Despite being a fishing station for centuries, there was no permanent settlement in Ósvör, at the easternmost part of Bolungarvík, on the west bank of Ísafjarðardjúp in the Westfjords, until 1905, and then only for the next twenty years. The town of Bolungarvík decided to rebuild the fishing station in 1980, a project that took ten years, and opened a museum there when the work was completed in 1990. Ósvör consists of a fishing hut, a salt house, a fish drying area, and a drying shed, in addition to the six-oared boat, Ölver, which is situated on the beach. The boat was built in 1941 by Jóhann Bárðarson from Bolungarvík, based on the Bolungarvík design, known for its excellent seaworthiness, speed, and good landing capabilities. It provides a good representation of the boats used for fishing in the Westfjords from the mid-19th century. Ósvör is a rare place to peek into a past that is so near, yet so distant and alien.
Bolungarvík 24/07/2024 : A7RIV, A7C R – FE 2.8/100mm GM, FE 1.2/50mm GM
Photos & text : Páll Stefánsson
