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Ísafjörður - Fjord of Ice

Ísafjörður - summarised by fishing and high black mountains Up in the far north-west of Iceland, among the fingers that point out towards Greenland, is Ísafjörður - Fjord of the Ice - a stretch of water with high mountains on three sides and its open end pointing north, benefiting fully from the arctic winters that blow in. The town of the same name sits at the head of the fjord and has some 2,600 inhabitants who were mostly dependent on the fishing industry, an industry which has been in decline since the 1980s. The earliest record of habitation in the area dates from the 9th century, by the 16th century it was a significant trading port. The town sits at the head and southern end of the fjord Fishing is the main... ...town and the area ...economic engine of the... The cliffs around Ísafjörður in summer seem oppressive, but residents say that in winter, when all is white, the light from moon and stars makes the fjord amazingly bright A not too discreet reminder of Iceland's inglorious association with the whaling industry More black reflections. Most of Iceland is formed from black volcanic ash and its derivatives Ísafjörður's suburbs spread along the fjord side A boat needing attention in fine summer weather Morning mist clinging to the mountains along the water's edge A neighbouring fjord with its small community at the head of the water Clouds drifting onto the road that leads up over the mountains from Ísafjörður The mountains at the mouth of the fjord ...a church stands as the focus of attention In a nearby valley to Ísafjörður... Meadows and black mountain backdrops; everywhere around Iceland's coast One of the sheds, found near all fishing harbours, where the catch can be dried ready for transport The road from Ísafjörður to Reykjavík rises up over the pass, into the cloud and snow of the mountains, a few kilometres out of the town The next page notes that it is midsummer, and takes you to the most northerly point of Iceland for the midsummer sun - or lack of it, for when I was there there was a blizzard for those two days.

Connections...

The last page was about the islet of Æðey that lies within Ísafjörður Some pictures of fishing and pleasure boats in southern Scotland Fishing boats in northern Vietnam Or go to the page which was added one year ago.

Saturday 16th June 2018