Vopnafjörður

The rural community Vopnafjörður [' vɔhpna ˌ fjœrðʏr ] ( Isl Vopnafjarðarhreppur " weapons fjord " ) is an Icelandic community in the region Austurland in northeast Iceland.

On 1 January 2009 the municipality had 674 inhabitants.

The place Vopnafjörður with 534 inhabitants, is located on the same fjord.

Traffic

After Reykjavík there are 622 and 173 km Egilsstaðir. There are two roads, one hand on the Hellisheiði eystri or other, through the valleys and Vesturárdalur Hofsárdalur. The latter in conjunction with the Hringvegur is open all year round, the other closes at about the Hellisheiði eystri temporarily in winter.

History

The merchants of the Hanseatic made ​​here in the Middle Ages station. After the introduction of the trade monopoly by the Danes in the 16th century, this had a trading post here. From 1787 here free merchants settled, which supplied the local farmers and their products ankauften. It was not until the late 19th century, formed a fishing village in Vopnafjörður. The port was founded in 1968 and again more developed is the most important fishing port in northeastern Iceland.

The parish church dates from 1902 and has achieved among other things, an altarpiece by Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval.

Tourism

North of Vopnafjörður in Selárdalur is an outdoor swimming pool, which is supplied from a thermal area. To the south, also on Norðausturvegur, road 85, is the Torfhof Bustarfell.

The river Hofsá í Vopnafirði is a famous salmon river.

Population Development

As now most areas except the southwest of Iceland around the capital Reykjavík Vopnafjörður is affected by strong population loss. From 1997 to 2006, the population decline was 16%.