The Bárðardalur valley

Bárðardalur valley extends about 45 kilometers from north to south and is bisected from east to west by the Skjalfandafljot river, which originates in the Vatnajokull glacier to the south and terminates at Godafoss faterfall to the north. 

The valley is lush, green and dotted with patches of lava, indicating some geothermal activity long time ago, although none has been found today.  Until recently, Barðardalur was home to several thriving dairy and sheep farms, but an economic decline in agriculture has gradually depleted the valley community, leaving only a handful of working farms. 

Although the sheltering mountains and heaths benefit farming and vegetation in summer, winters can be harsh and before the advent of all-terrain vehicles people were often left in virtual isolation for weeks at a time.  The long and difficult winters may have been the factor that compelled many farmers to become early adopters of electricity around the turn of the last century. 

As most of the farms were situated near a waterfall, it was a fairly straightforward task to erect a small power station with turbines to generate light and water.  Prior to that, farmers simply built houses and barns in such a way that a brook ran straight through them and would therefore not freeze in winter.  Another natural resource benefitting farm settlements is an abundance of trout and salmon, particularly at Svartarkot, which to this day derives a portion of its income from smoked and fresh trout.