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Núverandi breyting frá og með 17. ágúst 2007 kl. 13:10

Welcome to "Heimaslóð". Here you can find some fun and interesting facts about Vestmannaeyjar and its culture and history.

Vestmannaeyjar are a group of fifteen islands, rock pillars and skerries, large and small; a microcosm of humans, birds and creatures of the sea. We, who spend all or part of our lives in such close proximity to such splendours of nature and simultaneously be able to raise our children in safety and peace, consider it a privilege.

To many Vestmannaeyjar are unique; rising from the North-Atlantic ocean, far off the beaten track, a destination only to those who specifically set out to go there.

This, perhaps dated and fanciful remoteness, lends the islands an aura of magic and adventure, particularly to those living far away. Let me assure you, however, that Vestmannaeyjar are not that remote; the passage here is smoother and easier than you might think. And once here, what you will find waiting for you is magnificent rugged nature, inhabited by human and non-human teeming life that leaves its mark on any visitor; many of whom return again and again. We are lucky enough to have and have had among us valued friends that originally came for a few months´ fishing season that inadvertently lasted a lifetime.

The history of our islands is in many ways exceptional. For decades they were one of Iceland’s largest and busiest fishery centres contributing a proportionally immense share of the nation’s export revenue. As the fishing industry has become increasingly technologically advanced and entered the fierce competition of the international market place this has to some extent changed. The fishing industry is still, however, of great importance to Vestmannaeyjar and will continue to be, for the foreseeable future, one of the main pillars of the community’s economic life.

The new millennium is a juncture in more ways than one for Vestmannaeyjar. We must seek new and different “fishing grounds”, new industries to ensure diversity of employment. The islands offer considerable opportunities for those seeking to build new enterprises - a hard-working population, short distances and last but not least a safe and friendly environment for young families and growing children.

@@ Lína 1: / Lína 1: @@
-Welcome to '''Heimaslóð'''.
+'''Welcome to "Heimaslóð". Here you can find some fun and interesting facts about Vestmannaeyjar and its culture and history.'''
+----
+[[Mynd:Vestmannaeyjabaer.jpg|thumb|250px|Vestmannaeyjar]]
+Vestmannaeyjar are a group of fifteen islands, rock pillars and skerries, large and small; a microcosm of humans, birds and creatures of the sea. We, who
+spend all or part of our lives in such close proximity to such splendours of nature and simultaneously be able to raise our children in safety and peace, consider it a privilege.
-== Westman Islands ==
+To many Vestmannaeyjar are unique; rising from the North-Atlantic ocean, far off the beaten track, a destination only to those who specifically set out to go there.
-The Westman Islands are a group of 15-18 islands, depending on how they are classed, and about 30 skerries sand rock pillars, located off the mainland’s south coast. The islands were formed by submarine volcanic eruptions along a 30-km long fissure lying southwest to northeast. The largest island is Heimaey, 13.4 km2.Most of the islands have steep sea cliffs, and are well vegetated. Bird hunting and egg collecting are traditional to the islanders’ culture.
-A Norse timber church, a gift from the Norwegians to commemorate 1000 years since Christianity was accepted in Iceland, was consecrated on Heimaey. The only church of its type in Iceland, it has been situated at the Skanssvæði area where a stone wall, built after the Turkish kidnapping in 1627 occurred, has been rebuilt. Population is 4,416.
+This, perhaps dated and fanciful remoteness, lends the islands an aura of magic and adventure, particularly to those living far away. Let me assure you, however, that Vestmannaeyjar are not that remote; the passage here is smoother and easier than you might think. And once here, what you will find waiting for you is magnificent rugged nature, inhabited by human and non-human teeming life that leaves its mark on any visitor; many of whom return again and again. We are lucky enough to have and have had among us valued friends that originally came for a few months´ fishing season that inadvertently lasted a lifetime.
-== The Community ==
+The history of our islands is in many ways exceptional. For decades they were one of Iceland’s largest and busiest fishery centres contributing a proportionally immense share of the nation’s export revenue. As the fishing industry has become increasingly technologically advanced and entered the fierce competition of the international market place this has to some extent
-Hunting and fishing are the traditional mainstays of the island economy. Rich fishing grounds surround the islands. For many years Heimaey was one of Iceland´s largest fishing stations. During the main season, people, from all places and walks of life, flocked here to work long hours and earn money. The population of the town trebled and the number of boats multiplied. Today, ships are larger and more technologically advanced, production has moved from landbased freezing plants to factory ships and consequently the hustle and bustle of the main season is much a thing of the past.
+changed. The fishing industry is still, however, of great importance to Vestmannaeyjar and will continue to be, for the foreseeable future, one of the main pillars of the community’s economic life.
-== A New Island Emerges- Surtsey ==
+The new millennium is a juncture in more ways than one for Vestmannaeyjar. We must seek new and different “fishing grounds”, new industries to ensure
-On the morning of 14th November, 1963, crew aboard Ísleifur II saw a column of black dust rising from the sea, south-west of Heimaey. An eruption had begun on the seabed which was to last almost four years. By the second day of the eruption the island, Surtsey, was already 10 metres high. When the eruption ended, on 5th June, 1967, the island covered 2,8 square km and reached a height of 170m. Surtsey is protected by law and Icelandic scientists continue to document the colonization of the island by plant and bird life.
+diversity of employment. The islands offer considerable opportunities for those seeking to build new enterprises - a hard-working population, short distances and last but not least a safe and friendly environment for young families and growing children.
-== The Eruption on Heimaey, 1973 ==
-The eruption on Heimay began on 23rd January, 1973, just before two o´clock in the morning. A fissure opened on the eastern side of the island, only 300-400 metres from Kirkjubæir, the most easterly houses in the town. The inhabitants of Heimaey were woken by the police and firebrigade as they drove around, raising the alarm with their sirens. People streamed down to the docks. Fortunately the weather had been stormy the day before and most of the island´s fleet of 60-70 fishing boats had stayed in harbour. The boats ferried the town´s people to safety in Þórlákshöfn. In March, moltern lava threatened to close the harbour approaches. In a desperate attempt to stop the flow, seawater was pumped on to the lava. This method proved very effective. Today the harbour is considered to be even better than before. The eruption ended on 3rd July, 1973. In six months a new volcano, 225m high, had appeared on the island and a new lava field lay to the east and covered 3.3 square km. Around 360 houses had been buried and many others badly damaged. Before the eruption 5300 people lived on Heimaey, 2000 of these moved back immediately after the eruption ended. Slowly but surely more families returned and began to rebuild their community.
+----
+* [[Let me take you to the islands]]
+* [[Few good reasons to visit]]
+* [[Culture and Art]]
+* [[Education in Vestmannaeyjar]]
+* [[Sports and Leisure]]
+* [[Investment opportunities in Vestmannaeyjar]]
+* [[Vestmannaeyjar Research and Study Center]]
+* [[The harbor]]
+* [[Conferences, meetings and social occasions]]
+* [[Air service from Bakki]]
+* [[A few annual social events]]
+* [[Turkish invasion walk]]
+* [[En:Surtsey|Surtsey, volcanic eruption 1963-1967]]
+[[Flokkur:English]]

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