Akureyri - Eyjafjörður

"Akureyri is the capital of Northern Iceland and the country's fourth largest town with some 15.400 habitants. There are records of trade having gone on in Akureyri as far back as 1602. In 1787 the town gained municipal rights, and it obtained it municipal charter in 1862, since when it it has had its own town council. Today a majority of the population is in trade and services, Akureyri being the trading centre of Northern Iceland. It is also an important fishing town. It is heated with geothermal water coming from Laugaland in Eyjafjörður. On the hill above the old town is Lystigarðurinn, a splendid park established in 1911 which includes a botanical garden with specimens of almost all native Icelandic plants as well as hundreds of foreign ones. South of the town the results of the forestry work done by the dedicated members of the local Forestry Association can be enjoyed in the Kjarnaland wood and park. The new woodland Vaðlaskógur can be seen on the east shore of Pollurinn ("The Puddle"), as the sheltered end of the fjord south of the town is called. Akureyri is often called the school town, as it boasts a great many educational establishments, including the second University in Iceland. There are also libraries, e.g. the Amtbókasafn Library, founded in 1927, museums, e.g. a folkmuseum and a museum of natural history, an aviation museum was opened in 2000, art galleries, and a municipal theatre housed in one of the many beautiful renovated older buildings in town. Five houses have been preserved and are used as museums in memory of famous and well-loved townsmen: Nonnahús ("Nonni house") in memory of Jón Sveinsson, author; Sigurhæðir in memory of the Rev. Matthías Jochumsson poet and author of the national anthem; the house of Davíð Stefánsson, poet, from Fagriskógur; the house of Friðbjörn Steinsson which is a Templars' museum and the Old Hospital (Guðmanns Minde). The town's oldest house, Lxdalshús, built in 1795, has been restored and is now protected. There are several monuments in Akureyri, e.g. the statues in the Lystigarður park of the poet Matthías Jochumsson and of Margrét Schiöth, who started the park, as well as some pieces of sculpture well-known to Icelanders, such as Útlaginn ("The Outlaw") by Einar Jónsson, Systurnar ("The Sisters") and Sólarupprás ("Sunrise") by Ásmundur Sveinsson, and Landnemar ("Settlers") by Jónas Jakobsson."

"Eyjafjörður is the collective name for the whole district south of Akureyri, a 60 km long valley narrowing towards its head, where it is sometimes called Eyjafjörður valley. Fertile and well cultivated, with many prosperous farms. High and imposing mountains, especially on the west."

"Laufás, a parsonage and church, and an old farmhouse now under national protection and housing a museum. Fertile farmland with many assets. The church was built in 1865 at the instigation of Rev. Björn Halldórsson (1823-82), who also had the farmhouse built in 1866-79."

Akureyri - day and night
Akureyri celebrating the year 2000
Akureyri at winter time in February 2001

Quotes from The Visitor's Key to Iceland, other text is mine