Akranes

Akraneskaupstaður
July 2008 aerial view of Akranes.
Region	Western Region
Constituency	Northwest Constituency
Mayor	Regína Ásvaldsdóttir
Area	9 km²
Population	6,699
Density	744.33/km²
Municipal number	3000
Postal code(s)	300, 301, 302
Website	akranes.is

Langisandur in Akranes

Akranes is a port town and municipality on the west coast of Iceland, around 20 km north of the capital Reykjavík.

The area where Akranes is located was settled in the 9th century, but did not receive a municipal charter until 1942.

History

Akranes was settled in the 9th century by the brothers Þormóður and Ketill, sons of Bresi. They came from Ireland. The town started to form in the mid-17th century as a fishing village. In 1942, it was formally chartered, and in the following years it had the biggest surge in population in its history.

Industry has been a big and growing employer: a cement plant has been operated in the town since the 1950s, and an aluminum smelting plant has been in operation near the town since 1998.

Current situation

The fishing industry remains the town's most important source of employment, but commerce is also a significant employer as Akranes acts as a service center for a large rural region surrounding it.

The town is expected to grow further in the coming years because of growing industry and improvements of transportation to the Reykjavík area, following the construction of the 5.57 km long Hvalfjörður Tunnel which was opened in 1998, one of the world's longest underwater road tunnels.

Akranes has a strong football tradition. The local team, ÍA, has for many years been among the best of the Icelandic football league. Former Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal midfielder Siggi Jonsson was born in Akranes and had three spells as a player with ÍA.

Notable people

Akranes was the birthplace of the Atom poet Jón Óskar (1921–1998).

Sport

The town is home to sports club Íþróttabandalag Akraness, most notable for its football team.

Gallery

Akranes harbour
Akrafjall, located nearby
Straw bales near Akranes
Old lighthouse of Akranes
New lighthouse of Akranes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akranes.

Official website (Icelandic)

Cities and towns in Iceland

Álftanes Akranes Akureyri Blönduós Bolungarvík Borgarnes Dalvík Egilsstaðir Eskifjörður Eyrarbakki Fáskrúðsfjörður Garðabær Garður Grindavík Grundarfjörður Hafnarfjörður Hella Höfn Húsavík Hvammstangi Hveragerði Hvolsvöllur Ísafjörður Keflavík Kópavogur Mosfellsbær Neskaupstaður Njarðvík Ólafsfjörður Ólafsvík Patreksfjörður Reyðarfjörður Reykjavík Sandgerði Sauðárkrókur Selfoss Seltjarnarnes Seyðisfjörður Siglufjörður Skagaströnd Stokkseyri Stykkishólmur Þorlákshöfn Vestmannaeyjar Vík í Mýrdal Vogar Vopnafjörður

Municipalities of Iceland

Capital Region	Garðabær Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður Kjósarhreppur Kópavogsbær Mosfellsbær Reykjavíkurborg Seltjarnarneskaupstaður

Southern Peninsula	Grindavíkurbær Reykjanesbær Sandgerðisbær Sveitarfélagið Garður Sveitarfélagið Vogar

Western Region	Akraneskaupstaður Borgarbyggð Dalabyggð Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur Grundarfjarðarbær Helgafellssveit Hvalfjarðarsveit Skorradalshreppur Snæfellsbær Stykkishólmsbær

Westfjords	Árneshreppur Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður Ísafjarðarbær Kaldrananeshreppur Reykhólahreppur Strandabyggð Súðavíkurhreppur Tálknafjarðarhreppur Vesturbyggð

Northwestern Region	Akrahreppur Blönduósbær Húnavatnshreppur Húnaþing vestra Skagabyggð Sveitarfélagið Skagafjörður Sveitarfélagið Skagaströnd

Northeastern Region	Akureyrarkaupstaður Dalvíkurbyggð Eyjafjarðarsveit Fjallabyggð Grýtubakkahreppur Hörgársveit Langanesbyggð Norðurþing Skútustaðahreppur Svalbarðshreppur Svalbarðsstrandarhreppur Tjörneshreppur Þingeyjarsveit

Eastern Region	Borgarfjarðarhreppur Breiðdalshreppur Djúpavogshreppur Fjarðabyggð Fljótsdalshérað Fljótsdalshreppur Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður Vopnafjarðarhreppur

Southern Region	Ásahreppur Bláskógabyggð Flóahreppur Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur Hrunamannahreppur Hveragerðisbær Mýrdalshreppur Rangárþing eystra Rangárþing ytra Skaftárhreppur Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur Sveitarfélagið Árborg Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður Sveitarfélagið Ölfus Vestmannaeyjabær

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 127984126 GND: 4604265-9

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