Bolungarvík

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Bolungavík's position in Iceland

Bolungavík is a village in the North-West of Iceland, located at the Vestfirðir peninsula, approximately 13 kilometers from the village of Ísafjörður and 473 km from the capital city Reykjavík. It has (2004) 957 inhabitants.

It is one of Iceland's oldest fishing outposts, well positioned close to abundant fishing grounds. The quiet countryside attracts some tourists, mainly in summer. There is a camping site, an indoor swimming pool, a museum for natural history and an open air fishing museum. The surroundings of Bolungarvík are quite popular destinations for hiking, horse riding and birdwatching. The village has apartments for rent and all basic facilities, such as a convenience store, a bank, a post office and a health-care center.

Bolungavik was the shooting location for Nói Albínói, a movie by Dagur Kári about a teenager living in a remote Icelandic village.

[edit] Bolungavík's Beginning

According to Landnámabók Þuríður sundafyllir settled in Bolungavík aroung 940 along with her brother Þjóðólfur. Folklore says they had a disagreement and put a spell on each other, as they were both skilled sorcerers. Þuríður laid on her brother that he would spend eternity as a monolith on which all birds would shit. Þjóðólfur in turn hexed his sister that she would forever stand where the wind blows most. The pillar that was said to be Þuríður collapsed in half in 1836. The legend says that same night "Þjóðólfur" sank in the sea. That night they supposedly were finally disenchanted.