THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE NORTH
The north of Iceland truly is a land of contrasts. Its long valleys and peninsulas are interspersed with mountains, lava fields and smooth hills carved out by rivers. The deep and numerous indentations in the coast of the North are at times lush with vegetation, at others barren. As one nears the Arctic Circle in the northern latitudes, the midnight sun is invariably awe-inspiring.
The North is home to Iceland's second largest urban area, Akureyri, located in Iceland's longest fjord, the mild-weathered Eyjafjörður. Akureyri, rich in culture and history, has a charming downtown full of late nineteenth century wooden houses. In summer, golfers can take advantage of the midnight sun at the Arctic Open.
CLOSE BY IN THE NORTHERN REACHES OF THE VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK IS THE IMPRESSIVE ÁSBYRGI CANYON, AS WELL AS THE DETTIFOSS WATERFALL—THE MOST POWERFUL IN EUROPE.
Many towns of the North are dedicated to marine life. The Húsavík Whale Museum and the Seal Center in Hvammstangi are two options for visitors. Close by in the northern reaches of the Vatnajökull National Park is the impressive Ásbyrgi Canyon, as well as the Dettifoss Waterfall—the most powerful in Europe. The nearby Lake Mývatn and its surrounding wetlands has an exceptional variety of waterbirds and rock formations.
Major towns
AKUREYRI, HÚSAVÍK, SAUÐÁRKRÓKUR AND DALVÍK
Regional airports
AKUREYRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GRÍMSEY, HÚSAVÍK, SAUÐÁRKRÓKUR AND ÞÓRSHÖFN
Major attractions
AKUREYRI TOWN, ASKJA CALDERA, ÁSBYRGI CANYON, DETTIFOSS EUROPE‘S MOST POWERFUL WATERFALL, GOÐAFOSS WATERFALL, LAKE MÝVATN, HVÍTSERKUR CLIFF, VATNSNES PENINSULA, KOLUGLJÚFUR CANYON, BORGARVIRKI, LANGANES PENINSULA, GRÍMSEY ISLAND, HRÍSEY ISLAND, TROLL PENINSULA, KÁLFSHAMARSVÍK, VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK.