{"id":1405,"date":"2020-04-28T14:22:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T14:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitegilsstadir.is\/?p=1405"},"modified":"2021-02-14T12:18:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-14T12:18:11","slug":"mjoifjordur-treasure-hidden-by-the-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitegilsstadir.is\/en\/things-to-see\/mjoifjordur-treasure-hidden-by-the-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"MJ\u00d3IFJ\u00d6R\u00d0UR, treasure hidden by the mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”12px||17px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”2px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/visitegilsstadir.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MJ\u00d3IFJ\u00d6R\u00d0UR1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.4.0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.0″]<\/p>\n

Incorporating the Icelandic word for narrow,\u00a0mj\u00f3r,\u00a0<\/em>Mj\u00f3ifj\u00f6r\u00f0ur fjord lives up to its name by its 18-kilometre length. The mountain ranges that surrounds it provide shelter which means that the weather there is generally good, for Icelandic standards at least. The remote fjord boasts such incredible beauty that it may be thought of as a treasure hidden by the mountains. The population of the whole fjord is only around 25.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/visitegilsstadir.is\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MJ\u00d3IFJ\u00d6R\u00d0UR2.jpg” _builder_version=”4.4.0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.0″]<\/p>\n

The tiny village of Brekka provides its inhabitantswith everything they need, such as a church, school, tourist shop, post office and coffee house. The local industry is now fishing and fish farming but slightly over a century ago, it also included whaling. The station was located at Asknes, across the fjord. Built by the Norwegians around 1900, at that time this station was one of the world’s largest, employing some 200 people. A shipwreck that has been left there can still be seen on the shore.<\/p>\n

The road to Mj\u00f3ifj\u00f6r\u00f0ur is gravel and is only passable in the summertime. In some places, it is also quite steep and requires slow, careful driving. Once you have reached the village, you can continue driving or cycling farther east, out to the lighthouse farm of Dalatangi. During winter, the road to Mj\u00f3ifj\u00f6r\u00f0ur generally remains closed from about October to sometime in May, since the snow is seldom cleared. Year-round, however, the ferry\u00a0Ann\u00fd<\/em>\u00a0(Tel. +354 853 3004 or 616 2630)\u00a0provides transport by sea from Neskaupsta\u00f0ur. It runs twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving the village in Mj\u00f3ifj\u00f6r\u00f0ur at 10:00 and leaving Neskaupsta\u00f0ur at 12:30, or later by arrangement.<\/p>\n

The fjord is known by the locals as an excellent\u00a0place to pick berries, but Mj\u00f3ifj\u00f6r\u00f0ur is an exceptionally beautiful and tranquil area. It has the impressive Prestagil (The Priest’s Ravine) and the Hofs\u00e1rglj\u00fafur Canyon with delightful rivers and waterfalls. You will find spectacular cliffs \u2013 and due to the fjord’s still weather it has lush hills and exceptionally rich flora lining its shores.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.29.3″ width=”100%” custom_padding=”||18px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]