The Laxa River in North Iceland has 3 hydro power stations with a capacity of 28 MW

Laxa Hydro Power Stations
The River Laxa is one of Iceland’s major salmon rivers and in many quarters simply called the "Big Laxa". It is Iceland’s second greatest spring fed river and originates in the famous bird haven of lake Myvatn. The River was first harnessed on the initiative of the Town of Akureyri in order to fulfill its own electricity requirements. In 1950, the State joined Akureyri as co-owner of Laxa Power Company. The Laxa Power Company played a key role in electrification of north Iceland and provides electricity for a large part of the area. Laxa Power Company merged with Landsvirkjun in 1983.
The Laxa River has been harnessed at three power stations with a combined installed capacity of 28 MW

Exhibitions
One of the country’s most interesting exhibitions, “What of the Gods?”, will be continued in Laxá Station this summer. It has already drawn well-deserved attention from visitors throughout the last five summers. Featuring works by sculptor Hallsteinn Sigurdsson, the exhibition is based on the Nordic gods and tells the visitor about them. The sculptures are arranged in the tunnels and vaults of Laxa Station, so that visitors travel from the world of men to that of the gods and back again. Explanatory texts by the ethnologist Arni Bjornsson are provided, including in English. The exhibition has become a popular stopping place for travelers through North Iceland.
“What of the Gods?” is open this summer on every weekday from 13–17 and at weekends from 13–18.

How to get there
East of Fljotsheidi heath by the church at Einarsstadir, turn off Ring Road 1 onto Road 845, then turn again onto Road 854, which goes straight past the Folk Museum at Grenjadarstadur to the Laxa Stations.

Tourism and outdoor recreation

The Laxa canyon is interesting to walk through in order to enjoy its beauty and diverse bird life. The location is convenient, about half an hour’s drive from Husavik, where you can for instance go on ever more popular whale-watching tours. The famed Myvatn area is around 40 minutes away by car, Akureyri about an hour away.

Also, travelers are urged to utilize the variety of tourist services available near the Laxa Stations, such as the Grenjadarstadur Folk Museum, only 2 km away. The Transportation Museum at Ystafell in Kaldakinn is also a particularly interesting place to visit.

Laxa Station I
The 5 MW Laxa I Station is the oldest hydro power development on the River Laxa. From a dam at the upper end of a canyon, the water is directed down a head of 39 m, first through a tunnel and then through a wooden pen stock to the powerhouse, over a distance of 670 m. The first generating unit was commissioned in 1939 and the second one in 1944.

Laxa Station II

The 9 MW Laxa II Station utilizes the lower head in the same canyon as Laxa I. The river is dammed 300 m below the Laxa I powerhouse. From there, the water is directed through a wooden pen stock to a surge tank, then through a steel pipe to the powerhouse, over a total distance of 380 m. The head measures 29 m and the station is equipped with one generating unit, commissioned in 1953.

Laxa Station III

The 13.5 MW Laxa III Station is the most recent hydro power development on the River Laxa. It utilizes the same dam as Laxa I, diverting water from the dam through a tunnel east of the river to a powerhouse 60 m inside the canyon wall, close to the Laxa I powerhouse, then through a tail race back out to the river. The station is equipped with one generating unit which was commissioned in 1973. In 1993, the turbine water wheel was upgraded, increasing its capacity from 9 MW to 13.5 MW.