Borðeyri

Background

History & Background

Borðeyri became an authorised trading place in 1845 and developed into an important 19th-century harbour. The village handled significant exports of live sheep, and many Icelanders emigrating to North America departed from Borðeyri. Merchant Richard P. Riis played a major role in its development; Riis Hús was built in 1862.

Borðeyri sits on the western shore of Hrútafjörður and is today one of the smallest villages in Iceland. Its quiet appearance hides an important commercial past. The settlement became an authorised trading place in 1845 and developed into a major harbour for the surrounding region during the 19th century. Borðeyri was especially important for the export of live sheep and as a departure point for Icelanders emigrating to North America. Merchant Richard P. Riis was one of the key figures in the village's trading history, and the restored Riis Hús, built in 1862, remains one of the oldest surviving buildings around Húnaflói. The village is best experienced as a short historical and scenic stop rather than a large attraction. Its shoreline, old buildings and position on Hrútafjörður give useful context to the development of trade and transport in northwest Iceland before modern road connections.