Grímsey
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- For other places with similar names, see Grimsay (disambiguation)
Grímsey is a small island 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Iceland, situated directly on the Arctic Circle. The island constitutes the hreppur (municipality) Grímseyjarhreppur, which is part of the county Eyjafjarðarsýsla. The population is approximately 100; the only settlement is Sandvík.[1]
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[edit] Geography and climate
Grímsey is the northernmost inhabited Icelandic territory; the islet of Kolbeinsey lies further north, but is uninhabited. The closest land is the island of Flatey, Skjálfandi, 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi) to the south. There are steep cliffs everywhere except on the southern shoreline. Grímsey has an area of 5.3 square kilometres (2.0 sq mi), and a maximum altitude of 105 metres (344 ft).[2]
Despite the northerly latitude, the climate is generally mild, due to the North Atlantic Current which brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico. A maximum temperature of 26°C (79°F) has been recorded, which equals that of the much more southerly capital Reykjavík. Though treeless, the vegetation cover is rich, consisting of marshland, grass, and moss, and the island is home to many birds, in particular auks.[3]
[edit] Economy and society
The principal industrial activity is commercial fishing. Agriculture and collecting seabirds' eggs are also common. Grímsey is also a popular tourist destination for visitors who wish to experience the Arctic Circle. The island is served by regular ferry and aircraft passenger services from the mainland.[1]
The church on Grímsey was built from driftwood in 1867 and renovated in 1956. It is within the parish of Akureyri. The island also features a community center and a school from kindergarten to Grade 8. Beyond this age, students travel to Akureyri for further education.
The island has acquired a long-standing reputation for being a bastion of chess-playing.[4] On learning this, the American scholar and keen chess player Willard Fiske took a protective interest in Grímsey in the 1870s, sending supplies, supporting the economy and leaving money in his will, though he never once visited.[5]
A local legend holds that the Arctic Circle runs exactly through the middle of the bed of Grímsey's priest. The fact that the circle shifts by a few meters per year makes this unlikely.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Swaney, Deanna (1997). Iceland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands (3rd ed.). Lonely Planet. pp. 251–252. ISBN 0864424531.
- ^ "Um Grímsey". Grímseyjarhreppur. http://www.grimsey.is/um-grimsey/. Retrieved 2008-10-28. (Icelandic)
- ^ Riley, Laura & William (2005). Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves. Princeton University Press. p. 384. ISBN 9780691122199.
- ^ Tomasson, Richard F. (1980). Iceland, the First New Society. University of Minnesota Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780816609130. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Sng_nK6ji6sC&pg=PA50&dq=Grimsey+chess&as_brr=3.
- ^ Millman, Lawrence; Theroux, Paul (2001). Last Places: A Journey in the North. Houghton Mifflin Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 9780618082483.
[edit] External links
- Grímsey Information (Icelandic)
- Places along the way...Grímsey, published by Bokautgafan ad Hofi
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