Raufarhöfn


Raufarhöfn is a village located on the northeastern tip of the Melrakkaslétta peninsula in Iceland.

History

At one point in time, this small village was home to largest export harbor in Iceland. In the forties and fifties, the Herring frenzy dominated the Icelandic economy and Raufarhöfn was an important place in that economic chain. But after the herring disappeared the effect was devastating for the village. This is the reason for the old and interesting factory buildings.
The village is the site of a modern monument called the "Arctic Henge" which is aligned to the heavens and is inspired by the mythical world of the Eddic poem Völuspá.
As of 2019, it has 188 inhabitants. It was a major fish processing station during the large herring catches in the mid 20th century.

Climate

The climate is tundra. As the northernmost community of mainland Iceland, Raufarhöfn is also the coldest with an annual average of 2.0 °C.