Norðurþing

Norðurþing Municipality was formed in a merger of four municipalities following municipal elections in May 2006. The municipalities that merged were Húsavíkurbær (Húsavík), Kelduneshreppur, Öxarfjarðarhreppur and Raufarhafnarhreppur. Húsavík was by far the biggest municipality in terms of inhabitants (2300). The total number of inhabitants in Norðurþing is approximately  3000 about 90% of the population live in the Húsavík (2300) and the small villages Raufarhöfn (250) and Kópasker (120). The remaining  population lives in rural areas, mostly east of Húsavík.

The municipality is one of the largest in Iceland in geographic terms or a total of 3.800 km². The road from Húsavík to Raufarhöfn, the northernmost village in the municipality and in Iceland, is 170 km. 

The municipality runs 3 elementary schools in four locations as well as being one of four municipalities which jointly run an elementary school  serving children from rural areas south of Húsavík. The municipality runs music schools in connection with all elementary schools. Three kindergartens or playschools are run in four locations. Big emphasis is on cooperation between all elementary schools, music schools and kindergartens.

There are four swimming pools and sports halls in the municipality, three ports, three general service stations, four local community houses and three fire-departments. The municipality runs three public libraries.

In addition to overseeing and organizing festivities in connection with holidays such as the national day, Christmas and New Years, the municipality is responsible for three local cultural “fairs” in three different locations – in fall a week in Raufarhöfn focusing on culture and entertainment, first Saturday in December  a cultural day in Kópasker and the third week in July the Húsavík festival – Sweet days Swedish days in Húsavík.

There are several museums in the Norðurþing area both public and privately run. 

Húsavík is the center of service and local government in the municipality, smaller service offices are in Raufarhöfn and Kópasker.

Húsavík is one of the oldest location names in Iceland, the name stemming from the Viking era when the Swedish explorer Garðar Svavarsson spent a winter in Húsavík and built the first house in Iceland. Hence the name Húsavík or “The Bay of Houses.”

Húsavík offers all general services both private and public.

Norðurþing is known for natural beauty and some of the most spectacular pearls of Icelandic nature can be found within its boundaries. Such as the waterfall Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, the spectacular roc formations in Ásbyrgi and the Melrakkaslétta peninsula with ample birdlife and remarkable landscape.

Norðurþing offers many opportunities for visitors as well as the inhabitants in recreation and travel, Whale watching is big in Húsavík and some of the best places for bird watching in Iceland are in Norðurþing and the surrounding areas.