Hvalfjörður
Fjord - 2015
Hvalfjörður (Icelandic: Whale-fjord) is situated in the west of Iceland.
The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide.
Until the late 1990s, those travelling by car had to make a long detour of 62 km around the fjord on the Hringvegur (road no.1),
in order to get from Reykjavík to the town of Borgarnes.
In 1998, the tunnel Hvalfjarðargöngin, which shortens the trip by an hour was opened.
The tunnel runs to a depth of 165 m below sea level.
The name Hvalfjörður is derived from the large number of whales which could be found and caught there.
The only whaling stations in Iceland is still located in this fjord.
During World War II, British and American naval bases were located in the fjord.
Hvalfjörður (Icelandic: Whale-fjord) is situated in the west of Iceland.
The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide.
Until the late 1990s, those travelling by car had to make a long detour of 62 km around the fjord on the Hringvegur (road no.1),
in order to get from Reykjavík to the town of Borgarnes.
In 1998, the tunnel Hvalfjarðargöngin, which shortens the trip by an hour was opened.
The tunnel runs to a depth of 165 m below sea level.
The name Hvalfjörður is derived from the large number of whales which could be found and caught there.
The only whaling stations in Iceland is still located in this fjord.
During World War II, British and American naval bases were located in the fjord.
