BolungarvÃk
66.158611111111 - 23.251666666667Koordinaten: 66 ° 10 ' N, 23 ° 15 ' W
The city Bolungarvík (, woodpile bay ', icelandic Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður ) is a town in the region in the extreme northwest Westfjords of Iceland. On 1 January 2011 the municipality had 888 inhabitants.
Geography
Bolungarvík is adjacent to the 13 km southeast, Isafjordur, the largest town in the Westfjords region. Dominated by the steep slopes of the distinctive Traðarhorn the place is on the small bay of the same, which belongs to the largest fjord in the region, the Ísafjarðardjúp.
Above the town is the 638 m high mountain Bolafjall.
History
Bolungarvík was an important fishing place since the time of the Conquest always of great importance. In this area there was a clan chief, Thuridur sundafyllir who took with her son Völundar - Steinn the country to Bolungarvík in possession. Your a monument was erected in 1975 by women from the site.
The most important and richest farm called Hóll, of how often, at the same time was the rectory in Iceland, located on a hill ( = isl. Meaning of the name ) overlooking the resort.
The fishing has been used from the settlement as an important source of income, were located here over the centuries great winter fishing villages.
From the end of the 19th century, a shop was added, in 1903 the market rights for the place. In the years 1917-1921 there was a lignite mining in Gili í Syðradal. Therefore early as 1932 a swimming pool was built, that was first heated with coal and the first such pool in the country was. A new program has been put into operation in 1977.
2003 was Bolungarvík scene of Nói Albinoi, a film by Dagur Kári.
Culture and sights
Unlike the nearby Isafjordur Bolungarvík has the character of a fishing village, but offers almost alpine landscape.
An attractions especially the Natural History Museum is to call, connected to the Natural History Institute. The various exhibits evidence of the species richness of the region, this can be found in particular information on the natural environment Hornstrandir, the region north of the Ísafjarðardjúp.
The bright, corrugated iron roofed church Hólskirkja from 1908 is located above the village on the Hóll, hill '.
The fishing settlement Ósvör at the eastern end of the bay (Icelandic Vik ) is designed as a free walk-in open-air museum. The replicas of the living and working houses testify to the time when it was still fished here with rowing boats. Interesting is also the location above Ósvörs small grellorangene Lighthouse Óshólaviti of 1937.
On the Bolufjall above the village leads a rough jeep track, which is released in July and August for cars. Upstairs there is a now unmanned radar station NATO. Under certain weather conditions, you can see far beyond the mouth of the fjord Ísarfjarðardjúp and after Hornstrandir.
On snowy winter days, there are groomed trails for cross-country skiers at the village. In the mountains of the region offers numerous opportunities for mountain climbing and hiking.
Management and Services
Despite the rather adverse Harbour location Fishing and fish processing are due to the rich fishing grounds continue to be the most important source of income of the village. In addition, you can still find another employer in the area, some shops and craft shops as well as tourist facilities such as hotels and museums. It is now increasingly on tourism, including for example, the open air museum is used for fishing Ósvör.
The deep sea fishing tourism is a growing industry in Bolungarvík and offers, at least in summer, more jobs.
The town has kindergartens, a comprehensive school, a music school and sports facilities with swimming pool. In addition, there exist a community library, a Mehrzweckgemeidehaus and a health center.
Population Development
The decline in population between 1997 and 2006 was 17.3 %.
Also Bolungarvík was, therefore, as the entire region affected by migration, especially in the densely populated capital region.
From 2007, the data for each of January 1, are available. The decline in population numbers could therefore not be stopped, but intercepted. Between 2008, the year of the banking crisis, and in 2010 an increase is even meantime trend, which was, however, until 2011 undone.
Traffic
Since 1950 connects the Djúpvegur, the national road 61, Bolungarvík with Isafjordur.
Since the September 26, 2010 Bolungarvik is to achieve safer through the tunnel Bolungarvíkurgöng than before. Across the path along the steep coast on the infamous for its avalanches Óshlíð
From Bolungarvík leads from the unpaved road 630 west to the now uninhabited bay Skálavík.
The distance to the capital Reykjavík is about 470 kilometers.
Personalities
- Einar K. Guðfinnsson ( b. 1955 ), Icelandic politician