Súðavík
Encyclopedia
Súðavík is a village and municipality (Súðavíkurhreppur) and a fishing village on the west coast of Álftarfjörður in Vestfirðir, Iceland
(66.03°N 23.00°W).
The population of Súðavík is around 190.
in Súðavík. As a result the village was moved and the old houses were bought by the authorities and new ones built in a different area considered to be safe. It is now forbidden to live in the winter in the old village.The village has been rebuilt in an area not threatened by avalanches and now offers services in grand buildings. All activities now prosper, the main ones being fishing and fish processing and catering to tourists. The annual income per person in Sudavik is the highest in Iceland.
On the mountain, Súðavíkurhlíð, above the village, is a plateau
. When the wind blows from the NW a ridge on the plateau allows snow
to accumulate on the mountain edge above the main part of the old village. A severe snow storm that lasted for days after the avalanche fell made the rescue work difficult and dangerous. An avalanche from Traðargil later fell, hitting more houses in another part of the town, that had already been evacuated. Then yet another avalanche from Traðargil fell even further than the previous one. Avalanches fell from many other gullies and mountainsides during the avalanche cycle.
contains an exhibition and offers the opportunity to volunteer .
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
(66.03°N 23.00°W).
The population of Súðavík is around 190.
Overview
On January 16, 1995 14 lives were lost in an avalancheAvalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
in Súðavík. As a result the village was moved and the old houses were bought by the authorities and new ones built in a different area considered to be safe. It is now forbidden to live in the winter in the old village.The village has been rebuilt in an area not threatened by avalanches and now offers services in grand buildings. All activities now prosper, the main ones being fishing and fish processing and catering to tourists. The annual income per person in Sudavik is the highest in Iceland.
On the mountain, Súðavíkurhlíð, above the village, is a plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
. When the wind blows from the NW a ridge on the plateau allows snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
to accumulate on the mountain edge above the main part of the old village. A severe snow storm that lasted for days after the avalanche fell made the rescue work difficult and dangerous. An avalanche from Traðargil later fell, hitting more houses in another part of the town, that had already been evacuated. Then yet another avalanche from Traðargil fell even further than the previous one. Avalanches fell from many other gullies and mountainsides during the avalanche cycle.
Tourism
In Súðavík are some summerhouses which can be rented by tourists, as well as a sea angling company and a tourist guiding business . The Arctic Fox CenterThe Arctic Fox Center
The Arctic Fox Center is a research center with an enclosed exhibition and café in the municipality Súðavík in the Westfjords in Iceland. It focuses on the Arctic Fox which is the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. The Center was founded in 2007 by locals who are interested in the arctic...
contains an exhibition and offers the opportunity to volunteer .