It has now been thirty years since the residential areas—five farms and villages—on the westernmost part of Snæfellsnes merged to form Snæfellsbær. This municipality today has nearly 1,700 inhabitants and last year received about nine hundred thousand
visitors, both foreign and domestic. This is because there are many unique natural vistas in the municipality, including an entire national park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, established in 2001. Tourism and fishing are the main industries in Snæfellsbær, where two villages, Hellnar and Arnarstapi, lie to the south under Snæfellsjökull by Faxaflói ay. On the northern part of the peninsula by Breiðafjörður, there are three towns: Ólafsvík, the most populous settlement in Snæfellsbær, and then Rif and Hellissandur. A special festival program is planned in the municipality, culminating on June 17th when the 30th anniversary is celebrated with the unveiling of a large mural in Ólafsvík by one of the nation's most celebrated artists, Erró, who was born in the town in 1932.
Snæfellsbær 12/06/2024 : A7C R / FE 1.4/24mm GM
Photos & text: : Páll Stefánsson
