Keflavík

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Keflavík
Town
Aerial view
Location of the Municipality of Reykjanesbaer
Keflavík
Location in Iceland
Coordinates: 64°01′N 22°34′W / 64.017°N 22.567°W / 64.017; -22.567Coordinates: 64°01′N 22°34′W / 64.017°N 22.567°W / 64.017; -22.567
Country Iceland
Constituency[1] Suðurkjördæmi
Region[2] Suðurnes[3]
County Gullbringusýsla
Municipality Reykjanesbær
Population (2012)
 • Total 14,000
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
Website Official website
The harbour at Keflavík
Church at Norðfjörðsgata

Keflavík (pronounced [ˈcʰɛplaˌviːk] ( listen), meaning Driftwood Bay) is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.

In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 (January 2011).

History

Founded in the 16th century, Keflavík developed on account of its fishing and fish processing industry,[4] founded by Scottish entrepreneurs and engineers.[citation needed] Later its growth continued from flight operations at the Keflavík International Airport which was built by the US during the 1940s. The airport used to hold a significant NATO military base and was a vital pre-jet refueling stop for trans-Atlantic commercial air traffic. It now serves as Iceland's main international hub.

During World War II the military airfield served as a refueling and transit depot. During the Cold War, Naval Air Station Keflavik played an important role in monitoring marine and submarine traffic from the Norwegian and Greenland Seas into the Atlantic Ocean. Forces from the United States Air Force were added to provide radar monitoring, fighter intercept, in-flight refueling, and aerial/marine rescue. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, the base's role was cast into doubt. The base officially closed on 30 September 2006, when the United States withdrew the remaining 30 military personnel.

In Iceland, Keflavík was renowned as a rich source of musicians during the 1960s and 70s, and is therefore also known as bítlabærinn or "The Beatle Town".

Geography

The local geography is dominated by fields of basalt rubble, interspersed with a few hardy plants and mosses. On a clear day, one can see Snæfellsjökull across the bay, some 115 km away.

Climate

Climate data for Keflavik
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 2
(35)		 3
(37)		 3
(38)		 6
(42)		 9
(48)		 11
(52)		 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 10
(50)		 7
(44)		 4
(39)		 2
(36)		 6.8
(44.2)
Average low °C (°F) −2
(28)		 −2
(29)		 −1
(30)		 1
(33)		 4
(39)		 7
(44)		 8
(47)		 8
(47)		 6
(42)		 3
(37)		 0
(32)		 −2
(29)		 2.5
(36.4)
Precipitation mm (inches) 109
(4.3)		 112
(4.4)		 112
(4.4)		 86
(3.4)		 80
(3)		 71
(2.8)		 64
(2.5)		 94
(3.7)		 109
(4.3)		 130
(5)		 119
(4.7)		 124
(4.9)		 1,210
(47.4)
Source: Weatherbase [5]

Literary Connections

The former NATO military base Naval Air Station Keflavik is used as a setting for an important story line in Tom Clancy's novel Red Storm Rising. Clancy accurately described the base, the geography, local flora, and the station equipment.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Political division
  2. ↑ Mainly statistical division
  3. ↑ Formerly named Reykjanes
  4. ↑ Cathy Harlow, Iceland, Landmark Visitors Guide, 3rd ed. 2004, ISBN 1-84306-134-1, p. 57.
  5. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Keflavik, Iceland". Weatherbase. 2011.  Retrieved on November 24, 2011.

External links

Media related to Keflavík at Wikimedia Commons

1Icelandic settlements with city or town status. Not to be confused with the municipalities.
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