Húsavík

Húsavík, Iceland

Town seal
Location of Húsavík in Iceland (upper right)
County	Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla
Constituency	Northeast
Area	270 km² ( 104.25mi²)
Population Total (2006) Density	2,296 9.09/km²
Postal codes	640, 645
Latitude Longitude
[http://www.husavik.is/ Municipal website]

Húsavík is a small town in the north of Iceland on the shores of Skjálfandi bay.

The income of the inhabitants is derived from tourism and fishing, as well as retail and small industry.

Húsavík has become a centre of whale watching in the north due to whales of different species that frequently enter the bay. It is also home to the Icelandic Phallological Museum, [cite news |title=Icelandic museum offers long and short of male organ |first=Bob |last=Strong |work=Reuters |date=2008-05-15 |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1519887520080515 ] which contains specimens from every mammal that lives in Iceland.

Viking "Garðar Svavarsson" was the first confirmed human to spend a winter on the island. He gave the island the name "Garðarshólmi". A monument near the schoolhouse remembers him.

The town's church was built in 1907.

The region of Mývatn, with its interesting geology and diverse animal life, is nearby. Húsavík used to export silica that was extracted from the lake.

References

ee also

*List of settlements in Iceland
*Volcanoes of Iceland
*History of Iceland

External links

* [http://www.husavik.is/ Official website] en icon is icon
* [http://www.bildungsservice.at/faecher/geo/Staaten%20und%20Landschaften/Island/Island%202/Island%201996-0082%20-%20Húsavík%20-%20Hafen.jpgThe harbour]
* [http://www.icewhale.is/ Whalewatching and information about whales]