Reykjavík

Reykjavík, capital city of Iceland, on the Faxaflói (a bay of the Atlantic Ocean), in the south-west of the country. It is the largest city, a major fishing port, and the commercial, manufacturing, and cultural centre of Iceland. The majority of the country’s goods are produced in Reykjavík, and industries include food processing, the manufacture of clothing, paint, and printed fabrics, as well as shipbuilding and the manufacture of metal products. The city is served by an international airport at Keflavík. Reykjavík is a modern city, with most of its buildings heated by water piped in from nearby geothermal springs. It is the site of the University of Iceland (1911); the Reykjavík Conservatory of Music (1930); the Althing (parliament); the Lutheran cathedral; the National Library; the National Archives; and the National Theatre. Points of interest include the Museum of Natural History, the National Museum, which contains a collection of Icelandic antiquities; the National Gallery; the modern Hallgrím's Church; and a statue of the Icelandic navigator Leif Ericson, presented in 1930 to Iceland by the United States to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Althing.

Vikings established the first permanent settlement here in 874, naming the city Reykjavík, which means “Smoky Bay”, after the steam that rises from the hot springs nearby. The community was chartered in 1786, became the seat of parliament in 1843, and was made the capital of Iceland in 1918. Its main growth as an economic centre occurred in the 20th century. Population 113,022 (2005 estimate).