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Before the farm Gufuskalar was
abandoned in 1948, it was the westernmost one on the Snaefellsnes
peninsula. Its land was large and on it are hundreds of fishermen’s
huts and storage sheds for their processed catch. These sheds and huts
are not easily noticeable in the lava fields because they blend so
well into the landscape. This of course means that there were quite a
few fishing outfits along the coastline of Gufuskalar, as there were
almost along the entire westernmost part of coastline of the
peninsula.
A few
topographic names remind of the Irish settlements on the peninsula,
such as The Irish Outfit, The Irish Rock, and The Irish Well. This
well was one of few places where fresh water could be fetched. Sixteen
steps led down to the water and then the well gradually was filled
with sand. Recently it was excavated by volunteers and is open to the
public.
In
1959 a telegraph- and a loran station was built at
Gufuskalar. The highest structure of the country still stands
there, a 412 m high mast, now a transmitter for one of
the channels of the National Radio to people at sea to
the west of the
country. Since 1970, a weather observation station has been operated
there as well. Nowadays Gufuskalar is the training centre of
rescue corps and outdoor activity. |