Viðey
| Viðey | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 64 ° 9 ′ 50 ″ N , 21 ° 51 ′ 0 ″ W | |
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| length | 2.9 km | |
| width | 720 m | |
| surface | 1.7 km² | |
| Highest elevation | 32 m | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
Viðey is the largest of the islands in Kollafjörður off the Icelandic capital Reykjavík . It is part of the municipality of Reykjavíkurborg , but does not belong to any of the ten districts of Reykjavík, but to the Græni Trefillinn (Green Belt, hinterland of Reykjavík).
geography
Viðey covers an area of 1.7 km² and is particularly attractive as a hiking area in the summer months . The island consists of Vesturey in the southeast and the smaller part of the island Heimaey in the northwest. The two parts of the island are connected by the flat and 130 meter wide isthmus Eiðið . It is therefore a double island .
history
Originating from a volcano and up until about 9000 years ago under water due to the Ice Age , the island, which is overgrown with vegetation in the form of grass and marsh plants, is an important breeding ground for various bird species.
The island was first settled in the 10th century n. Chr. From 1225 to 1539 Viðey was the seat of a convent of Augustinian , probably at the initiative of Snorri Sturluson founded. In 1550 the island was recaptured by the last Catholic bishop Jón Arason . After his execution in the same year, the monastery was finally dissolved. In 1755, the Viðeyarstofa manor , the first stone house in Iceland, was built for Skúli Magnússon as the official residence of the royal treasurer. The island church was consecrated in 1774 .
The island has been uninhabited since the last residents left Viðey in 1959. In 1988 a restaurant for visitors and tourists was set up in Viðeyjarstofa .
Attractions
The church, consecrated in 1774, is the second oldest surviving church in Iceland after the Hólar Cathedral . It has the oldest preserved furnishings of any Icelandic church.
Viðey is home to the Imagine Peace Tower , a work of light art that was built by Yoko Ono in 2007 in memory of John Lennon . Between October 9th and December 8th, the anniversary of Lennon's birth and death, a pillar of light is projected into the sky from a white stone monument. Engraved on the memorial is Imagine Peace in 24 languages. With this, and with the name of the work of art, reference is made to Lennon's song Imagine . The electricity for the light column comes from water and geothermal power plants . Another work of art on Viðey are the 1990 Áfangar (milestones) by Richard Serra , nine pairs of basalt columns.
Viðey is also visited for bird watching . About 30 species of birds breed on the island, including eider ducks , snipe and black-tailed godwit .
traffic
There is a year-round ferry connection to the island with the Gestur ferry from Reykjavík . Most courses depart from Skarfabakki in Reykjavík's new Sundahöfn harbor . Individual courses will also establish a connection to the old port in the city center. All vehicles are allowed on Viðey, but this is impractical.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hagstofa Íslands: Landshagir / Statistical Yearbook of Iceland 2015 . Hagstofa Íslands, 2015, ISBN 978-9979-770-55-8 , ISSN 1017-6683 , p. 416 ( statice.is [PDF; 17.3 MB ]).
- ↑ Imagine Peace Tower ( English ) Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ↑ Viðey - Art ( English ) Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ↑ Viðey - Nature ( English ) Retrieved June 14, 2012.
Web links
- Viðey website (Icelandic and English)
- Information about Viðey