Breiðdalsvík
Breiðdalsvík (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpreiðˌtalsˌviːk]) is a fishing town in Iceland, located on a large cove of the same name.
Breiðdalsvík | |
---|---|
Village | |
Breiðdalsvík Location in Iceland | |
Coordinates: 64°46′N 14°0′W | |
Country | Iceland |
Constituency | Northeast Constituency |
Region | Eastern Region |
Municipality | Breiðdalshreppur |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 139 |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
It is part of the municipality of Breiðdalshreppur in the Eastern Region, and is at the mouth of Breiðdalur, the valley of the river Breiðdalsá. Route 95 branches off Route 1 near Breiðdalsvík and runs through the valley and over Breiðdalsheiði, a heath formed by an eroded volcano, to Egilsstaðir.[1]
The primary industry is fishing. The settlement was established relatively recently. The former general store, the oldest building in the town, is now a geological centre with exhibits devoted to the volcanologist George Walker and to the linguist and literary historian Stefán Einarsson, who was born in Breiðdalur.[2][3] The former fish factory has also been preserved. Breiðdalsvík has a hotel and a craft brewery. The Breiðdalsá is popular for salmon fishing.[1]
On 10 September 1942, Breiðdalsvík was the location of one of the few World War II air raids in Iceland: a German warplane strafed a residential building called Hamar, hitting it with 9 bullets. The building was occupied, but there were no injuries.[4]
See also
References
- "Breiðdalsvík", Visit Austurland, retrieved 26 February 2023.
- "Breiðdalssetur", Icelandic Times, retrieved 26 February 2023.
- "Breiðdalssetur", Visit Austurland, retrieved 26 February 2023.
- "Þetta er mér enn ofarlega í huga", Morgunblaðið, 11 September 2002 (in Icelandic).