Reykjavík

Reykjavík (population 110,000) is the capital of Iceland. According to Landnámabók, the Book of Settlements, the first permanent settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson[?], decided to settle in Reykjavík after his high-seat pillars had washed upon the shore here. The year is generally admitted to have been 874. Reykjavík remained a tiny village until 1786, when the town was granted its municipal charter. Today, the city and its 6 suburbs:

• Kópavogur[?]: 21.370
• Seltjarnarnes[?]: 4.691
• Garðabær[?]: 7.895
• Hafnarfjörður[?]: 18.600
• Mosfellsbær[?]: 5.496
• Álftanes[?]: 1.417

- are home to 3/5ths of Iceland's entire population.

Current Mayor, as of 1.February 2003: Þórólfur Árnason[?]

Population of Reykjavík as of Dec.1998: Men: 53.146, Women: 55.205. Total:108.351

The name literally means "smokey bay". The reason for this is that, when arriving on their ships, the early settlers saw steam (resembling smoke) rising from hot springs near the coast.

In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. In 1985, Reykjavík was the site of a summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Reykjavík is the northernmost capital city in the world and receives only 4 hours of sunlight a day in the depth of winter. However, in the summer, the nights are almost as bright as day. Some of the best-known neighborhoods of Reykjavík are Vesturbærinn[?], Þingholt[?] and Norðurmýri[?].

External links

• http://www.tourist.reykjavik.is/