Raufarhöfn () is a village located on the northeastern tip of the
Melrakkaslétta peninsula in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
.
History
At one point in time, this small village was home to largest export harbor in Iceland. In the forties and fifties, the
Herring
Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae.
Herring often move in large schools around fishing banks and near the coast, found particularly in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, i ...
frenzy dominated the Icelandic economy and Raufarhöfn was an important place in that economic chain. But after the herring disappeared the effect was devastating for the village. This is the reason for the old and interesting factory buildings.
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The village is the site of a modern monument called the "Arctic Henge" which is aligned to the heavens and is inspired by the mythical world of the Eddic poem '' Völuspá'' (Prophecy of the Seeress).
As of 2019, it has 188 inhabitants. It was a major fish processing station during the large herring
Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae.
Herring often move in large schools around fishing banks and near the coast, found particularly in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, i ...
catches in the mid 20th century.
Sights
The church was built in 1928 by Guðjón Samúelsson
Guðjón Samúelsson (16 April 1887 – 25 April 1950) was a State Architect of Iceland, and the first Icelander to be educated in architecture. He's been described as one of Iceland's most influential architects. His notable designs include the ...
, one of the most important Icelandic architects, and inaugurated on 1 January 1929. It was renovated in 1979. Circa 1996, a large stone monument, "Arctic Henge" (''Heimskautsgerði'' in Icelandic), was constructed close to the village. Inspired by historic stone circles as of 2021 the site is still under construction.
Climate
The climate is tundra (Koppen: ET). As the northernmost community of mainland Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
, Raufarhöfn is also the coldest with an annual average of 2.0 °C.
See also
* Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse
Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse ( is, Hraunhafnartangaviti , regionally also ) is the northernmost lighthouse in Iceland. It is located about 800 meters south of the Arctic Circle.
Location and description
The lighthouse is on the northeast coast ...
References
External links
Raufarhofn
More information and photos about Raufarhöfn on Hit Iceland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raufarhofn
Populated places in Northeastern Region (Iceland)