Þorlákshöfn Explained

Þorlákshöfn
Nickname:Höfnin
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Iceland
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Iceland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Iceland
Subdivision Type1:Constituency
Subdivision Name1:South Constituency
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Southern Region
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Ölfus
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Elliði Vignisson
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2018
Population Total:1,651
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:GMT
Utc Offset:+0
Coordinates:63.85°N -43°W
Postal Code Type:Post Code
Postal Code:815
Website:www.olfus.is

Þorlákshöfn (in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈθɔrˌlauksˌhœpn̥/) is a town on the southern coast of Iceland in the Municipality of Ölfus.

The town is named after Saint Thorlak who was a bishop at Skálholt. Its main importance is as a port as it has the only harbour on Iceland's southern coastline between Grindavík in the west and Höfn in the east. The port serves direct weekly cargo ferries to Rotterdam and Hirtshals operated by Faroese Smyril Line. It is also one of two departure points for ferries to the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Services include restaurants, tourism, a golf course, motocross field, camping, a sports complex, and a swimming pool. The town has several fish processing enterprises (Hafnarnes, Lysi). Several salmon farms (Arnarlax, GeoSalmo, Landeldi, LaxEldi) are among the biggest in the country are west of town.

History and Culture

The construction of Þorlákskirkja, a modern Protestant church, was started in 1979.[1] The church was consecrated in 1985.[2] There are various historical places near Þorlákshöfn, e.g., a wooden church dating from 1909 on the farm Kotströnd.[3]

Infrastructure

Þorlákshöfn has a hotel, a camping area, a golf course, various restaurants, and a sports centre with a public swimming pool. The town hall of the municipality of Ölfus (Ráðhús Ölfuss) is in Þorlákshöfn. There are various shops, a supermarket, primary school, kindergarten, public library, health care centre (Heilsugaelustöð), pharmacy, a gas station and several car repair shops.

Sports

As of 2023, local football club Ægir plays in the second tier of Iceland's football pyramid. They play their home games at the Þorlákshafnarvöllur.

Tourist attractions

In the vicinty of the town, one finds several tourist attrcations and sightseeing spots:

Notable people from Þorlákshöfn

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Þorlákshafnarkirkja - NAT ferðavísir. 5 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Þorlákskirkja.
  3. Web site: Kotströnd.