Akureyri Botanical Garden

Botanical garden in Akureyri, Iceland

North Side of the Eyrarlandsstofa

The Akureyri Botanical Garden (Icelandic: Lystigarður Akureyrar [ˈlɪstiˌkarðʏr ˈaːkʏrˌeiːrar̥], regionally also [-ˈaːkʰʏr-]) is located on the west side of the inland end of the fjord Eyjafjörður at about 45 metres elevation. It is located in the southern part of the city of Akureyri in Northern Iceland, 50 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle.[1] It is one of the northernmost botanical gardens in the world.[2]

Flowers in the Akureyri Botanical Garden Bust of Jón Rögnvaldsson in the Garden South Side of the Eyrarlandsstofa

In 1910, women from Akureyri founded the Park Association to beautify their city. The previous year the city had given them a hectare of land. The garden, the first public park in Iceland,[3] was headed until 1953 by the Park Society. During this time the garden area increased to 3.6 hectares. Besides being a place of peace and tranquility the garden is a place for scientific research. It has proven that shrubs, trees and other plants can survive on the edge of the Arctic. Jón Rögnvaldsson's plant collection was purchased by the city in 1957. Rögnvaldsson was a leading force in the garden many years, along with Margarethe Schiöth. Both of them are represented by busts in the garden, along with Akureyri clergyman Matthias Jochumsson, the poet of the Icelandic national anthem. Besides arctic plants, those from the temperate zones and high mountains are grown. Icelandic plants are represented by about 400 species in the southeastern corner of the garden. By the end of 2007, there were about 7000 species. IThe entrance to the garden is free, and it is open year-round. There are public toilets open in the summer only. There is a cafe located in the gardens, serving coffee and some light meals.[4] The garden contains a few wooden houses, of which Eyrarlandsstofa is one of the oldest in Akureyri.[5]

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akureyri Botanical Gardens.

1. ^ "Lystigarður Akureyrar". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
2. ^ Grundhauser, Eric (2019-03-04). "13 Beautiful Botanical Gardens Where It's Easy to Lose Yourself". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
3. ^ Akureyrarbær. "About the botanic garden". Akureyri Botanic Garden. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
4. ^ Akureyri, Visit. "Eat & Drink". Visit Akureyri. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
5. ^ Akureyrarbær. "About the botanic garden". Akureyri Botanic Garden. Retrieved 2024-01-06.

## External links[edit]

* Lystigarður Akureyrar

65°40′30″N 18°05′36″W﻿ / ﻿65.67500°N 18.09333°W﻿ / 65.67500; -18.09333

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Geographic|

* BGCI garden