so deeply symbolic of the land and the nation, but also of the language that has lived with us for...

20/08/2024

Fallingwater
There are few phenomenons in Iceland’s nature as powerful and symbolic as waterfalls. They are landmarks, destinations, spectacles. We Icelanders may not recognize many mountains from a distance, but we can identify waterfalls from a picture. We have visited them or seen them from afar on our journeys around the country. They are everywhere. Magnificent in their ability to carve and transform the landscape over thousands of years. Unstoppable. Here is a selection of waterfalls that make us return to listen and to see nature in its purest form. Photos taken at a bad time or maybe in bad weather.

There are few phenomenons in Iceland’s nature as powerful and symbolic as waterfalls. They are landmarks, destinations, spectacles. We Icelanders may not recognize many mountains from a distance, but we can identify waterfalls from a picture. We have visited them or seen them from afar on our jour...

20/08/2024

Light Moods Around Ljósvallagata
One of the most beautiful streetscapes in Reykjavík is Ljósvallagata in the western part of the city. The row houses were begun in 1926 and mostly completed by 1930. Row housing was the dominant architectural style in Reykjavík at the time, after wooden houses were banned following the Great Fire near Austurvöllur and Austurstræti in 1915. The main proponents of this architectural style were state architect Gudjón Samúelsson and famed physician Gudmundur Hannesson, both of whom served on the first national planning committee. Reykjavík’s first city plan, from 1927, was based on these ideas. A good example of this is the workers’ housing estates on Hringbraut and the west side of Ljósvallagata, while Hólavallakirkjugardur Cemetery, which was in use from 1838 to 1932, lies along the eastern part of the street. However, the era of row housing in Reykjavík was brief, lasting only twenty years. The people of Reykjavík, and Icelanders in general, likely prefer larger lots and bigger houses than their neighbouring nations, as the capital now stretches nearly twenty kilometres eastward from Sólvallagata in the west end.

One of the most beautiful streetscapes in Reykjavík is Ljósvallagata in the western part of the city. The row houses were begun in 1926 and mostly completed by 1930. Row housing was the dominant architectural style in Reykjavík at the time, after wooden houses were banned following the Great Fire...

20/08/2024

Bjart yfir Ljósvallagötu
Ein fallegasta götumynd í Reykjavík er Ljósvallagatan í vesturbænum. Randbyggð sem byrjað var að byggja árið 1926 og að mestu lokið um 1930. En Randbyggð var á þessum tíma ráðandi byggingarform í Reykjavík, eftir að timburhús voru bönnuð í kjölfar brunans mikla við Austurvöll / Austurstræti árið 1915. Helstu hugmyndafræðingar þessa byggingarforms voru Guðjón Samúelsson húsameistari ríkisins og Guðmundur Hannesson læknir. En þeir sátu báðir í skipulagsnefnd ríkisins. Fyrsta skipulag Reykjavíkur frá árinu 1927 byggði á þessum hugmyndum. Gott dæmi eru verkamannabústaðirnir við Hringbraut, og vesturhlið Ljósvallagötu, en Hólavallakirkjugarður, starfræktur frá 1838 til 1932 stendur við eystri hluta götunnar. En tími randbyggðar í Reykjavík er stuttur, tuttugu ár. Reykvíkingar, já íslendingar vilja líklega stærri lóðir, stærri hús, en nágranaþjóðirnar, enda teygir höfuðborgin nú úr sér nær tuttugu kílómetra í austur frá Sólvallagötunni vestur í bæ.

One of the most beautiful streetscapes in Reykjavík is Ljósvallagata in the western part of the city. The row houses were begun in 1926 and mostly completed by 1930. Row housing was the dominant architectural style in Reykjavík at the time, after wooden houses were banned following the Great Fire...

18/08/2024

With Old and New Designs
The city centre, postal code 101, is the oldest part of Reykjavík. In Kvosin, a village began to form in the latter part of the 18th century in what is now Adalstræti. The downtown area is defined by Snorrabraut to the east, Gardastræti to the west, and the eastern part of Reykjavík harbour, including Reykjavík Airport. The neighbourhood’s population is small; of Reykjavík’s 145,571 residents, only 11,498 live in the city centre. The downtown area is the hub of national and city administration, where you’ll find the Parliament, ministries, the Supreme Court, the National Gallery of Iceland, the Reykjavík Art Museum, and the National Theatre. It is also home to the city’s main landmarks, such as Hallgrímskirkja church, Austurvöllur square, Tjörnin with Reykjavík City Hall, the main shopping streets Laugavegur and Skólavördustígur, the new Hafnartorg, and many of the country’s largest and finest hotels. Although the city centre was nearly fully developed over 80 years ago, before World War II, it is constantly being changed and improved. Icelandic Times took a leisurely walk through the downtown area of the capital and photographed new buildings that have been constructed in the oldest part of the city in recent years. The easternmost part of Hverfisgata has probably seen more changes in recent years than any other part of the city centre.

The city centre, postal code 101, is the oldest part of Reykjavík. In Kvosin, a village began to form in the latter part of the 18th century in what is now Adalstræti. The downtown area is defined by Snorrabraut to the east, Gardastræti to the west, and the eastern part of Reykjavík harbour, inc...

15/08/2024

The Arctic Coast Way
Explore this scenic North Iceland route

North Iceland’s newest tourist route spans 900km and has been dubbed the Arctic Coast Way. This route leads travellers on a journey across 21 towns and villages close to the Arctic Circle. Along the way you will see spectacular landscapes of mountains, steep cliffs, charming fishing villages, glacial river deltas and even crossings to islands like Grímsey and Hrísey. The route is best started from the west in the town of Hvammstangi, ending in Þórshöfn in the northeast. Following are some of the highlights of the Arctic Coast Way.

The Vatnsnes Peninsula is home to some of the best seal-watching opportunities in the north and there’s a museum with lovely exhibitions at the Icelandic Seal Center. Hvammstangi is the largest town on the peninsula and the site of many tourist attractions.

Explore this scenic North Iceland route North Iceland’s newest tourist route spans 900km and has been dubbed the Arctic Coast Way. This route leads travellers on a journey across 21 towns and villages close to the Arctic Circle. Along the way you will see spectacular landscapes of mountains, st...

14/08/2024

Gerdarsafn Art Museum: Celebrating 30 Years
The origins of Gerðarsafn – The Kópavogur Art Museum can be traced back to 1977 when the heirs of revered artist Gerður Helgadóttir (1928-1975) donated all of her works to the Kópavogur Art and Culture Fund on the condition that the town would build an art museum to exhibit her works and preserve her memory. Gerðarsafn, designed by Benjamín Magnússon, was opened in 1994, thirty years ago, in Borgarholt in the centre of Kópavogur, just east of Kópavogur Church. The church features stunning stained-glass windows by Gerður, which depict the journey of life from cradle to grave.

To celebrate the museum’s thirtieth anniversary, the exhibition Metamorphosis – The Art of Gerður Helgadóttir is currently on display. This outstanding exhibition showcases the power of this giant in the visual arts. As the exhibition catalogue states: “Gerður’s creative force was immense, her ideas countless, and her observations deep and exploratory. Gerður was a pioneer in sculpture and a trailblazer in three-dimensional abstract art in Iceland. She challenged accepted ideas about visual art with her experimental approach. Her skill was extraordinary; she mastered numerous complex techniques and worked across various media, creating with a fluid, dancing, soaring agility, yet at the same time with great strength.”

In the Metamorphosis exhibition, Gerður’s art is placed in a historical context, and her works are examined in relation to the movements and trends of her time. The focus is particularly on the rapid changes in her artistic creation and her evolution from traditional figurative imagery to the abstract—how she transitioned from stone to clay to iron and bronze, from highly structured forms to a floating lightness, and towards more organic and natural shapes. Mere words hardly capture the timeless quality of Gerður’s art, but the exhibition manages to convey its essence—at once timeless and hugely enjoyable.

The origins of Gerðarsafn – The Kópavogur Art Museum can be traced back to 1977 when the heirs of revered artist Gerður Helgadóttir (1928-1975) donated all of her works to the Kópavogur Art and Culture Fund on the condition that the town would build an art museum to exhibit her works and pres...

13/08/2024

The Gifts of the River
The Þjórsá River, which flows along the border between Árnessýsla and Rangárvallasýsla counties, originates from the desolate wasteland of Sprengisandur, drawing its waters from Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. It is the longest river in the country, traveling more than 230 km before it reaches the sea on the south coast just west of Þykkvibær. Along this lengthy course, there are seven hydroelectric power stations on the river and its tributaries: the two Búrfell stations, Sultartangi Station, Hrauneyjafoss Station, Sigalda Station, Vatnsfell Station, and Búdarháls Station—all owned by Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland. Three more power plants on the Þjórsá River are currently in the planning stages. Today, Þjórsá generates about 40% of all the electricity produced in Iceland, making it the second most voluminous river in the country, after the Ölfusá River. The average flow of the Þjórsá is about 350 m³/s, while the Ölfusá’s flow is about 50 m³/s greater; however, since the Ölfusá flows through lowlands with little to no elevation drop, it is not suitable for hydroelectric development. There are only two bridges over the entire length of the Þjórsá, the same number as over the Ölfusá, which is only 25 km long. Icelandic Times took to the skies ot make an aerial tour over the mouth of this mighty river, which not only generates electricity but is also an excellent and productive fishing river, yielding salmon, trout, char, and eel.

The Þjórsá River, which flows along the border between Árnessýsla and Rangárvallasýsla counties, originates from the desolate wasteland of Sprengisandur, drawing its waters from Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. It is the longest river in the country, traveling more than 230 km before it...