  
     
|
Blonduos/Saudarkrokur
The
town of Blönduós is the largest urban area at Húnaflói.
The oldest shop in Blönduós was named Möllersverslun.
This shop symbolizes the orign of the town of Blönduós.
Höfðakaupstaður, which the Danes often called Skagestrand
after the region, was an authorised trading place/harbour from the time
of the trade monopoly. The nearest harbour to the west was in Reykjafjörður
at Strandir. It was considered a long way to travel from the valleys
to Höfðakaupstaður so members of the parliament from the
region demanded authorisation for a harbour at Húnaflói.
In 1875 a new harbour was authorised at Blönduós and a shop
was founded on the south side of the riverbank by Thomas J. Thomsen.
He died soon after and his brother in-law, Johan Georg Möller,
continued with the business. After that the shop was called Möllers
shop (Möllersbúð). At the same time the Hillebrandt
house was moved from Skagaströnd to Blönduós as the
merchant Hillebrandt intended to be in competition with the merchant
Möller.
A bridge was built over the river Blanda in 1897, a good kilometre from
the estuary. The same year as the bridge was constructed a church was
moved from Hjaltabakki to Blönduós. Also in the same year
Blönduós became the quarters for the county sheriff and
the regional doctor. In the river Blanda, which runs through the town,
there is an Island known as Hrútey. This island is protected
and has good walking paths. Just outside the town at Vatnahverfi is
a 9-hole golf course. At Blönduós tourist information centre
its possible to find information about all the interesting places and
recreational opportunities that can be found in the region.
About one thousand people live in Blönduós. Employment is
connected to agriculture, industry, services and fishing industry. A
regional cooperative has its headquarters in Blönduós. A
creamery and butchery is operated in the town. At Blönduós
there is a well-equipped hospital, health service, service apartments
for the elderly, a community centre, a sports centre, swimming pool
and hotpots, good camping, a hotel, café and much more. A handcraft
museum, the only one of a kind in Iceland, is to be found in Blönduós.
The new church was designed by Dr. Maggi Jónsson, it has a very
distinctive look but Dr. Maggi Jónsson used paradigms from the
surrounding natural environment for inspiration to the look and form
of the church. The church is open all summer from the middle of June
until the middle of August.
|
