Akureyri

The town of Akureyri has as for the number of its inhabitants (16  000) the fourth position among the towns of Iceland, behind Reykjavík, Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur. It is the greatest center of services in the north of the country with for example much of schools and some faculties of the University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands).

The city is on the edges of the Fjord Eyjarfjörður and of the river Glerá. The area is known for its great number of hours of sun in spite of its position a hundred kilometers only in the south of the Polar circle.

The Hringvegur (Trunk road 1) passes by Akureyri, but one can also go there by plane. The city has its own airport.

Many industries are in the city, for example for the fish, wool products as well as a large brewery.

History

The city was founded in 1602 like posts of trade by the Danes. They estimated the place because of its coast which was easily accessible by the ships. At the beginning, the village remained very small, which changed since 1786 when the right of city was granted to Akureyri.

A larger surge of workers took place at the 19th century when the restrictions which limited the trade were abolished and much small industries settled in Akureyri. The tradesmen chose the south of the city there to live, the craftsmen, them, north. There were always competitions between these two shares of the city.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city progressed quickly, thanks to a new business of trade and with motorized fishing. Today, it is also the industry High tech which plays a big role in the city. In addition, the Tourisme represents a big factor for the economic growth of the area.

Curiosities

Akureyrarkirkja

The large church which one calls the cathedral also of the ice is clearly visible on the hill from where it dominates the city. It was built by the Icelandic architect Guðjón Samuélsson . According to its intentions, the concrete color and structure would recall the nature of the surroundings. The stained glasses represent scenes of the ecclesiastical history of the island. One discovers some remarkable reliefs of the famous sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson.

Nonnahús and other houses of writers

  • Nonnahús : In this house the known author of children's books Jón Sveinsson lived (1857 - 1944). He wrote a series of novels around a central figure, the Nonni young person who leaves Iceland to discover the world. Today, the house is a museum with pieces of furniture of the XIXe century and reminiscences of the author.

  • Sigurhæðir : It is about the house of the poet Matthías Jochumsson who wrote p.ex. the text of the national anthem of Iceland (Lofsöngur). It is also a museum today.

  • Daviðshús : One can also visit the house of the writer and librarian Davið Stefánsson

Other museums

  • the museum of arts of the town of Akureyri (Listasafnið á Akureyri): One presents to it especially modern works of art.

  • écomusée of Akureyri (Minjasafnið á Akureyri): the museum is in the Kirkjuhvoll Villa and watch of the documents, the photographs, pieces of furniture etc to illustrate the history of the Eyjarfjörður.

  • the museum of art natural (Náttúrufræðistofnun Norðurlands): One shows there the animals and the plants of the surroundings.

Botanical garden (Lystigarður Akureyrar)

It is close to Akureyrarkirkja and presents 6000 kinds different of flowers, trees and other plants of the whole world and about 400 kinds of typical plants for Iceland.

Surroundings

One can also make city his starting point for the discovery of the north of the island. Among the natural sites in the surroundings are p.ex. the lake Mývatn, Húsavík with possiblility of observation of whales, the island of Grímsey and Hrísey or the falls Dettifoss and Goðafoss. In winter, the ski can be practiced in Hlíðarfjall.

Related articles

Internal bonds

external bonds

  • Municipal Akureyri Website (English/Icelandic)

  • Port of Akureyri (English/Icelandic)
  • University of Akureyri (English/Icelandic)

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