| Hjaltadalur | |
|---|---|
 Interior of Hjaltadalur seen from Hólar on an overcast day | |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Hjalti's valley, named for the settler Hjalti Þórðarson |
| Geography | |
| Country | Iceland |
| State/Province | Skagafjörður |
| District | Skagafjörður (municipality) |
| Population centers | Hólar, Hof in Hjaltadalur, Reykir, Neðri-Ás, Viðvík |
| Coordinates | 65°43′51.85″N 19°7′47.89″W / 65.7310694°N 19.1299694°W 65°40′31.318″N 19°5′43.764″W / 65.67536611°N 19.09549000°W |
| River | Hjaltadalsá |
Hjaltadalur is a valley on the east side of Skagafjörður, Iceland that was previously a part of Hólahreppur. The majority of the valley is surrounded by 1,000–2,000-meter-tall mountains, and it intersects with various remote valleys.[1] Hjaltadalsá river runs through the valley, originating at Hjaltadalsjökull glacier located at the head of Hjaltadalur. Several tributaries and streams flow into Hjaltadalsá.[2]
Hjaltadalur is named after the settler Hjalti Þórðarson skálps (Hjalti, son of Þórður "the scabbard"). The Landnámabók states, "Hjalti, the son of Þórður skálpur came to Iceland and settled Hjaltadalur upon the advice of Kolbeinn and he lived at Hof; his sons were Þorvaldur and Þórður, both great men."[3]
The bishop's residence, and later the school, in Hólar í Hjaltadal is in the middle of the valley and leaves quite an impression. The mountain overlooking Hólar is called Hólabyrða and is 1,244 meters (4,081 feet) tall.[4] The valley's innermost town is Reykir. The area produces geothermal energy and there is an old warm water spring named Biskupslaug (Bishop's Warm Spring). The spring, however, has been filled in.[5]
- ^ "Hjaltadalur – Iceland Road Guide" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Kolka - NAT ferðavísir" (in Icelandic). 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ LANDNÁMABÓK [Book of Settlements] (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Gvendarskál í Hólabyrðu". Gönguleiðir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Sarpur.is - Laug". Sarpur.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-10-07.