Today marks 100 years since Reykjavík Old Harbour was officially put into service, RÚV reports. Construction of the harbour took four years to complete. The stone was mined from nearby Öskjuhlíð hill, and two locomotives were imported to transport it from the hill down to the sea. This remains the only rail line ever to be built in Iceland.
The Old Harbour became the heart of business in Reykjavík, housing fishing operations and processing plants. It is now experiencing a small renaissance, with the opening of art spaces, shops, and restaurants in restored and renovated buildings, with more projects planned for the near future.
See original photographs of the harbour’s construction here.
