Reykjanesbær
Encyclopedia
Reykjanesbær is a municipality
Municipalities of Iceland
The municipalities of Iceland are local administrative areas in Iceland that provide a number of services to their inhabitants such as kindergartens, elementary schools, waste management, social services, public housing, public transportation, services to senior citizens and handicapped people...
on the Reykjanes peninsula
Reykjanes
Reykjanes or Reykjanesskagi is a peninsula and a volcanic system situated at the south-western end of Iceland, near the capital of Reykjavík....
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
It is made up of the towns Keflavík
Keflavík
Keflavík is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 .- History :...
, Njarðvík
Njarðvík
Njarðvík is a town in south-western Iceland located on the peninsula of Reykjanes. As of 2009, its population was 4,400.-History:In 1995 it merged with the town of Keflavík and the village of Hafnir to form the new municipality of Reykjanesbær....
, the village of Hafnir
Hafnir
Hafnir is a village in the south-western Iceland.It is situated in the Reykjanes peninsula and has 109 inhabitants . In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Keflavík to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 ....
and, since 2006, Ásbrú
Ásbrú
Ásbrú is a part of the former U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik not supervised by the Icelandic defence authorities. After U.S. forces evacuated in 2006, a part of the base not needed for current military defence needs, was re-invented as a community of entrepreneurs, students and business...
. The municipality was created in 1995 when the inhabitants of the three towns voted to merge them into one. Reykjanesbær is the fifth largest municipality in Iceland and has a population of almost 14,000 (January 2011).
Overview
Of the three towns which make up the municipality, KeflavíkKeflavík
Keflavík is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 .- History :...
is the largest, while Hafnir
Hafnir
Hafnir is a village in the south-western Iceland.It is situated in the Reykjanes peninsula and has 109 inhabitants . In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Keflavík to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 ....
is the smallest and some 10 kilometers distant. Keflavík and Njarðvík were originally distinct towns but gradually grew together over the course of the latter half of the 20th century, until the only thing separating them was a single street. The northern side of the street belonged to Keflavík and the southern side to Njarðvík.
Since May 2009 the township of Njarðvík has been the location of the Viking World museum
Viking World museum
Viking World is a museum in Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær, Iceland.The museum opened on 8 May 2009, followed by a formal opening on Icelandic National Day, 17 June...
.
In 2006, when the United States Navy closed Naval Air Station Keflavik
Naval Air Station Keflavik
United States Naval Air Station Keflavik is a former NATO facility at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula on the south-west portion of the island...
, the site was taken over by the development agency Kadeco
Kadeco
Keflavik Airport Development Corporation or Kadeco was founded by the Icelandic government on 24 October 2006. The catalyst of the foundation was the deactivation of the Naval Air Station Keflavik which had been operated by the United States for the previous 60 years...
, and re-named Ásbrú
Ásbrú
Ásbrú is a part of the former U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik not supervised by the Icelandic defence authorities. After U.S. forces evacuated in 2006, a part of the base not needed for current military defence needs, was re-invented as a community of entrepreneurs, students and business...
. A university, Keilir
Keilir
Keilir - Atlantic center of excellence is a private, non-profit, international graduate school located in Ásbrú next to the Keflavik International Airport in the city of Reykjanesbaer in Iceland. The school was established in 2007The school is owned by the University of Iceland along with top...
, was founded and now Ásbrú houses the campuses of various educational institutions and also businesses, both newly founded and relocated to the site of the air base.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Reykjanesbær has the following sister cities: BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
Hjørring
Hjørring
Hjørring Municipality is a municipality in North Denmark Region on the west coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 929,58 km², making it the largest in Vendsyssel, and it has a total population of 67,121...
Kerava
Kerava
Kerava is a town and municipality in Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Uusimaa region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
Miðvágur
Miðvágur
Miðvágur is a village in the Faroe Islands on Vágar. It has been a municipality until 1 January, 2009 when it fused with Sandavágur into Vága kommuna.Located on the south coast of the island of Vágar, Miðvágur is the largest town on this Faroese island...
Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
Trollhättan
Trollhättan
Trollhättan is a city and the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 44,498 inhabitants in 2005. It is located 75 km north of Sweden's second-largest city, Gothenburg....
Reykjanesbær -Sport town.
Reykjanesbær is famous as the Sport Town of Iceland. It has one major sport club, KeflavíkKeflavik ÍF
Keflavík ÍF is an Icelandic sports club, from the town of Reykjanesbær. The club has several divisions for different sports: football, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, badminton, shooting and taekwondo...
; other clubs are Njarðvík
Ungmennafélag Njarðvíkur
Knattspyrnudeild ungmennafélags Njarðvíkur is an Icelandic sports club from Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær, off the south-west peninsula of Iceland.- Current squad :- Achievements :*3. deild karla: 1** 1981...
, Golfklúbbur Suðurnesja, Hestamannafélagið Máni, ÍRB and HKR.
Points of interest
- Keflavík Naval Communications CenterKeflavík Naval Communications CenterKeflavík Naval Communications Center is a facility for communication to submarines near Hafnir on Iceland. Keflavík Naval Communications Center uses two guyed masts with umbrella antennas situated at 63°51'3"N 22°27'6"W and at 63°51'1"N 22°28'0"W and transmits coded RTTY-messages on LF...
- ReykjanesvitiReykjanesvitiReykjanesviti is Iceland's oldest lighthouse. It serves as a landfall light for Reykjavík and Keflavík.- History :The tower is a 31 metres tall construction, situated on the southwestern edge of the Reykjanes peninsula. The original structure was built in 1878; just eight years later the...
- Viking World museumViking World museumViking World is a museum in Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær, Iceland.The museum opened on 8 May 2009, followed by a formal opening on Icelandic National Day, 17 June...
External links
- Picture gallery at www.islandsmyndir.is