Now heading for the the remotest area in Iceland: Westfiords (Vestfirðir), a large Arctic peninsula with a coastline heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills. Communications by land are difficult, roads are extremely winding and most of the time ice-covered.
Súðavík lies in Álftafjörður, one of many fjords subsidiary to the Ísafjarðardjúp, a larger fjord, almost a gulf.
Súðavík is one of several similar fishing villages on Iceland's northwest coast, in Westfjords. A main street (Aðalgata) with some two- or three-storey wooden houses, some painted white, others blue, a few red; a tiny white wooden church; and a fishing harbour. Two things matter the most about Suðavik: it lies at 66° N, just under the Arctic Circle, and is surrounded by a glorious scenery:
Súðavík
Coordinates: 66° 01′ N, 22° 60′ W
Population: ~220
The village's main activities currently are fishing, fish processing and tourism.
There are summerhouses and guest agents operating in Súðavík, such as a sea angling company and a tour guide business.
The blue house of the Arctic Fox Centre, set in a magnificent scenery.
The highlight in town is the Arctic Fox Centre (Melrakkasetur), a museum and research centre devoted to the protection of the Arctic fox. It's housed in the oldest and best preserved wooden house in town.
Foxes are the only native mammal in Iceland. The Arctic Fox Centre was established in 2007, and is presently directed by Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir, one of the founders. The Environmental agency of Iceland is responsible for wildlife management.
There is a nice café for the visitors' comfort.
The church in Súðavík is a modest small wooden building from the 19th century.
The church was moved here from another location nearby in 1963.
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Súðavík was sadly on the news in January 1995, when an avalanche fell on the village early in the morning and destroyed several buildings, most of them residents' houses. Fourteen people were killed and twelve were injured. Severe snow storms made the rescue work difficult and dangerous.
At a public meeting in 1995, it was decided that the village should be rebuilt at a safer location.
Over fifty new houses were built, the industries in the area were relocated with the exception of the freezing plant, which continues to operate.
But it's Nature that reigns here, almost unchallenged.
The recently built road tunnel under Northern Lights:
