Önundarfjörður
Önundarfjörður is a 20-kilometre-long fjord
in the northern part of the
Westfjords of Iceland.
It lies between
Dýrafjörður
and
Súgandafjörður
and opens northward into
Ísafjarðardjúp.
At the northern end of the fjord lies the village of
Flateyri,
the main settlement in the area and an important part of the cultural
and economic history of the fjord.
Settlement and history
According to historical sources,
Önundur Víkingsson
was the first settler in the area.
The fjord takes its name from him and has been inhabited since the
earliest years of Icelandic settlement.
From the beginning, the fjord played an important role as a farming
and fishing area, benefiting from sheltered waters and fertile lowlands
near the fjord’s head.
Nature and landscape
Önundarfjörður is known for its dramatic and varied landscape.
Steep mountain slopes rise on both sides of the fjord,
with waterfalls, ravines and green hillsides creating impressive scenery
throughout the year.
At the inner part of the fjord lie flat lowlands and scenic viewpoints,
along with hiking routes and natural attractions that appeal to visitors
seeking quiet and unspoiled nature.
Önundarfjörður today
Today, Önundarfjörður is a popular destination for travellers exploring
the Westfjords.
The area offers activities such as hiking, kayaking, photography
and birdwatching, as well as peaceful rural surroundings.
The fjord is also closely connected to the history of avalanches
in the Westfjords, most notably through the
Flateyri avalanche of 1995,
which had a lasting impact on settlement planning and safety measures
in the region.
Önundarfjörður combines striking natural beauty,
deep historical roots and a strong sense of place,
making it one of the most scenic and historically rich fjords
in the Westfjords of Iceland.
Önundarfjörður er áhugaverður staður á Íslandi sem vert er að heimsækja.