The poet and naturalist Jónas Hallgrímsson is, without a doubt, one of our most beloved poets. He was born in Hraun in Öxnadalur in 1807 and died of sepsis in Copenhagen at only 38 in 1845. He is one of two Icelanders who rest in the national cemetery at Þingvellir. Above the farm is Hraundragi, a 1075m / 3527 ft high peak, which was said to be both uncleavable and that at the top was a chest full of gold. No chest was not found when three mountaineers conquered the summit for the first time, on 5 August 1956. The culture society Hraun in Öxnadalur now owns the land. A study centre about Jónas is there as well as an apartment for poets and scholars to use.
Öxnadalur 01/11/2021 10:02 – A7R III: FE 1.2 / 50mm GM
Photo and text: Páll Stefánsson
