Kópavogur
64.111388888889 - 21.904722222222Koordinaten: 64 ° 7 ' N, 21 ° 54 ' W
Kópavogur [' k ʰ ou ː ˑ pavɔ ɣʏr ̥ ] (Eng. " Small bay of seal pups ."; Isl also Kópavogsbær ) is a town in southwest Iceland. It is located in the metropolitan area of Reykjavík and is equipped with 29,976 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2009) is the second largest town in Iceland.
Geography
The municipality is divided into three non-contiguous parts. The northwestern part includes the city Kópavogur itself and borders Reykjavíkurborg and on the south by Gardabær. To the east is the lake Elliðavatn.
The southeastern part is also adjacent to these two communities, in the extreme southeast in addition to Ölfus.
The north-eastern part is bordered to the north by mosfellsbær, on the west by Reykjavíkurborg and on the east by Ölfus. To the east lies the mountain Vífilsfell.
History
During the Danish trade monopoly from 1602 to 1787, the document was signed here in 1662, the Denmark guaranteed the complete sovereignty over Iceland.
As recently as the 1930s, the place was barely inhabited Kópavogur, to use as a building for vacation rentals of Reykjavík population. The onset of the increasing exodus of residents of remote regions of the country settlement in what is now almost grown together, the metropolitan area has led to a large population growth in the area around the place Kópavogur.
Culture and sights
The city has a wealth of cultural attractions, such as institutions such as the extensive art collection of the museum opened in 1994 Gerðarsafn, mainly with works by Icelandic artists such as the sculptor Gerður Helgadóttir. The window located next to the gallery striking, consecrated in 1963 Kópavogskirkja also be derived by the artist. Also of interest are the Natural History Museum ( Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs ) with its departments to zoology and geology of the country.
Economy
In Kópavogur is also the largest shopping mall in Iceland, the Smáralind on whose grounds the fifth tallest building and tallest building in Iceland, Smáratorg Tower is located. Kópavogur is home to many companies, including the company Promens.
Sons and daughters
- Alda Björk Ólafsdóttir, (born 1966 ), pop singer
- Einar Heimisson (* 1966, † 1998), writer
- Emilíana Torrini ( Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir; b. 1977 ), singer