Viðey

Viðey is the largest of the islands in front of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik Kollafjörður. It is part of the municipality Reykjavíkurborg, however, belong to any of the ten districts of Reykjavík, but for Gräni Trefillinn ( green belt, hinterland of Reykjavík ).

Geography

Viðey covers an area of 1.59 ( according to other sources 1.7 km ² ), and is appealing as a hiking area, especially in the summer months. The island consists of Vesturey in the southeast and the smaller part of the island of Heimaey in the northwest. The two parts of the island are connected by the flat and 130 meters wide isthmus Eiðið. It thus is a double island.

History

Located emerged from a volcano and until about 9000 years due to the Ice Age under water, now overgrown with vegetation in the form of grass and marsh plants island is an important breeding ground for various bird species.

The island was first settled in the 10th century AD From 1225 to 1539 Viðey was the seat of a monastery of the Augustinian, probably founded on the initiative of Snorri Sturluson. 1550, the island was retaken from the last Catholic bishop, Jón Arason. After his execution in the same year the monastery was finally dissolved. 1755 for Skúli Magnússon Viðeyarstofa the manor, the first stone house Iceland, built as a home of the Royal Treasurer. 1774, the island church was consecrated.

Since the last residents left Viðey 1959, the island is uninhabited. 1988, a restaurant for visitors and tourists was established in Viðeyjarstofa.

Attractions

The church, consecrated in 1774 is the second oldest surviving church in Iceland after the Cathedral of Hólar. It has the oldest preserved interiors of all Icelandic churches.

On Viðey is the Imagine Peace Tower, a light art work, which was built by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon in 2007. In each case, between 9 October and 8 December, Lennon's birth and death, is projected from a white stone monument from a pillar of light in the sky. On the monument is in front of it Imagine peace is engraved in 24 languages. This, together with the name of the artwork is referred to Lennon's song Imagine. The electricity for the column of light comes from water and Geothermalkraftwerken. Another work of art on Viðey are the 1990 incurred Afangar ( milestones) by Richard Serra, nine basalt columns couples.

Viðey is also visited for bird watching. Approximately 30 bird species breed on the island, including eider ducks, snipes and godwits.

Traffic

The island consists of a year-round ferry service ferry Gestur of Reykjavík. Most courses run from the jetty at Skarfabakki in Reykjavík's new port Sundahöfn. With individual courses also connect to the old port is produced in the city center. On Viðey the traffic with all vehicles is allowed, but impractical.