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ICELAND | Akranes, Iceland Travel Guide
Friday, April 19, 2024
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Sightseeing in Akranes
Sighteeing in Akranes
Hvalfjordur (Whale Bay) extends into the mountain landscapes between Akranes and Kjalarnes. It is 20 miles long, 2½ miles wide, and 275 feet deep. The Whale Bay Tunnel was built under the bay in1998, cutting the distance to Reykjavik almost in half. At a length of 3½ miles, it is one of the world's longest underwater road tunnels.
Among Akranes' most interesting sights is the Gardar Folk Museum, 431-1255, akranes-museum@aknet, an indoor/outdoor facility just outside of town. In reality, the museum is five museums in one. Outside the main building stands the cutter Sigurfari, a restored old sailing boat with full rigging that weighs 86 tons and was built in 1885. Other buildings are dedicated to farming, housekeeping, and social customs, mostly depicting life in the 19th century. The newest building, erected in 2001, contains exhibits of semi-precious stones, sports, and the Hvalfjordur Bay Tunnel Museum, plus a restaurant. The Tourist Information Center, 431-5566, museum@museum. is, also is there.
The old rectory at Gardar is probably the first concrete building in Iceland and was constructed of blocks made on-site. The building now houses part of the museum and is open every day from May to August, 11 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. The rest of the year, it is open weekdays from 2 to 4 pm.
Other worthwhile sights around Akranes include the Gardalundur forestry station; Langisandur, a beautiful sandy beach in town; and the three lighthouses that protect the nearby shores. The oldest lighthouse was built in 1918, but it has been inactive since 1947. One of the other two lights, in operation since 1947, was erected just north of the old site, while the third light is on the Akranes waterfront. Still another light is on Thormod's Skerry, a small rocky island in the Faxafloi about eight miles northwest of town.
Another interesting place to visit is the area's oldest timber family house, built in 1875. The split-level main building was opened in 1974 as part of the celebration that marked the 1,100th anniversary of the settlement of Iceland.
Biohollin at 27 Vesturgata is the town's cinema. Films are shown every night except Saturday.
Also of interest is the Solbadstrofan Sirry solarium at 99 Sudurgata; the Kirkjuhvoll Art Center, 431-4580, at 7 Merkigerdi, which features exhibits and stages performances; and the Steinariki Islands Museum, which contains a lovely exhibition of Icelandic stones.
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