The canyon below is called Barðsgil. It is located above the Sjónarhæð House, and was important in the pioneering radio and television work in Iceland. The antenna towers that were built for radio were later used for television broadcasts and were about 35 meters high, located on each side on the top of the canyon. Connected to the antenna towers was an extensive web of copper wires that was buried in the ground and served as the ground connection. The copper is presumably still buried here under the trees and vegetation that has grown up in the canyon over the last eight decades.

Between 1934 and 1936 experiments were conducted at Sjónarhæð. Two communication enthusiasts received television transmissions from the Crystal Palace Studios in London. 
First recorded picture taken from a TV screen, 1926.
Grimur Sigurðsson the first Icelander ever to watch television, between 1934 and 1936.
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