Neskaupstaður

Neskaupstaður [ nɛ ː ː skøy̑psta ðʏr ] is a city situated on the east coast of Iceland with 1,437 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). It is located at Norðfjörður and is surrounded by up to 1,000 m high mountain ridge.

The same former municipality belongs since 7 June 1998 on the community Fjarðabyggð. In 1994, the rural community Norðfjörður ( Norðfjarðarhreppur ) was incorporated to Neskaupstaður.

History

The area had been settled in the 9th and 10th centuries since the time of the Conquest of Iceland, the first court here was the court Nes, on whose land the present city is partially. According Landnámabók the first settler was on this farm Egill rauði. Proper names refer to the fact that proximity was used to rich fishing grounds early. Even in later centuries were like foreign trawlers, especially the Dutch and French in the sandbar Neseyri. From the 70s of the 19th century, it was the people of the Faroe Islands and the Norwegians, who caught the herring here. At this time also began to fish processing on a large scale on site.

1892 was opened on the site of the present village at Norðfjörður a trading post. Due to its location, the city in bad weather has long been cut off from the outside world. Nevertheless, it has been temporarily by catching herring and salt fish processing an important trading center. Because of these possibilities, the population grew rapidly and so the place was in 1913 already 636 inhabitants vorweisen.Seither is the population continued to grow, you live next to fishing, fish processing, especially of trade, commerce and services, including tourism counts as a growth industry. The place is home to, inter alia, also the district hospital.

Neskaupstaður acquired city rights in 1929 and is now the largest town of the community Fjarðarbyggð.

A tragic event in the city went to the mid- 1970s, when an avalanche destroyed several houses and 12 people ripped to death. To commemorate it, a monument in the small park was built in the downtown area. Meanwhile, the city is protected by extensive barriers.

Environment, weather and nature

Typical of the fjord situation quite mild weather in the summer, on the other hand, the East Fjords for snowy winters are known, which is why we operate a ski area with lifts and floodlights also above the village at the pass Oddsskarð.

The lower slopes of the surrounding high mountain ridges and shallow fjord inside are covered with grass and blueberry bushes. There is a forest rearing above the town.

Various ducks and geese are in the fjord and in the lagoon in the fjord at home. In addition, you can see various other typical birds Islands and pigeons. One can discover reindeer, arctic foxes is rare to see. At the end of the fjord and in the lagoon, there are seals. The fishing boats also catch sometimes in the fjord herring. In the river Norðfjarðará there are trout and char

Farm animals such as sheep, horses and chickens are kept by the farmers.

Traffic

Neskaupstaður is marked by tight turns, steep climbs and descents of up to 13 percent Norðfjarðarvegur to reach the road 92. Access is difficult in winter by the pass Oddsskarð that, the fjords connects through an altitude of over 700m tunnel, which was built between 1972-77. It is a new tunnel will be built, which is considerably lower. Construction is possibly in 2011.

Neskaupstaður has a port which is mainly used by the fishing boats the fish factory. There also exists a boat connection in the inhabited, but in winter can not be reached by car Mjóifjörður.

In the fjord there is an airfield with a gravel runway, which however is almost exclusively used for transporting patients to the hospital.

Economy

A major employer in the city is the herring processing factory fish Síldarvinnslan. In addition, the hospital is another major employer.

Supply

For medical care is available in Neskaupstaður a hospital with general medical options, but also surgical care, as well as a maternity ward. The next, better -equipped hospital is located in the 400 km away Akureyri or in Reykjavík. Attached also is a grooming station and a supervised residence for the elderly. In addition, there is a general practitioner station, a pharmacy and a dentist.

Two gas stations and a workshop provide the mobile needs.

There are two supermarkets and various small shops (sports, alcohol, clothing, children's clothing and baby goods, handmade accessories and flowers, electronics) and craft businesses such as hairdressers.

Two branches of banks take care of the financial matters.

Education and training

In Neskaupstaður there are two kindergartens, a primary school and the real and vocational school for east Iceland ( Verkmenntaskóli Austurlands ) with boarding. There is a well-known music school and an educational network with different offerings, including correspondence courses from various universities in Iceland, as well as adult education classes.

Church

Today's Evangelical Lutheran Neskirkja was erected in 1896-97, after her predecessor had been blown away in a storm. It consists at its core of wood and is a historical monument since 1990.

Tourism and Leisure

The place is less well known but charmingly situated and offers tourists many options.

There are in addition a summer hotel and two fixed hotels and guest rooms farm holiday with horse riding facilities and a campground.

In a café, you can get coffee and cake, restaurants offer a wide variety of food and fast food at a gas station.

East of the town is a conservation area with many marked walking and hiking trails such as to the eroded from the sea Felsaushöhlung Páskahellir (German Easter Cave). There are also a number of other hiking opportunities in the neighboring fjord Mjóifjörður or two uninhabited fjords north of the town. Other walks are in the reforestation area and around the large avalanche barrier above the town. In Seldalur through which the road leads from the pass, you will find a waterfall called Hengifoss.

In the river you can fish with Norðfjarðará License trout and char.

There is also the opportunity in the summer to make an excursion boat trips.

Various sports clubs give residents and visitors the opportunity to spend their leisure time. Furthermore, there is something outside of a golf course and a swimming pool with a sauna and a gym.

Fjord area in the city center you can visit nature, fishing and works of the famous painter in Iceland Tryggvi Ólafsson, who comes from a museum with departments.

There are also several monuments and works of art to discover, for example, in the small park near the swimming pool in the town center.

Several festivals are held each summer. So in the city, the family celebration Neistaflug on Verslunarmannahelgi mid-August and the annual, multi-day heavy metal event Eistnaflug take place, there are several hundred fans from all over Iceland to those.

In winter you can use the ski with beginners' slopes and two different long runs.