Mosfellsbær is a town in south-west Iceland, situated some 12 kilometres (7 miles) east of the country's capital, Reykjavík.
The town of Mosfellsbær is only a 15-minute drive from midtown Reykjavík. The district includes the Leiruvogur cove, which forms part of Kollafjördur fjord. Three rivers empty into the cove: Leirvogsá, Kaldakvísl and Varmá.
Mosfellsbær provides numerous opportunities for outdoor and leisure activities, close to untouched nature There has been a systematic development of outdoor recreational areas for residents, their guests and tourists.
Often called "the green town", this town enjoys thermal activity and quite a few greenhouses have been built here. Since 1933 it has supplied the capital area with natural hot water for house heating, swimming pools etc. The mountainous area around the town is ideal for walks and hikes, skiing and fishing for trout and char in the small lakes. The Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1955, Halldór Laxness (1902-1998), was an honorary citizen of the town. He lived there all his life and based some of his novels on his experiences and impressions of his surroundings.
The natural landscape of Mosfellsbær is rugged, and 80% of the district lies more than 100 metres above sea level. Hills such as Mosfell, Grímannsfell, Helgafell and Úlfarsfell, all 200-300 metres high, dominate the landscape; their slopes are grassy with screes. Two valleys lie between the hills: Mosfellsdalur and Reykjadalur. Most of the district's population live in the latter valley. In 1900, the population of the Mosfellsbær district (then Mosfellssveit) was a mere 400, but has grown rapidly, especially in the latter half of the 20th century, led by the utilisation of geothermal resources and development of a woolens industry. The population was 5849 on 1. December 1999.
The area around the Athletic Centre at Varmá is one of the country's best recreational areas. Emphasis is focused on catering to a variety of sports for children as well as adults.
The residential area extends from Leiruvogur into the nearby valleys, and curves around the mountains. It is close to beautiful nature, with an attractive and diverse community and cultural life, and offers numerous outdoor activities and a family-friendly environment.
Travelers who head out of Reykjavík towards the west and north of Iceland will pass through Mosfellsbær on route 1, while the road to the Þingvellir National Park, route 36, branches off in Mosfellsbær up the Mosfellsdalur valley.
The town is bordered by the ocean at Leiruvogur.
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