Grundarfjörður

64.926666666667 - 23.258611111111Koordinaten: 64 ° 56 'N, 23 ° 16' W

The community Grundarfjörður ( Isl Grundarfjarðarbær ) is located in the west of Iceland in the region Vesturland the eponymous fjord Grundarfjörður. The former name of the township was Eyrarsveit.

On 1 January 2009 the municipality had 925 inhabitants, of whom 853 lived in the same city, the capital of the municipality.

Geography

The community Grundarfjörður as well as its main town located on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Grundarfjörður there is a coastal mountain range, which partly has alpine character. It is the mountain range Helgrindur with its highest peak Kaldnasi which is central volcano of the volcanic system Lýsuskarð simultaneously. Fjord Grundarfjörður located outside the city on a peninsula of the mountain Kirkjufell, a pointed summit, the ice age glaciers from both sides have been sanded. To the west lies the Cape Búlandshöfði, east lies the Kolgrafafjörður.

History

In the land acquisition book, the book about the colonization of Iceland in the 9th and 10th century, is reported by Herjólfur Sigurðsson, who would have made the country between Cape Búlandshöfði and the fjord Kirkjufjörður own. We do not know exactly where the fjord was Kirkjufjörður, but it is believed there had been to today's Fjord Grundarfjörður.

The place Grundarfjörður emerged from a small settlement, which initially during the Danish monopoly economy (1601 - 1786) had formed around a trading post of the Danes around.

After the abolition of the Danish trade monopoly Grundarfjörður was awarded the 1786 Commercial Law. Then, the place flourished on something whose name was initially Count Arnes. The harbor was relatively cheap and protected, but then not suitable for seagoing ships. Other transport links, there were nearly not. Only a few mule tracks led over the mountains, which include the location of all sides. This isolation led probably to the fact that the Danish administrative office man not by the target settled in Grundarfjörður.

In 1800, long commercial driving and driving on fishing Frenchmen had settled in Grundarfjörður for a time that even its own church and a private hospital built and a private cemetery docked. They had about 20 fishing boats and processed cod to klipfish. Late 1860s, however, they broke off the settlement and took everything in the home, even their dead.

End of the 19th century, the place of Grundarkampur was moved to Count Arnes. In 1906, a fishing village was established in Count Arnes. A town formed there from 1940.

1953 wrecked a fishing boat, the Edda GK, in the fjord. 8 of 17 men were rescued with the help of local residents. A monument of Árni Jónsson at the harbor commemorates the event.

Since 1963, and the parish seat in Grundarfjörður and for this reason is a church was built.

The port was founded in 1978 further expanded so that it is very well suited for fishing today.

2006 a high school was opened.

Naming

The first trading settlements had taken the name of the fjord. But after laying by Count Arnes, we made ​​use of the name of the peninsula ( Isl nes = dt peninsula, headland; see Snæfells - nes = peninsula of snow mountain ).

Several buildings were on another headland called Framnes. This name was also used until about 1940 for the place. Then it was known as Count Arnes or Grundarfjörður until a referendum in 1965 brought the decision for Grundarfjörður.

Culture and sights

The area around Grundarfjörður is known for its rich bird life. Seaside breed such as many glaucous gulls and one discovered in the summer numerous Oystercatcher on the beach. Ringed plover standing in the swampy lowlands. And above all, do not float rarely some of the few still living in Iceland eagles in search of prey.

Economy and infrastructure

Even today, the inhabitants live mainly from fishing and processing, but also of trade and tourism.

Grundarfjörður refers significant revenue from fishing, which can be seen also in the sometimes quite fancy houses. First of all here is dedicated to one catch and processing of scallops and shrimp. The place has a sheltered harbor, prior to now include Stop cruise ships.

The place has a number of service facilities, including a secondary school.

The transport links in the area is good. The Snæfellsnesvegur, Road No. 54, on bridges crossing the Kolgrafafjörður and the smaller Hraunsfjörður and leads to Stykkishólmur.

Population Development

Grundarfjörður is one of the few places outside the capital region in Iceland, whose population, has grown in recent years, at least until 2005. This is due firstly to the lucrative nature of fishing here together, on the other hand with an expansion of infrastructure in recent years. Thereafter, a slight decrease can be observed, with an insignificant increase in the population until 2008.

Twinning

Since 2002 exists in the memory of the French past of the area twinned with Paimpol in Brittany.

• France Paimpol, France