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This
cove is framed with impressive and precipitous mountains and
well-vegetated lowland areas.
It
was named after a wooden vessel built there during the Age of Settlement
or the great volume of driftwood on its shores.
Mt Reykjaneshyrna with its precipitous northern face rising from
the sea and gradual and easily ascendable southern slopes decorates the
landscape on the southern side of the mouth of the cove.
On a fine day the view from up there is excellent.
The cave Thordarhellir is situated in the eastern part of the
mountain.
Farm
Stora-Avik is just west of Mt Reykjahyrna.
A prominent, silver coloured granite rock, weighing several tons,
was transported there by an iceberg from Greenland when the sea level stood
considerably higher than nowadays.
This rock is called Grasteinn (Grey Boulder) or Silfursteinn
(Silver Boulder). It stands
close to the cove Kistuvogur and the wide and deep chasm Kistugja, where
three sorcerers were burned at the stake in 1654.
Those men were believed to have caused scandalous behaviour by
the women attending services in the Arnes church by witchcraft.
Farm
Finnbogastadir is to the west of farm Stora-Avik. During summer the school buildings there are used as sleeping
bag accommodations for travellers and the local camping grounds are
there as well. The farmers
of Finnbogastadir operated an important shark fishing outfit until the
beginning of the 20th century.
Large liver oil processing pots and a large, wooden liver oil
barrel from this operation are on display in the Folk Museum Reykir on
the Hruta Bay. The farm was
named after the Saga personality Finnbogi Rammi (The Strong).
Mt Finnbogastadafjall protrudes in the background.
Farm
Baer is situated to the southwest of farm Finnbogastadir.
An old cemetery on the property was declared inviolate.
The farm has no direct access to the sea and thus neither rights
to the driftwood nor other things of value on the coastline, which was a
great disadvantage. Island
Arnesey, just off the coast, was a great asset because of the eider
colony there. It is best
known for its role in the preparations for the only sea-battle ever
fought in the country in 1244. On
the Baer property is the handicraft house Kort, where local craftsmen
sell their products, mostly made of driftwood.
Two
ancient bridle paths, also used for hiking,
continue up the Arnes Valley to the Reykjarfjordur Bay. |