South West - West - Westfjords - North - North East - South East - South - Highlands
It could be argued that all other towns in the Southwest today function partly as suburbs of Reykjavík. Geographically, however, the capital area is simply at the eastern fringe of a peninsula known as Reykjanes, which juts out from the west coast into the Atlantic Ocean. This peninsula is one of the youngest landscapes in Iceland and is mostly covered by a field of lava, making it very inhospitable away from the coastline. Between Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes (in West Iceland) is the Faxaflói bay.
Southwest Iceland has historically been considered part of South Iceland, and it was only over the last century or so that it gained the position of absolute dominance over other regions that it has today. The Southwest is currently home to over two-thirds of the population of Iceland and in addition to some important fishing harbors, it is the location of most economic activity in Iceland other than primary production. As in many other countries, there is a level of animosity (or at least competition) between the capital area and the rest of the country. Some would argue that the "real" Iceland is not found in the Southwest. Nevertheless, it is the area most visited by tourists, being home to popular destinations such as Reykjavík and the Blue Lagoon and with easy access to the Golden Circle.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland. Its latitude, at 64°08' N, makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay. With a population of around 119.764 (2013) (and over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík Area), it is the heart of Iceland's economic and governmental activity.
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Austurvöllur is a public square in Reykjavík, Iceland. The square is a popular gathering place for the citizens of Reykjavík, and especially so during good weather due to the prevalence of cafés on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti. It has also been a focal point of protests due to the close location to the Parliament of Iceland.
Kópavogur is a city and Iceland's second-largest municipality, with a population of 30,779. It lies immediately south of Reykjavík and is part of the Greater Reykjavík Area. The name literally means seal pup bay. The town seal contains the profile of the church Kópavogskirkja with a seal pup underneath. Kópavogur is largely made up of residential areas but has commercial areas and a lot of industrial activity as well. The tallest building in Iceland, the Smáratorg tower, is located in central Kópavogur.
Eldey is a small island about 10 miles (16 km) off the coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula, in southwest Iceland. Located west-southwest of Reykjavík, the island of Eldey covers an area of about 3 hectares (7.4 acres) and rises to a height of 77 meters (253 ft). Its sheer cliffs are home to large numbers of birds, including one of the largest Northern Gannet colonies in the world, with around 16,000 pairs. -
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Akranes is a port town and municipality located on the west coast of Iceland. It is the ninth most populous town in Iceland with a population of around 6,623 people (as of January 2011). The area where Akranes is located was settled in the ninth century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1942.
Webcam feed:
Here below you can find a direct feed from selected roads in Southwest Iceland.
Location Map: HellisheiðiWebcam feeds: Hellisheidi to the West - On the road - Hellisheidi to the East
Location Map: HveradalirWebcam feeds: Hverardalir to the West - On the road - Hverardalir to the East
Location Map: SandskeiðWebcam feeds: Sandskeid to the East - Sandskeid overview - Sandskeid to the West - On the road
Location Map: Lyngbrekkur Webcam feeds: Lyngbrekkur to the North - On the road - Lyngbrekkur to the South
Location Map: SelvogurWebcam feeds: Selvogur to the West - On the road - Selvogur to the East
Location Map: SelvogurWebcam feeds: Festarfjall to the East - On the road - On the road (2) - Festarfjall to the West
Location Map: ReykjavíkurvegurWebcam feed: The bridge towards Kopavogur town
Location Map: Arnarnesvegur Webcam feeds: The bridge towards Gardabaer city - The bridge towards Kopavogur city
Location Map: ReykjanesbrautWebcam feeds: Towards Kopavogur city - Towards Gardabaer city
Location Map: StrandarheiðiWebcam feeds: Strandheidi to the West - Strandheidi to the East
Location Map: StrandarheiðiWebcam feeds: Seen to the North - On the road - Seen to the South
Location Map: StrandarheiðiWebcam feeds: Seen to the North - On the road - Seen to the South
Location Map: MosfellsheiðiWebcam feeds: Seen to the West - On the road - Seen to the East
Location Map: Blikdalsá
Webcam feeds: Blikdalsa to the South - On the road - Blikdalsa to the North
