Arnarstapi

A natural site for landings and harbor for small vessels, and therefore ideal for a shipping port. In the olden days, Arnarstapi was thus from very early on, a busy fishing port and commercial centre servicing the West coast area under the Danish crown and a merchant monopoly of Denmark was in effect from 1565. From then on and through the 17th and 18th century, agents of the Danish crown had custodial power over Arnarstapi and commercial rights by royal appointment over nearby lands, formerly owned by Helgafell monastery and monopoly of all trade in the area. Several old houses from that time, each with its own unique history, can be seen at Arnarstap, including the old Amtmannshús (The Danish Prefect's Residence), which was moved in 1849 to nearby Vogur á Mýrum, where it stayed until 1983, when it was moved back again to Arnarstapi in 1985 and declared a historical site in 1990. Danish Prefect Bjarni Thorsteinsson (1821–1849), whose son was renowned poet and writer Steingrímur Thorsteinsson, resided at the Amtmannshús, as did other notables. Today Arnarstapi is still a somewhat busy harbor during the summer months, serving both fishing and recreational vessels. Its docks were renovated in 2002. A centre for local summer tourism activities, as here are a variety of natural and culinary attractions, and a cluster of second homes are located in and around the village. An old horse trail past Neðstavatn ˈnɛðstaˌvahtn̥ is now a popular hiking trail (about a one hour hike) across the lava and along the beach between Arnarstapi and Hellnar. The lava field is called Hellnahraun, and its western coast is a natural preserve, where the ancient small village of Hellnar may be found. Along the coast there are natural rock formations; here the waves of the ocean play along with the sunlight of the northern sky, locations of particular note being the cliff Gatklettur, and the rifts Hundagjá, Miðgjá and Músagjá. Near Arnarstapi there are other natural formations such as Rauðfeldsgjá, Dritvík, Bjarnarfoss ˈpja(r)tnarˌfɔsː and Lóndrangar.

• Name — Arnarstapi • Type — Village • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Iceland • Subdivision Type1 — Constituency • Subdivision Name1 — Northwest Constituency • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — Western Region • Subdivision Type3 — Municipality • Subdivision Name3 — Snæfellsbær • Unit Pref — Imperial • Time Zone — GMT • Utc Offset — +0 • Illustration — Cliffs near Arnarstapi village • Illustration — Gatklettur