Live cameras in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Hafnarfjörður, whose name means harbor fjord, is a town of about 31,500 people about ten kilometers south of central Reykjavík, the third most populous municipality in Iceland. Much of it is built on and around a lava field, and the black, moss-covered rock still shows in gardens, parks and between houses. The sheltered harbor made it an important trading place from the late Middle Ages; English and then German merchants traded here, and during the Danish trade monopoly it was one of the busiest commercial ports in the country. Fishing remains central, and the port is one of Iceland's main import and export harbors. Folklore is part of the town's identity too: Hellisgerði park and other lava outcrops are said to be home to elves and hidden people.

What the cameras show

Hafnarfjörður's views belong to Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. They are road-weather webcams showing still images refreshed every few minutes. Here they mostly watch the busy roads of the southern capital area, including Reykjanesbraut, Route 41, which carries traffic from the capital region past Hafnarfjörður toward Keflavík International Airport. Travelers heading to or from a flight often check these views for snow, ice or blowing spray on the road along the coast.

Like the rest of Iceland, Hafnarfjörður runs on Greenwich Mean Time all year. Winter days are short, with only around four to five hours of daylight in late December, while from late May to late July the nights hardly darken at all. Weather can change fast, and strong winds are common in winter. On clear, dark nights between autumn and spring the northern lights may appear over the lava fields at the edge of town, away from the brightest streets.

The town holds a Viking festival around the June solstice and a Christmas village in the town center in December. Nearby, the Helgafell hiking area and the lava fields of the Reykjanes peninsula stretch away to the south.

Sources: Hafnarfjörður - Wikipedia · Vegagerðin (Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration) - road conditions and webcams · Visit Hafnarfjörður.