Iceland review - 2014, Page 82

80 ICELAND REVIEW
The Other Ring Road
The Westfjords region—with all its nine municipalities—is
about to receive EarthCheck environmental certification.
EarthCheck is the next generation tool to help the travel and
tourism industry increase sustainability. In addition, it will maxi-
mize the visitors’ experience and minimize the region’s environ-
mental and social footprint.
The Westfjords region is a whole different Iceland. We enter
via road 60 over the Gilsfjörður fjord bridge, and are met by
landscape, culture and people quite clearly Icelandic, only just a
little bit different—odd you might even say. But in a good way.
The region means mountains and the ever-changing sea.
And nowhere is it bigger than at the start of the journey, from
Króksfjarðarnes and Reykhólar towards Patreksfjörður, Europe’s
westernmost town. On the way, you see thousands of islands,
small farms and snaking fjords. When in the Westfjords you’re
going to want to get out there and interact with the place: peek
through its nooks and crannies, feel its earth between your fin-
gers and smell the sea while strolling along its endless beaches
or dramatic cliff tops.
If you have seen a map of Iceland, you already know its most striking feature is the
dragon’s head poking out of the northwest. The region is called the Westfjords, and
is every bit as striking in real life. The best way to explore the area is to take a round
trip, on the ‘Sustainable Ring Road 2’.
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