Hafnarfjörður

Hafnarfjörður
Seal
Country	Iceland
Constituency	Southwest
Area
• Total	143 km2 (56.76 sq mi)
Population  (2009)
• Total	26,003
• Density	170/km2 (400/sq mi)
Website	http://www.hafnarfjordur.is/
Postal Codes: 220-221-222

For water inlet, see: fjord.

Hafnarfjörður or Hafnarfjordur is a port town located on the south-west coast of Iceland, about 10 km south of Reykjavík. It is the third most populous city in Iceland, after Reykjavík and Kópavogur, with a population of 26,003. The population of Hafnarfjörður reached 25,000 on February 29, 2008.

As the third largest city, Hafnarfjörður has established local industry and a variety of urban activities, with annual festival events.

Activities

The town is the site of an annual Viking festival, where Viking culture enthusiasts from around the world display reconstructions of Viking garb, handicraft, 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.

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, Jet Black Joe, HAM, Kátir Piltar, Panther's Punch, Sign, Úlpa, Vicky, Lada Sport and Jakobínarína all trace their origins to the town of Hafnarfjörður.

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 voted on the future of the extension for the smelter in 2006.

The smelter was originally built in 1969, and it has improved its 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.

History

Population of Hafnarfjörður 1910 - 2008.

1910	1,547
1920	2,366
1930	3,591
1940	3,686
1950	5,087
1960	7,160
1970	9,696
1980	12,205
1990	15,151
2000	19,640
2008	25,107

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.

The Coot Icland's first trawler operated from Hafnarfjörður between 1905 and 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 centers 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.

Local festivals

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 commemorating the sailors of Iceland.

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.

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.

Swimming pools

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

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Iceland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Uppsala, Sweden Tartu, Estonia Frederiksberg, Denmark

Sport

There are two major sport clubs in Hafnarfjörður the first being FH Hafnarfjörður which have won the Icelandic premier football league, Pepsi-Deildin five times between 2004 and 2009(2004-2005-2006-2008-2009).

The second club is Knattspyrnufélagið Haukar which are the current Icelandic Handball champions.

Famous people

• Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir (Yohanna) was born in Copenhagen but raised in Hafnarfjörður, she was chosen to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia with the song "Is It True?", earning her 2nd place.
• Current home to Magnús Ver Magnússon.
• Indie band Jakobínarína are from here
• Hometown of actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson, most known for his role as Robbie Rotten on the hit children's TV series, LazyTown.
• Hafnarfjörður is the home town of the famous Icelandic pop singer Björgvin Halldórsson and the actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson as well as the Abstract artists, Guðmundur Karl and Patrick Karl.
• Emil Hallfreðsson, footballer
• Ragnar Sólberg Rafnsson, musician
• Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir, photographer, artist
• Sesselja Sigmundsdóttir (born Hafnarfjörður 5th, July 1902)

See also

• List of cities in Iceland.

Miscellaneous information

• Hafnarfjörður was first mentioned around the year 1400, although the town is mentioned in the book Landnámabók.
• The first Lutheran church in Iceland was raised at Háigrandi, opposite Óseyri, just outside of the small boat harbour in 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 Aston Martin.
• The Bookless bungalow, which was brought over from Scotland in prefabricated form, has been preserved and is now part of the town museum.
• In the 1986 novel Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy, the Soviet Union gains a dramatic strategic advantage at the beginning of the war by seizing Iceland with a Guards Airborne division transported secretly by converted freighters. When the US Marine Corps retake Iceland, they initially land at Hafnarfjörður before advancing on Keflavik.

External links

• Hafnarfjörður - Picture Gallery from www.islandsmyndir.is
• Pictures from the event in 2009
• Photos
• Google Maps
• Template:Is iconSite of the local municipality.