Westfjords Regional Information
 West Iceland and the Westfjords are two
completely distinct regions, both historically and
geologically. Almost all
visitors to the Westfjords go to Western Iceland
first and come either by road or ferry. Whichever route is taken, it presents
a stunning cross-section of scenery and culture.
The Westfjords are Iceland´s most sparsely
populated region apart from the highlands.
There, life means seabirds on rugged cliffs,
Arctic foxes in their lairs, and little fishing
villages huddled against sheer mountains where for
centuries people have battled with the forces of
nature to harvest the ocean's riches. Ísafjörđur
is the main town, regional centre for services,
and the scene of plenty of social and cultural activities.
Land
meets sea head-on at the 400 m sheer cliff of Látrabjarg,
the westernmost point of Europe and one of the world's
biggest seabird colonies. Hornstrandir nature
reserve on the region's northern edge is both
breathtakingly raw and astonishingly rich in
vegetation, on the rim of the inhabitable world.
Relics from life in other once-thriving outposts
can be seen in places such as the now abandoned
herring centre of Djúpavík.
Other musts to see are Dynjandi waterfall
spreading in steps down the mountainside, and the
bird-lovers´ paradise of Vigur.
In ancient times, the Westfjords were famous for wizards and
sorcerers. The town of Hólmavík hosts an
exhibition on witchcraft and witch hunts - one of
several in the region devoted to unusual themes.
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