ársfjórðungar

Ársfjórðungar are geographical regions in Iceland, essentially meaning "quarters of the year" or "year quarters." Historically, Iceland was divided into four such districts, each roughly corresponding to a quarter of the country. These divisions were primarily administrative and judicial in nature. The four ársfjórðungar were the Vestfjórðungur (West Quarter), the Norðfjórðungur (North Quarter), the Austfjórðungur (East Quarter), and the Suðurfjórðungur (South Quarter). This administrative structure reflected the country's geography and often influenced local governance and legal proceedings. While these specific divisions have largely been superseded by modern administrative and political structures, the concept of regional division remains relevant in understanding Iceland's historical organization and its geographical distinctiveness. The term itself highlights a temporal and spatial conception of the land.