Hafnarfjörður

Hafnarfjörður is a port town located on the south-west coast of Iceland, about 10 km south of Reykjavík. It is the third most populous town in Iceland, after Reykjavík and Kópavogur, with a population on 1st December 2005 of 22,451.

The town is the site of an annual Viking festival where Viking culture enthusiasts from around the world display reconstructions of Viking garb, handcraft, sword-fighting etc.

Tourists with a New Age mindset enjoy a guided tour of the habitats of elves and other hidden people in the town area.

Locally the town is famed in Iceland for being the butt of generic jokes, such as the joke about the women of the town carrying ladders to the supermarket to check if the prices have gone higher.

Hafnarfjörður is now arguably considered to be the rock n' roll capital of Iceland (a title that once belonged to Keflavík). Popular Icelandic bands such as Botnleðja, Sign, Úlpa, Lada Sport and Jakobínarína all trace their origins to the town of Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður is the home town of the famous Icelandic pop singer Björgvin Halldórsson and the actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson.

1 Local industry
2 History
3 Local festivals
- 3.1 Bright days
- 3.2 Viking festival
4 Elves
5 Swimming pools
6 See also
7 Miscellaneous information
8 External links

[edit] Local industry

Just two kilometers outside of Hafnarfjörður is an aluminium smelter, run by Alcan. Alcan has applied for an extension for the smelter, which will make it the fourth largest smelter in Europe. The local governing body has sold Alcan land for the extension, Alcan has received permission for the extension from the government and a deal has been struck for selling energy to the smelter, even though the neighbouring area is the only place around Hafnarfjörður with available domestic building area for Hafnarfjörður. Local elections were held in May 2006, and the people of Hafnarfjörður will vote on the future of the extension for the smelter in 2006.

The smelter was originally built in 1969, and it has improved it cleaning process since then, especially regarding fluoride. The effect that the extension will have on the environment and the local residents is though a huge concern for the people of Hafnarfjörður.

[edit] History

Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning harbour fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour. The town is first named in the medieval "Book of Settlements", and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Englishmen began trading in Hafnarfjörður in the 15th century, but German merchants followed in their wake and eventually drove the English out. After that, Hanseatic traders prevailed in town until 1602, based at Hvaleyri. At this point, the Danish monarchy established a Danish trade monopoly in Iceland which lasted until late in the 18th century. During this period, Hafnarfjörður was the nation's busiest trade centre.

In 1793 Bjarni Sívertsen settled here and became influential in local business and international trade, setting up a major commercial fishing operation. His enterprise and initiative signalled the start of impressive commerce in the town. Ever since, he has been called "the father of Hafnarfjörður" and nicknamed "Sir Bjarni." Around 1870 dramatic changes took place in Icelandic fishing. Residents followed the growing trend in Iceland of using decked boats rather than row-boats. This led to even more employment and rapid growth, and Hafnarfjörður attained official municipal status in 1908.

After World War II, more advanced trawlers and numerous motorised ships were added to the fleet. The town's first stern trawler appeared in 1973. Today, Hafnarfjörður is one of the nation's largest fishing centres and the site of Iceland's first fish wholesalers' auction market. Through the years, Hafnarfjörður's dynamic local economy has been strongly linked to fishing, although freight transport has recently become the major harbour activity. And now, the town is Iceland's second-ranked import and export harbour.

[edit] Local festivals

[edit] Bright days

Each year in May, the Bright Days festival is held . The events include short movies and concerts, and usually concludes on a day memorating the sailors of Iceland.

[edit] Viking festival

Each year on the summer solstice a viking festival is held in Hafnarfjörður. A local pub and restaurant, Fjörukráin, started the festival and maintains it to this day.

[edit] Elves

Hafnarfjörður is known as one of the most popular residences for elves in Iceland. The town is built on lava and around huge boulders, which are believed to be homes for elves. A popular mythology is that it is very hard, and almost impossible, to destroy these homes. Tours around Hafnarfjörður to visit the most popular elven homes are available, and even though belief in elves has diminished in recent years, these are very popular amongst both Icelanders and tourists.

[edit] Swimming pools

Hafnfjörður has three swimming pools, despite its low population. This is common for any town in Iceland, due to the geothermal energy.

[edit] See also

List of cities in Iceland

[edit] Miscellaneous information

Hafnarfjörður was first mentioned around the year 1400, although the town is mentioned in the book of Landnámabók.

The first Lutheran church in Iceland was raised at Háigrandi, opposite Óseyri, just outside of the small boat harbour in the year of 1533.

Favourable harbour conditions made Hafnarfjörður a popular commercial harbour early on, and it was the main harbour for German merchants in the 15th century and during the early part of the commercial monopoly in the 16th century.

The first road between Reykjavík and Hafnarfjörður was finished in 1898.

The first hydrological power plant in Iceland was built in Hafnarfjörður in 1904.

The first Icelandic trawler, Coot, was stationed in Hafnarfjörður between 1905 and 1908. Its kettle stands by the roundabout on the junction of Reykjavíkurvegur, Strandgata and Vesturgata.

The first mayor was Páll Einarsson. He later became the mayor of Reykjavík.

A harbour for large commercial ships was raised in 1912.

The first car arrived in Hafnarfjörður in 1913. The Bookless-brothers owned the car, which was an Austin Martin.

Out of 6000 voting immigrants in Iceland almost 3000 live in Hafanrfjörður, therefore it has Iceland's largest immigrant population.

[edit] External links

Twenty largest Municipalities of Iceland
Reykjavík \| Kópavogur \| Hafnarfjörður \| Akureyri \| Reykjanesbær \| Garðabær \| Mosfellsbær \| Árborg \| Akranes \| Seltjarnarnes \| Vestmannaeyjar \| Skagafjörður \| Ísafjörður \| Fjarðabyggð \| Borgarbyggð \| Húsavík \| Grindavík \| Hornafjörður \| Fljótsdalshérað \| Dalvíkurbyggð \|