Húsavík
| Húsavík | |
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 Húsavík
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| Coordinates: 66°03′N 17°19′W / 66.05°N 17.317°WCoordinates: 66°03′N 17°19′W / 66.05°N 17.317°W | |
| Country | Iceland |
| Constituency | Norðausturkjördæmi |
| Region | Norðurland eystra |
| County | Norður-Þingeyjarsýsla |
| Municipality | Norðurþing |
| Government | |
| • Sveitarstjóri | Bergur Elías Ágústsson |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 2,237 |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
| Post Code | 640, 645 |
| Website | Official website |
Húsavík is a town in Norðurþing municipality on the north coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjálfandi bay with 2,237 inhabitants. The most famous landmark of the town is the wooden church Húsavíkurkirkja, built in 1907. Húsavík is served by Húsavík Airport.
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[edit] Overview
The income of the inhabitants is derived from tourism and fishing, as well as retail and small industry. Until recently, Húsavík was the export harbour for silica was extracted from the nearby lake, Mývatn.
According to the Landnámabók ("Book of Settlement"), Húsavík was the first place in Iceland to be settled by a Norse man. The Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson stayed there for one winter around 870 A.D. The name of the town means "bay of houses" which is probably referring to Garðar's homestead. Which have been the only houses then in Iceland.
[edit] Climate
| Climate data for Husavik | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 1 (34) |
2 (35) |
3 (37) |
5 (41) |
10 (50) |
12 (54) |
14 (58) |
14 (57) |
11 (52) |
5 (41) |
3 (38) |
3 (37) |
6.9 (44.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −4 (25) |
−3 (26) |
−3 (26) |
−1 (30) |
2 (36) |
6 (42) |
7 (45) |
7 (44) |
4 (40) |
0 (32) |
−1 (30) |
−2 (29) |
1.0 (33.8) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) |
23 (0.9) |
33 (1.3) |
23 (0.9) |
18 (0.7) |
43 (1.7) |
53 (2.1) |
66 (2.6) |
61 (2.4) |
104 (4.1) |
56 (2.2) |
51 (2) |
566 (22.3) |
| Source: Weatherbase [1] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Tourism
Húsavík has become a centre of whale watching in Iceland due to whales of different species that frequently enter the bay. The Húsavík Whale Museum is located in the town.[2] It is also home to the Icelandic Phallological Museum,[3] which contains penis specimens from every mammal that lives in Iceland, including a 67-inch sperm whale penis, and a donated human penis.
The region of Mývatn, with its interesting geology and diverse animal life, is nearby. Jökulsárgljúfur National Park with the horseshoe shaped canyon Ásbyrgi and the waterfalls Dettifoss, Hafragilsfoss and Selfoss is also not far from the town.
[edit] Sports
ÍF Völsungur is the local football club, they last played in Iceland's top tier in the 1988 season.[4]
[edit] International relations
[edit] Twin towns — Sister cities
- Karlskoga, Sweden
- Fredrikstad, Norway
- Riihimäki, Finland
- Aalborg, Denmark
- Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland
- Fuglafjørður, Faroe Islands
- Eastport, Maine, USA[5]
[edit] Photogallery
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Húsavík harbor (1)
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Húsavík harbor (2)
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The Icelandic Phallological Museum in Húsavik
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Church of Húsavík
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Husavik, Iceland". Weatherbase. 2011. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=166040&refer=wikipedia. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
- ^ "Whale museum homepage". http://www.whalemuseum.is/home/.
- ^ Strong, Bob (2008-05-15). "Icelandic museum offers long and short of male organ". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1519887520080515.
- ^ Iceland 1988 - RSSSF
- ^ "Nordurthing homepage" (in icelandic). nordurthing.is. http://www.nordurthing.is.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Húsavík |
- Official website (English) (Icelandic)
- The harbour
- Whalewatching and information about whales
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