Grindavík
Encyclopedia
Grindavík is a fishing town at the peninsula of Reykjanes
at the south-western coast of Iceland
.
It is one of the few cities with a harbour at this coast. Most of the 2,800 inhabitants work in the fishing industry. The Blue Lagoon
, Grindavík's premiere attraction, is located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town centre.
area. Þórir settled in Selvog, and Krísuvík and Molda-Gnúpur in Grindavík.http://www.grindavik.is
The sons of Moldar-Gnúpur established three settlements; Þórkötlustaðahverfi, Járngerðarstaðarhverfi and Staðarhverfi. The modern version of Grindavik is situated mainly in what was Járngerðarstaðarhverfi.
The origins of the municipality can be traced to Einar Einarsson’s decision to move there to build and run a shop in 1897. During that time the town population was only around 360. Fishing had for centuries been a crucial element in the survival of Grindavik’s population. But fishing trips were often extremely dangerous. Men were frequently lost at sea and the catch not always stable. However when a safer access point to land was created at Hópið in 1939, fishing conditions changed dramatically. From 1950 serious development in the fishing industry begun to take place. Grindavik was declared a municipality in 1974.
, a geothermal spa using hot and mineralized waters from the nearby Svartsengi power station.
UMFG is the town's sport club.
The Leif the Lucky Bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. It was built in 2002 and named in honor of Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson, who travelled from Europe to explore North America 500 years before Columbus.
The Icelandic Saltfish Museum in Grindavík opened in September 2002. It displays the story of salt fish production and its importance for the Icelandic economy throughout the centuries in a specially designed building of 650m2.
ic writer
Guðbergur Bergsson
was born here, and Kalli Bjarni
, the first winner of the Icelandic version of Pop Idol
, lives in the town. Dnash
, the American composer and instrumentalist whose wife, Ögn Þórarinsdóttir, was raised in Grindavík also calls this picturesque town home when not on tour.
, Finland
Hirtshals
, Denmark
Piteå
, Sweden
Penistone
, United Kingdom
Jonzac
, France
Ilhavo
, Portugal
Reykjanes
Reykjanes or Reykjanesskagi is a peninsula and a volcanic system situated at the south-western end of Iceland, near the capital of Reykjavík....
at the south-western coast of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
It is one of the few cities with a harbour at this coast. Most of the 2,800 inhabitants work in the fishing industry. The Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The steamy waters are part of a lava formation. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland...
, Grindavík's premiere attraction, is located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town centre.
History
Landnáma or The Book of Settlements mentions that around 934 two Viking settlers, Molda-Gnúpur Hrólfsson and Þórir haustmyrkur Vígbjóðsson, arrived in the ReykjanesReykjanes
Reykjanes or Reykjanesskagi is a peninsula and a volcanic system situated at the south-western end of Iceland, near the capital of Reykjavík....
area. Þórir settled in Selvog, and Krísuvík and Molda-Gnúpur in Grindavík.http://www.grindavik.is
The sons of Moldar-Gnúpur established three settlements; Þórkötlustaðahverfi, Járngerðarstaðarhverfi and Staðarhverfi. The modern version of Grindavik is situated mainly in what was Járngerðarstaðarhverfi.
The origins of the municipality can be traced to Einar Einarsson’s decision to move there to build and run a shop in 1897. During that time the town population was only around 360. Fishing had for centuries been a crucial element in the survival of Grindavik’s population. But fishing trips were often extremely dangerous. Men were frequently lost at sea and the catch not always stable. However when a safer access point to land was created at Hópið in 1939, fishing conditions changed dramatically. From 1950 serious development in the fishing industry begun to take place. Grindavik was declared a municipality in 1974.
Activities
A short distance to the north, there is the Blue LagoonBlue Lagoon (geothermal spa)
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The steamy waters are part of a lava formation. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland...
, a geothermal spa using hot and mineralized waters from the nearby Svartsengi power station.
UMFG is the town's sport club.
The Leif the Lucky Bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. It was built in 2002 and named in honor of Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson, who travelled from Europe to explore North America 500 years before Columbus.
The Icelandic Saltfish Museum in Grindavík opened in September 2002. It displays the story of salt fish production and its importance for the Icelandic economy throughout the centuries in a specially designed building of 650m2.
Notable residents
The IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Guðbergur Bergsson
Guðbergur Bergsson
Guðbergur Bergsson is an Icelandic writer born in Grindavík on 16 October 1932. He went to the University of Iceland for his Teaching degree and then went for further study in literature at the University of Barcelona. He is one of the leading translators of Spanish works in Iceland.His first book...
was born here, and Kalli Bjarni
Kalli Bjarni
Karl Bjarni Guðmundsson aka Kalli Bjarni is an Icelandic singer who rose to popularity after winning Idol Stjörnuleit, the Icelandic version of Pop Idol.- Arrest :...
, the first winner of the Icelandic version of Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
, lives in the town. Dnash
Dnash
dnash is an American composer, vocalist, instrumentalist and a fang artist.-Biography:dnash was born on October 4, 1972 in Paris, France and grew up constantly moving, spending most of his childhood in Europe and Indonesia...
, the American composer and instrumentalist whose wife, Ögn Þórarinsdóttir, was raised in Grindavík also calls this picturesque town home when not on tour.
Naval Communication Facility
Near Grindavik, there is a radio station of the United States Navy. It uses several antennas, including two guyed masts. The mast situated at 63°51'1"N 22°28'0"W was built in 1993 and is 304.8 metres tall, the other mast at 63°51'3"N 22°27'6"W was built in 1983 and is 182.9 metres tall. The taller mast replaced a 243.8 metres tall mast, the other a mast of same height.Twin towns — Sister cities
RovaniemiRovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated close to the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the Kemijoki River and its...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Hirtshals
Hirtshals
Hirtshals is a town in Hjørring municipality in Region Nordjylland on the north coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark, Europe.-The town of Hirtshals:...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Piteå
Piteå Municipality
Piteå Municipality is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Piteå.-Localities:There are 14 localities in Piteå Municipality:The municipal seat in bold-Sister cities:...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Penistone
Penistone
Penistone is a small town market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England, with a population of 10,101 at the 2001 census. It lies west of the town of Barnsley and north east of Glossop, in the foothills of the Pennines...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Jonzac
Jonzac
Jonzac is a commune of the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Ilhavo
Ílhavo
Ílhavo Municipality is located in Aveiro District, in Baixo Vouga Subregion, by the Ria de Aveiro and the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of and a population of 37,209, distributed by four parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...