Heimaey

The island of Heimaey [ hɛi̯maɛi̯ ] is one of the Vestmannaeyjar ( Westman Islands dt ) south of Iceland. On it is the same town with 4086 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2009).

Heimaey lives mainly from fishing and one of the richest towns in Iceland.

• 3.1 Celebration in Herjólfsdalur
• 3.2 Interesting building on Heimaey
• 3.3 hiking

Geography

Heimaey is 13.4 km ² the largest and the only permanently inhabited island of the archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar.

At the same time, it is the island that has the highest number in this archipelago known so far boast of volcanic eruptions and under which there is probably a magma chamber.

History

Volcanic eruption in 1973

End of January 1973 broke a new volcano, the Eldfell, from very close to the city. Fortunately, the entire fishing fleet of the island was due to a storm the day before in the harbor, so that the island could be rapidly evacuated and no one was hurt. Over the next few months, the remaining helpers fought over the town on Heimaey.

About 100 buildings were lapped by escaping lava. Large parts of the town were partially buried up to 8 m below the black ashes. Most of the buildings were then excavated again in the months with the help of many residents and volunteers. Part of the lava stream flowed toward the harbor entrance and threatened to block them, what would have become a big problem for the fishing -based livelihoods of the people. It water cannons were set up and the lava flow splashed with sea water to bring him to stop. In fact, stopped the lava flow, so that the harbor entrance now become indeed close, the port is the same but better protected from the surf.

Re- recorded, controversial excavations in the north east of the village brought this new tourist attraction the name Pompei Norðursins a ( Pompeii of the North).

Culture and sights

Celebration in Herjólfsdalur

On the first weekend in August, the so-called Verslunarmannahelgi, is in Herjólfsdalur, celebrated a crescent-shaped, open to the sea side former volcanic crater, a three-day festival, also to the many - especially youth - guests come from the " mainland". The festival has a long tradition; it has existed since 1874 and was exposed only in the first years of World War I (1914 and 1915 ).

Interesting building on Heimaey

The small fortress Skansinn on Heimaey harbor dates back to the King of Denmark from 1515 instructions, which seek to discourage the British from its trading range here.

Within the fixed portion Skansinn is the Heimaey stave church, a gift from Norway to Iceland from the year 2000.

The church Landakirkja has a long tradition. Your first version was built in 1573 on Heimaey.

Hiking

On the islands there are numerous smaller mountains; so you can, for example, on Heimaey Volcanoes Helgafell Eldfell climb.

Traffic

The Vestmannaeyjar can be reached by air from the domestic airport in Reykjavik or Bakki southeast of Hvolsvöllur or ferry Herjólfur since the summer of 2010 the new port Landeyjahöfn at Hvolsvöllur. The crossing is usually performed five times a day and takes about half an hour. However, this depends very much on the weather conditions.