Nature, Mountain and Woodland
Rich in scenic contrasts, the Fljotsdalsherad region of east Iceland is known for its temperate climate and great natural beauty. Rushing waterfalls, shiny lakes and lush woodland give way to the snow-capped peak of Snæfell and the shimmering ice-fields of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice-cap to form a spectacular natural playground of teeming birdlife, rolling tracts of moorland, and lakes and rivers filled with trout and salmon.
Established in 1947 by the national government, Egilsstaðir is one of Iceland's youngest towns. Egilsstaðir has developed an extensive array of services and become the service and trade centre for most of central East Iceland. Thus Egilsstaðir has a large number of retail and service businesses, and many major Icelandic companies have branches here, such as engineering firms and financial institutions.
Public services include the largest upper secondary school in East Iceland as well as the continuing and university education opportunities offered through the East Iceland Knowledge Network. The municipality attempts to provide adequate facilities for sports, operating for example four sports halls. The thermal outdoor swimming pool at Egilsstaðir has a water slide and a special children's splash pool.
The villages of Egilsstaðir and Fellabær serve East Iceland not only as a centre for services but also for transportation, especially through Egilsstaðir Airport. In recent years, air traffic here has risen sharply, with domestic flights at times being supplemented by scheduled international flights. Buses are scheduled to bring passengers to domestic flights or to take them to the main villages, from Breiðdalsvík in the south to Borgarfjörður Eystri in the north. A scheduled bus runs all year round between Akureyri in North Iceland and the information centre at Egilsstaðir, and Fljótsdalshérað municipality offers free bus rides between its main centres of population. Everyone who takes the exciting opportunity to travel to or from Europe on the ferry Norræna, which uses the port of nearby Seyðisfjörður, has to go via Egilsstaðir, thus enlivening the town around ferry days.
Other cool places: |
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| Út um allt |
Tour operator - specialized in east Iceland |
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| East Iceland Heritage Museum |
Explores icelandic rural life from the late 19th century to the early 20th century and the growth of Egilsstadir town. |
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Practical stuff: |
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| Air Iceland |
Flights from Reykjavik to Egilsstadir and back |
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| Austfjardarleid |
The east Iceland bus company |
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| Seydisfjordur Bus |
A bus that goes from Egilsstadir Town to Seydisfjordur town |
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| SBA - Nordurleid |
A bus company that goes from Akureyri and Myvatn to Egilsstadir |
