A gentle, pleasant spirit seems to hover over Hrafnagil in Eyjafjardarsveit, south of Akureyri, as Finnur Yngvi Kristinsson, the mayor of Eyjafjardarsveit, shares in conversation. Despite this tranquil atmosphere, there is a vibrant growth in the local community, with expanding services and ambitious plans for the future.
“More time with family,” answers Finnur Yngvi without hesitation when asked what most defines the quality of life in the area. “That’s the number one thing, above all else. Here, people spend far less time in traffic compared to the Capital area in the south. You simply don’t lose as much time driving and getting around here in Hrafnagil. Some might feel Akureyri is far from us, but that’s only because there’s an open landscape in between, where you can sense the peace. It’s really just a 12-minute drive from downtown Akureyri,” he says with a smile. “We often underestimate how much time goes into simply getting from place to place, and anything that gives us more time with family, more quality moments, is just incredibly valuable.”
Finnur Yngvi mentions children’s sports activities as another example in this context. “For children in Eyjafjardarsveit, a large portion of sports activities take place before 4 p.m., especially for the younger kids, and are timed to align with their after-school hours. This setup is extremely convenient, both for those living in the Hrafnagil area and for families in the more remote areas of the municipality.”
A Vibrant, Inclusive Social Life
According to Finnur, the close-knit community of Eyjafjardarsveit is most clearly reflected in the extensive and varied social activities offered. “Anyone interested in joining in can find something to suit their tastes. We have a very active youth center for teenagers, and senior citizens enjoy a wonderful program, meeting once a week for organized social activities and three times a week for different fitness programs, like aqua aerobics and strength training. There are three women’s associations here, a rescue team with all the activities that come with that, an equestrian club, Freyvangur Theatre—which is a very lively amateur theatre—along with a Lions Club and many more. There’s simply a lot to get involved in.”
Finnur also highlights the work of the sports club Samherjar, which supports activities from children’s teams to programs for senior citizens. “There’s a rich diversity of social activities within this close-knit and unified community.”
The Precious Tranquillity of Rural Life
According to Finnur Yngvi, the atmosphere in the Hrafnagil area is relaxed, and a sense of calm pervades, something modern people increasingly perceive as a life quality. “People here mainly seek services in Akureyri, which is a 10-minute drive away, and as a result, the neighbourhood maintains a very peaceful ambiance. Visitors from the capital area have described spending even half a day here as an experience akin to a worn-out individual finally getting some rest. The quiet simply rejuvenates you, and once you’ve experienced this quality of life—which becomes more valuable as the pace and pressures of modern life increase—you really don’t want to let it go. There is just so much well-being that comes from living in this nurturing environment day after day, and I think it’s something more people are beginning to miss and actively seek out.”
Finnur adds that in the rural areas south of Hrafnagil, one can find true peace—a natural setting where silence envelops you. “There’s limited traffic in this majestic landscape, and the quality of life gained by simply going there and taking a deep breath—in tranquillity and proximity to nature—is truly unique.”
Low-Rise Buildings and Spread-Out Development
For years, the local government in Eyjafjardarsveit has placed strong emphasis on maintaining the aforementioned quality of life in the area, partly through a clear approach to planning and development, says Finnur Yngvi. “This policy is primarily about low-rise, spread-out development rather than building upwards. Many places are building more densely than we do here, which is one housing option. We offer a different option,” he explains. “The focus is entirely on this kind of planning, and we recently worked on a joint master plan with Svalbardsströnd in Vadlaheidi, a shared area where we coordinated our planning. There, the emphasis was entirely on single-family homes with large lots, with a maximum of four lots per hectare. Each lot is around 2,000–3,000 square meters, designed with that scale in mind. Lush greenery, tranquillity, and well-being are the key concepts, with the goal of fostering and establishing a sense of calm. This tranquillity is becoming an increasingly tangible and desirable quality of life.”
Abundant Employment – Diverse Jobs
In the past, it was almost certain that young people from rural areas in Iceland who moved to the Reykjavik region for university would be unable to return home due to limited employment opportunities suited to their education. Finnur Yngvi notes that this has radically changed today. “The main change is that all sorts of possibilities have opened up in terms of remote work. Specialists can often now choose where they want to live, regardless of the location of the company’s headquarters. Here in the area, agriculture is, of course, prominent, as Eyjafjördur is often called Iceland’s breadbasket, producing nearly 10% of the nation’s milk. Tourism is also making a stronger impact, with Eyjafjardarsveit including Skógarbödin nature baths with its extensive operations, along with other outstanding tourism companies. The construction sector here is booming, with 200 planned residential units on the outskirts of Hrafnagil. There’s also significant activity within the municipality itself, with extensive development underway, and job availability and variety are continually increasing, especially as we steadily strengthen services for residents. Among other things, we’re opening a new preschool next year, which will greatly enhance services for families with preschool-aged children. In many ways, we are planning for the future, while also taking care to enjoy the present moment, maintaining the quality of life that makes our beautiful countryside so special,” says Finnur Yngvi in conclusion.
Text: Jón Agnar Ólason
