Place of interest

Place of interest
Hvítá is a river which source is in the glacier lake
Hvítárvatn at Langjökull glacier in the highlands of
Iceland. Hvítá is one of the largest rivers in
Iceland, total length 160 km, with a catchment area
up to 6100 km² and the flow of water reaches about
266 m3/sek. The river flows for 40 km before
dropping down into a narrow gorge at the Gullfoss
waterfall. Then the river runs down through the
flatlands near Grímsnes and behind Ingólfsfjall
mountain. Just north of the town Selfoss it joins
the Sog river. After that the combined rivers are
called Ölfusá (about 25 km from sea) as it flows
into the Atlantic Ocean.
Laugardælir is a small settlement near the town of
Selfoss. Laugardælir was one of Icelnad’s busiest
ferry site until the bridge was built across Ölfusá
in Selfoss in 1891. Laugardælir-church was built in
1965. It was made of concrete and is in total 300
2
m . In the graveyard of Laugardælir-church is the
burial site of former World Chess Champion Bobby
Fischer (1943-2008). More pictures here.
Hraungerði. Church, manor and former assembly. The
first settlement of Hróðgerður the Wise, father of
Oddverjar. Hraungerði’s church is first mentioned in
the files of Páll, bishop from about 1200 and since
then there have been numerous churches in
Hraungerði. Current church was designed by architect
Eiríkur Gíslason from Bitra and was established in
1902. More pictures here.
Einbúi, Oddgerishólar. Beutiful rock hills on the
banks of Hvítá-river. Sports- and outdoor
recreational area of the youth association Baldur.
Flóaáveitan are canals that run through of the
entire Floi, from Ölfusá in the west to the Thjórsáriver in the east. This mighty work consisted of a
300 km long canals and 900 km of embankments. Floiirrigation system reached over 12 thousand hectares
of land and became a major transition in farming and
production in the area at the time. The
constructions of Flói-irrigation system began in
1922 and started its activities in 1927. When
Flóaáveitan was inaugurated in 1927, it was one of
the greatest structure in Europe. Still to this day
it plays an important role in conveying water
between farms. Beside the sluice gate you find
information board with more information about Flói
irrigation system. To the east from the sluice gate
is a marked hiking trail along Hvítá (about 4,4 km
walk, one way).
Dælarétt is an ancient sheep pound in a beautiful
environment, built from rocks of the great
Þjórsálava. Dælarétt is considered the oldest sheep
pound of the country and has now been preserved.
Close by are earthquake fissure. Beware.
Þjórsá is the mightiest river in Iceland, 230 km
long and has a water span of 8000 km². Þjórsá is a
glacier river which main source is from Hofsjökull
glacier. In winter, the river can gather up huge
quantities of ice at it’s bottom. It is magnificent
to look at the canyon of Þjórsá below Urriðafoss
waterfall in spring when the ice melts and the river
breaks through.
Urriðafoss. The voluminous waterfall of Iceland,
were Þjórsá river falls off the margin of
Þjórsárhraun lava field (360 m3/sek) in beautiful
and peaceful environment. Þjórsárhraun lava field is
the greatest lava flow on earth since ice age.
Located right off highway 1.
Kambur. Where the notorious robbery, Kambsrán, was
committed in 1827. Four of perpetrators looted the
town by night, tied the farmer Hjörtur Jónsson and
his people and broke up containers in search of
money. They plundered about 1000 state bucks. The
thieves left behind signs and it was Þuríður
chairman who helped on the case.
Ásavegur. The trail Ásavegur used to be an important
highway through the South of Iceland. This is the
route that people used, coming from all diffrent
directions to do business, such as fishing and to
collect their sheep and cattle from the mountains.
This is one of the trails made by people centuries
ago. A marked hiking trail along the old Ásavegurtrail is between Orrustudal og Hnaus (about 6 km
walk). On this trail is the highest point of
Flóahreppur with a breathtaking view in all
direction. Information signs on Orrustudalur (The
Valley of Battles), Skotmannshóll (Archer´s Hill)
and Mannabeinsmelur (The Human Bone Field) are
located at different points during the hike. These
locations are a great piece of our history. Here is
the stage of Flóamanna-Saga. In Orrustudalur valley
two big battles were fought. From Skotmannshóll or
Archer’s Hill came one of the greatest bowshots in
the sagas.
Skagás is a beautiful forestry. Please don’t leave
garbage behind and note that barbequing is only
allowed at a specially marked place due to fire
hazard.
Kolsgarður is an ancient path made of turf and is
believed to be from the 10th century. Kolur from
Kolsholti made this path so he could meet Ragnheiður
from Ragnheiðarstaðir. Still to day you can identify
the path in the landscape.
Þingdalur is a former assembly of the country, since
settlement, but is now deserted. Þingdalur stands
high and has a beautiful view in all directions.
Beside the farm is a forest where the congress was
before. Þingdalur is also the last known residence
of the ghost Kampholts-Móri.
Villingaholt. A church and the home of great Saga
writer Jón Erlendsson (who lived in the 17th
century). Later a home of Jón Gestsson (1863-1945),
from whom a family of inventors and craftsmen has
descended. The present church was built in the years
1910-1911 by Jón Gestsson. The church has a tower,
choir loft and seats for 100 people. If you walk
south on the plot next to the school you will see an
old hill, where the old church and the farm stood
before. Because of erosion and heavy damage of the
southland quakes in 1784, they were moved to the
current location. More pictures here.
Ferjunes. An ancient ferry place across Þjórsáriver.
Fljótshólar.
Iceland.
The
greatest
panorama
in
all
of
Loftstaðir. An ancient fishing station. Stories tell
of the great magician Galdra-Ögmundur, who lived
there around 1600. On a hill nearby, Loftstaðahóll,
is a huge and ancient stone cairn.
Gaulverjabær. Church and manor since ancient times.
A colonist from Norway took his place here and is
the place named after the men from Gaular in Norway,
which is a province of Sogn og Fjordane. In 1930 an
important collection of 360 silver coins from the
first century of icelandic settlement was found
here. The present church was built in 1909. More
pictures here.
Timburhóll. A beautiful forestry with an outdoor
grill. A memorial of great painter Ásgrímur Jónsson.
Please take care of fire and avoid littering.
Rútsstaða-Suðurkot. The birth place of the artist
Ásgrímur Jónsson. He was one of the pioneers of
Icelandic art and the first Icelander to take up
painting professionally. Ásgrímur was born on the
4th of March in 1876. He lived in Copenhagen
1897-1908, studying at the Royal Academy of Art
1900-1903. More detail here.
Austur-Meðalholt, is the site of a typical
traditional farmhouse in the south Iceland style
from the latter pat of 19th century. Since few such
farmhouses remain in Iceland and none in this
district, a dedicated effort has been made to
develop and conserve it. The farmhouse tradition
embodies an important element of Icelandic history
and the Icelandic way of life over the centuries.
The Creamery at Baugstaðir. South Iceland used to be
the lagest dairy production region in the country
and the creamery at Baugstaðir is now the only one
left standing from that period, built in 1905. There
you can see all the tools of the creamery trade that
blossomed in the decades after 1900. The creamery is
open Saturdays and Sundays from 13 – 18 in July and
August and by arrangement.