Hjalteyri is a small settlement located north of
Akureyri on the Galmaströnd coast along Eyjafjörður in North Iceland.
The village has a long history as a fishing community and has played
an important role in the region’s economic development.
Today, Hjalteyri is home to the aquaculture company Fiskeldi Eyjafjarðar,
which specializes in halibut farming. In 2003, the population of the
village was estimated at around 60–70 residents.
Norwegian fishermen began salting herring at Hjalteyri around 1880,
followed by Swedish, German, and Scottish operators. This led to the
growth of a thriving fishing station with numerous cod and herring
vessels.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, foreign operators left the
area. Shortly thereafter, the entrepreneur Thor Jensen leased Hjalteyri
and established a herring processing industry. In 1937, a large herring
factory was built in the village, which some sources describe as the
largest of its kind in Europe at the time.
Activity gradually declined during the 20th century, and following
the collapse of the herring stocks in the 1960s, the herring factory
was closed in 1966. This marked a major turning point in the history
of Hjalteyri.
Hjalteyri er áhugaverður staður á Íslandi sem vert er að heimsækja.