Iceland review - 2016, Page 100

98 ICELAND REVIEW
West Iceland is full of rich history and striking land-
scapes. From the edge of Hvalfjörður fjord, 50 km (30
miles) from Reykjavík, to Gilsfjörður fjord in the north,
bordering on the West Fjords, the region covers four distinct
areas. From north to south: Dalir, Snæfellsnes, Borgarfjörður and
Akranes with the surrounding countryside.
From Reykjavík, there are two main ways to enter West
Iceland: driving under Hvalfjörður fjord through the tunnel, or
taking the winding and beautiful old road around the fjord.
At the inland end, you will find Glymur, the 200-meter
(600 feet)-high waterfall—the tallest in Iceland. A popular
COMPILED BY ARON MÁR INGHAM GRÍMSSON, EYGLÓ SVALA ARNARSDÓTTIR, INGIBJÖRG RÓSA BJÖRNSDÓTTIR, JENNA GOTTLIEB, LARISSA KYZER AND MARK ASCH.
INTRODUCTION, COVER PHOTO FROM STYKKISHÓLMUR AND PHOTOS THIS SPREAD BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.
OUT WEST
SPECIAL PROMOTIONWEST ICELAND
hiking trail leads you to the waterfall—well worth the effort.
At the northern mouth of Hvalfjörður, you have the town
of Akranes—the largest in West Iceland—a fishing town with
great charm. The next town to the north on the Ring Road is
Borgarnes, in the Borgarfjörður region, a service center for the
area. Being built on a small rocky peninsula makes the town
unique in Iceland and a great place to start a journey to ex-
plore the greater Borgarfjörður area, which is full of history
and unique landscape, like Hraunfossar waterfalls, Langjökull
glacier, Grábrók volcano and many of the best salmon rivers in
Iceland. In terms of history, you won’t want to miss the church