Húsavík, Coastal fishing town in northeast Iceland
H úsavík is a coastal fishing town on Skjálfandi Bay in northeast Iceland. The harbor stretches along the waterfront with docks for trawlers and tour vessels facing the open bay.
Garðar Svavarsson built the first permanent settlement in Iceland here around 870. The site later developed into a fishing port with whaling traditions that continued into the 20th century.
The Icelandic name means „house bay‟ and refers to shelters built by early seafarers who found refuge along the shore. Local residents maintain close ties to the ocean through fishing traditions and seasonal whale watching activities that shape daily routines.
The town sits along the ring road in the northeast and can be reached by small airport or overland route. Accommodations cluster near the harbor and provide starting points for whale watching tours that work best in calm weather.
The local whale museum displays complete skeletons of different whale species sighted in the bay. Some specimens reach lengths over 65 feet (20 meters) and hang from the exhibition hall ceiling.
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