Blönduós


Blönduós is a town and municipality in the north of Iceland with a population of 895 in 2018.
Like many towns and villages around Iceland, :is:Bl%C3%B6ndu%C3%B3s|Blönduós didn't emerge as a village until the late 19th century. Blönduós is situated on Route 1 at the mouth of the glacial river Blanda. , a small island and natural reserve encircled by the river, is accessible via a pedestrian bridge just off the ring road.

Geography

One of Blönduós' main characteristics is that the town is split into two parts by the glacial river Blanda, for which it is named. The old part of town, including many original houses from the late 19th and early 20th century, is located on the south side of the river. Many of the local companies, the elementary school, supermarket, community center and sports facilities including a modern outdoor heated pool are located on the north side. On a hill above town is a church with striking architecture that is intended to resemble a volcanic crater.

Economy

Most of the industry and livelihood in Blönduós evolve around service for agriculture and tourism. In recent years, the town has become known for its connection with textiles. A wool washery, Iceland's only textile museum :is:Heimilisi%C3%B0na%C3%B0arsafni%C3%B0|Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið and the , featuring a residency program for international textile artists and scholars, are all located in Blönduós.

Notable people

Blönduós is twinned with:
Blönduós has a tundra climate.