About the Langanes Coast

Miðfjarðará and Litla-Kverká are situated on the so-called Langanes coast, which is a coast line stretching from north of Finnafjörður fjord, by Miðfjörður and Bakkafjörður fjords, until it meets Vopnafjörður municipality.

The Langanes coast has been settled since the first settlers arrived in Iceland, as is described in ancient manuscripts. Two villages are situated close to Miðfjarðará river, Þórshöfn og Bakkafjörður and the latter is closer, approx. 15 kilometers from the river. A village in Bakkafjörður began forming around 1900 in relation to fishing, fish processing and trading. The population of Bakkafjörður was 84 in March 2014, and has been gradually going down in recent years.

Life in Bakkafjörður mostly evolves around the fish in the sea. Many base their livelyhood from catching fish and around fish processing. Most villages do some kind of work related to fishing, either as fishermen or around fish processing. Catching is solely done on smaller boats, and the catch is mostly cod, but lumpfish in the spring. About 10-15 people are employed with the largest employer. There are also some smaller family owned businesses.

There are still a few farms in the country around the village, although nothing compared to earlier days, for example around the middle of last century. All farms only grow sheep. In the past years, the attention of landowners has focused more on improving conditions for salmon in the rivers and then leasing hunting rights, but conditions for salmon in Bakkaflói bay area are considered extremely good. For example, in 1992 the largest salmon ever caught in Iceland using a fishing rod was caught in Bakkaá river, which is in the area. It measured 43 punds and 130 cm.