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Selfoss (town)
Encyclopedia
Selfoss is a town in southern Iceland
on the banks of Ölfusá
river.
It is part, and seat, of the municipality Árborg
. The Ring Road
(Icelandic: Hringvegur) runs through the town on its way between Hveragerði
and Hella. It is a centre of commerce and small industries of 6,512 inhabitants (2011), which makes it the largest residential area in South Iceland.
. It is the major town and the administrative seat of the region of Suðurland
. The closest towns are Stokkseyri
, Eyrarbakki
and Hveragerði
.
, there are no waterfalls in the town.
mention that Ingólfur Arnarson was here during the winter of 873-74 under the mountain Ingólfsfjall, which is west of the Ölfusá
.
In the summer of 1891, due to the lobbying of Tryggvi Gunnarsson, a member of the Alþing, the first suspension bridge
was built over the Ölfusá. This was a major undertaking for Icelandic infrastructure. The bridge made the town a logical centre for services for the surrounding agricultural region. The current bridge was built in 1945 after the original structure collapsed.
In 1900 there were only 40 inhabitants, but by 2006 the population had climbed to 6000.
In 1930 the dairy firm Mjólkurbú Flóamanna and general store Kaupfélag Árnesinga were established. These two companies were the main employers in the area for several decades. During WWII
the British stationed troops at Selfoss to guard the strategic bridge.
area and is predicted to grow in coming years as businesses and residents will relocate to it because of lower property prices. This has also led to many relocating their homes from Reykjavik to much calmer Selfoss. It enjoys low rates of unemployment and is the home of one the largest colleges in the country FSU Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands.
In early August, the town holds a festival called "Sumar í Selfoss", meaning "Summer in Selfoss". Local residents decorate their gardens with ribbons, coloured according to neighbourhood, and a fete is held on the public grassland behind the civic library. The fete involves selling of homemade goods on small stalls, performances by musicians and magicians on a temporary stage, and in 2011 a "Strongest Man" competition was held, with video recording by Icelandic television channel Stöð 2
. In the evening, the revelry continues with a large bonfire and free fireworks display.
, an earthquake
with a moment magnitude
6.3 occurred near Selfoss on the afternoon of Thursday 29 May 2008, causing considerable damage to some buildings and roads. The earthquake was felt across southern Iceland, including the capital Reykjavik
and the airbase at Keflavik
. At least 30 people were injured; however, there were no reports of human deaths.. A number of sheep in the Selfoss area were killed.
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...
on the banks of Ölfusá
Ölfusá
The Ölfusá is a river in Iceland. It is formed when the rivers Hvítá and Sog combine, just north of the town of Selfoss and flows for 25 km into the Atlantic ocean. It is Iceland's largest river with an average flow of 423 m³/s. Its discharge area is 5760 km². The Ölfusá has a strong salmon...
river.
It is part, and seat, of the municipality Árborg
Árborg
Árborg is the biggest municipality in southern Iceland.It was formed in 1998. The population of Árborg was 7,827 . The biggest town in the municipality is Selfoss, with a population of 6,512...
. The Ring Road
Route 1 (Iceland)
Route 1 or the Ring Road is a main road in Iceland that runs around the island and connects all habitable parts of the country . The total length of the road is ....
(Icelandic: Hringvegur) runs through the town on its way between Hveragerði
Hveragerði
Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the south of Iceland located 45 km to the east of Reykjavík on Iceland's main ringroad, Route 1.The river Varmá runs through the town. The population was 2,316 on 1 January 2011.-Overview:...
and Hella. It is a centre of commerce and small industries of 6,512 inhabitants (2011), which makes it the largest residential area in South Iceland.
Geography
The town is located in the south-western coast of Iceland, 50 km from ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. It is the major town and the administrative seat of the region of Suðurland
Suðurland
Suðurland is a region of Iceland known as "South Iceland". The population of the region was 23,311 . The biggest town in the region is Selfoss, with a population of 6000 inhabitants.- External links :**...
. The closest towns are Stokkseyri
Stokkseyri
Stokkseyri, a small town in Southern Iceland, with a population of around 445 inhabitants.-Overview:Founded around 900 AD by the settler Hásteinn Atlason...
, Eyrarbakki
Eyrarbakki
Eyrarbakki is a fishing-town on the south-coast of Iceland with a population of about 570 people, not including inhabitants of the prison located there...
and Hveragerði
Hveragerði
Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the south of Iceland located 45 km to the east of Reykjavík on Iceland's main ringroad, Route 1.The river Varmá runs through the town. The population was 2,316 on 1 January 2011.-Overview:...
.
Name
Although "foss" means waterfall in IcelandicIcelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
, there are no waterfalls in the town.
Overview
Selfoss was settled by Þórir Ásason sometime after 1000; however, the Icelandic sagasIcelanders' sagas
The Sagas of Icelanders —many of which are also known as family sagas—are prose histories mostly describing events that took place in Iceland in the 10th and early 11th centuries, during the so-called Saga Age. They are the best-known specimens of Icelandic literature.The Icelanders'...
mention that Ingólfur Arnarson was here during the winter of 873-74 under the mountain Ingólfsfjall, which is west of the Ölfusá
Ölfusá
The Ölfusá is a river in Iceland. It is formed when the rivers Hvítá and Sog combine, just north of the town of Selfoss and flows for 25 km into the Atlantic ocean. It is Iceland's largest river with an average flow of 423 m³/s. Its discharge area is 5760 km². The Ölfusá has a strong salmon...
.
In the summer of 1891, due to the lobbying of Tryggvi Gunnarsson, a member of the Alþing, the first suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
was built over the Ölfusá. This was a major undertaking for Icelandic infrastructure. The bridge made the town a logical centre for services for the surrounding agricultural region. The current bridge was built in 1945 after the original structure collapsed.
In 1900 there were only 40 inhabitants, but by 2006 the population had climbed to 6000.
In 1930 the dairy firm Mjólkurbú Flóamanna and general store Kaupfélag Árnesinga were established. These two companies were the main employers in the area for several decades. During WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the British stationed troops at Selfoss to guard the strategic bridge.
Current history
Today, with more efficient transportation, the town enjoys the proximity to the ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
area and is predicted to grow in coming years as businesses and residents will relocate to it because of lower property prices. This has also led to many relocating their homes from Reykjavik to much calmer Selfoss. It enjoys low rates of unemployment and is the home of one the largest colleges in the country FSU Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands.
In early August, the town holds a festival called "Sumar í Selfoss", meaning "Summer in Selfoss". Local residents decorate their gardens with ribbons, coloured according to neighbourhood, and a fete is held on the public grassland behind the civic library. The fete involves selling of homemade goods on small stalls, performances by musicians and magicians on a temporary stage, and in 2011 a "Strongest Man" competition was held, with video recording by Icelandic television channel Stöð 2
Stöð 2
Stöð 2 is an Icelandic television channel, owned and operated by 365. Founded in 1986, It was the first privately owned television station in Iceland following the lifting of the state monopoly on television broadcasting...
. In the evening, the revelry continues with a large bonfire and free fireworks display.
2008 earthquake
According to the United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
, an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
with a moment magnitude
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
6.3 occurred near Selfoss on the afternoon of Thursday 29 May 2008, causing considerable damage to some buildings and roads. The earthquake was felt across southern Iceland, including the capital Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and the airbase at Keflavik
Keflavík
Keflavík 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 .- History :...
. At least 30 people were injured; however, there were no reports of human deaths.. A number of sheep in the Selfoss area were killed.