Breiðdalssetur

The centre features an exhibition on the use of drill cores to reveal the hidden depths of Iceland's geology, including the volcanic island of Surtsey and the immense sequence of lavas that make up Eastern Iceland. It also includes rooms dedicated to the legacy of scientists George Walker and Stefán Einarsson. Walker was one of the 20th century's most prominent volcanologists.

He conducted trailblazing research on the geological history of East Iceland, mapped ancient volcanoes (including the Breiðdalur Central Volcano) and gathered evidence that supported the then-new theory of plate tectonics.

The linguist Stefán Einarsson, a native of the Breiðdalur valley, was a professor of linguistics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, USA. He was a productive scholar across many disciplines, particularly phonetics and literature, and most likely no one has ever introduced Iceland and Icelandic literature as thoroughly to the English-speaking world.

Opening hours of the exhibition during summer (June 1st to August 31st): Sunday - Thursday from 12:00 - 16:00 Closed Fridays and Saturdays. Entry is free of charge.

Opening hours of the exhibition during winter (September 1st - May 31st)There are no fixed opening hours during winter, but staff members are usually on site between 10 am – 4 pm on weekdays, and visitors are always welcome. Visits can also be arranged in advance by contacting [email protected]. Please drop by!