Keflavík
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Keflavík | |
  Keflavík
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| Coordinates: 64°01′N 22°34′W / 64.017°N 22.567°W | |
| Country |  Iceland |
|---|---|
| Admin. division | Reykjanes |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 14,000 |
Keflavík (pronounced /ˈkɛplɑˌviːk/) (Icelandic, "Driftwood Bay") is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland.
It has now merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 14,000 (June 2008).
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[edit] History
Founded in the 16th century, Keflavík developed on account of its fishing and fish processing industry, founded by Scottish entrepreneurs and engineers. Later its growth continued from flight operations at the Keflavík International Airport which was built by the US during the 1940s. The airport used to hold a significant NATO military base and was a vital pre-jet refueling stop for trans-Atlantic commercial air traffic.
During WWII the military airfield served as a refueling and transit depot. In the Cold War, Naval Air Station Keflavik played an important role in monitoring marine and submarine traffic from the Norwegian and Greenland Seas, into the Atlantic Ocean. During the Cold War, forces from the United States Air Force were added to provide radar monitoring, fighter intercept, in-flight refueling, and aerial/marine rescue. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, the base's role was cast into doubt. The base officially closed on 30 September 2006, as the United States withdrew the remaining 30 military personnel. The airport remains, serving as Iceland's main international hub.
In Iceland, the town was renowned as a rich source of musicians during the 1960s and 70s, and is therefore also known as bítlabærinn or "The Beatle Town".
In November 2008, in an official lunch with foreign diplomats, Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson shocked neighboring Nordic countries by inviting Russia to make use of the strategically important air-base. Foreign diplomats hardly believed what they heard when the Icelandic president said that his country needs “new friends” and that Russia should be invited to use the old U.S. airbase of Keflavik. This is rumored to be a retaliation for anti-terrorism laws being used to seize the assets of Icelandic businesses in the UK in response to the Icelandic banks "losing" UK Government money.[citation needed]
[edit] Geography
The local geography is dominated by fields of basalt rubble, interspersed with a few hardy plants and mosses. On a clear day, one can see Snæfellsjökull across the bay, some 115 km away.
[edit] Fictional connections
The former NATO military base Naval Air Station Keflavik is used as a setting for an important story line in Tom Clancy's novel Red Storm Rising. Clancy's descriptions of the base, the geography, local flora, and the station equipment were rather accurate.
[edit] See also
- Keflavík International Airport
- Cold War
- Iceland Defense Force, headquartered in Keflavík until 2006
[edit] External links
- Reykjanesbær - picture gallery from islandsmyndir.is
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Russia invited to Iceland’s air-base
- Iceland, Mired in Debt, Blames Britain for Woes by SARAH LYALL, NYTimes Nov.1.08
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Keflavík |
