Stykkishólmur

2025-09-15T12:04:42Z

78.186.89.42: Undid revision 1311489539 by 78.186.89.42 (talk)

{{refimprove|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Stykkishólmur
|settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Iceland|Municipality]]
|image_skyline = 1 aerial pano stykkishólmur 2017.jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|image_caption = Skyline of Stykkishólmsbær
|image_shield =
|shield_size = 85px
|image_map = Sveitarfélagið Stykkishólmur Loc.svg
|map_caption = Location of Stykkishólmur
|mapsize = 250px
|coordinates = {{coord|65|04|30|N|22|43|30|W|type:city_region:IS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Iceland
|subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Iceland|Region]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Western Region (Iceland)|Western Region]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Constituencies of Iceland|Constituency]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Northwest Constituency]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Jakob Björgvin Jakobsson
|unit_pref = Metric
|area_total_km2 = 10
|population_total = 1200
|population_density_km2 = 109.50
|postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Iceland|Postal code(s)]]
|postal_code = 340, 345
|code1_name = Municipal number
|code1_info = 3711
|website = {{URL|stykkisholmur.is}}
}}
[[File:Norwegian_house_hiticeland_stykkisholmur.jpg|thumb|Norwegian house in Stykkishólmur]]
'''Stykkishólmur''' ({{IPA|is|ˈstɪhcɪsˌhoulmʏr̥|audio=Stykkishólmur.ogg}}) is a town and municipality situated in the western part of [[Iceland]], in the northern part of the [[Snæfellsnes]] peninsula. It is a center of services and commerce for the area. Most of the people make their living from fishing and tourism. A ferry called ''Baldur'' goes over the [[Breiðafjörður]] fjord to the [[Westfjords]]. It also is the gateway to [[Flatey, Breiðafjörður|Flatey]]. The origin of Stykkishólmur can be traced to its natural harbor. The location became an important trading post early in Iceland's history: the first trading post in Stykkishólmur is traced back to the mid-16th century, even before Denmark implemented the Danish–Icelandic Trade Monopoly (1602 – 1787). From that time trading has been at the heart of the settlement's history. In 1828 Árni Thorlacius built a large house for his home and companies, the Norwegian house, which has been renovated and accommodates the local museum.<ref>[http://hiticeland.com/towns_and_villages_in_iceland/stykkish%C3%B3lmur "Hit Iceland information page about Iceland"]</ref>

==Overview==
The favorable position of Stykkishólmur was discovered in 1550 when a trading post was founded at the site. Today, the most vital employment sectors in the town are fishing and tourism, especially during the summer. There are several sightworthy wooden buildings in the town centre. ''Egilsenshús'' is a wooden house dating from 1867 which belonged to a Danish merchant.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sturla.is/hotel-egilsens-i-stykkisholmi/ |title = Hótel Egilsens í Stykkishólmi – Sturla| date=2012 }}</ref>

The town was named after a small island in front of the harbor called ''Stykkið'' ({{IPA|is|ˈstɪhcɪθ|}}, "the piece"). The nearby mountain of [[Helgafell (Sveitarfélagið Stykkishólmur)|Helgafell]] is the burial place of [[Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir]], a heroine of the [[Icelandic sagas]].

The port of Stykkishólmur has a long history as a trading hub, dating back to the mid-16th century. The port was used by Icelanders emigrating to North America. 1887 saw a peak in emigration with over 70 people leaving the port. About 500 people eventually emigrated from Stykkishólmur port to North America between 1870-1914. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icelandicroots.com/our-icelandic-heritage |title=Icelandic Heritage Emigration Story |access-date=2025-05-13}}</ref>

The town's former library has been restored as a public hall and contains an installation by the American artist [[Roni Horn]].

The sports club of Stykkishólmur is called Snæfell, named after the glacier [[Snæfellsjökull]] located on Snæfellsnes. The town's most popular sport is [[basketball]].

[[File:Aerial perspective of Stykkishólmur from the sea.jpg|thumb|Aerial panorama of Stykkishólmur from the sea, June 2017]]

[[File:Stykkishólmur facing the coming midnight sun.jpg|thumb|Stykkishólmur facing the midnight sun]]

==In popular culture==
[[File:NASA Tº 1880 2009 Stykkisholmur.gif|430px|thumb|Climate graph of 1880–1980 average air temperatures at Stykkishólmur]]

A famous Icelander from Stykkishólmur is Sveinn Kristján Bjarnason. He was born in 1887 at Breiðabólstaður and emigrated with his parents from Stykkishólmur in 1889. Their destination was Winnipeg. In the United States, he became Edgar Holger Cahill. He worked as the National Director of the Federal Art Project through the WPA (Works Projects Administration) from 1935-1943. He was the Director of the Museum of Modern Art, a writer, curator, and expert on American folk art. He developed this work-relief program for artists under the New Deal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He is the interesting Icelander in this article: <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/interesting-icelander-for-january-2025|title=Interesting Icelander for January 2025|date=19 January 2025 |access-date=2025-06-13}}</ref>

In the 1986 novel ''[[Red Storm Rising]]'', Stykkishólmur is the site of a landing by [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] tasked with liberating Iceland from occupying [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] forces.

[[Chess]] champion [[Bobby Fischer]] was planning on moving to Stykkishólmur before his sudden death in early 2008.

Stykkishólmur is the main setting in the short story ''Tussenlanding'' (''Transfer'') from the 1991 short story collection ''De Matador en andere verhalen'' by [[Tim Krabbé]]. The story features a Dutchman coming to Iceland in hope to start a relationship with an Icelandic woman he barely knows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timkrabbe.minkman.org/de%20matador.htm |title=De Matador en andere verhalen. Inhoud (in Dutch) |access-date=2018-05-02}}</ref>

The town was the filming location for the depictions of [[Nuuk]], [[Greenland]] in the 2013 movie ''[[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013 film)|The Secret Life of Walter Mitty]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.filminiceland.com/the--film-commission/articles/assisting-the-daydreamer/194 |title=Assisting the Daydreamer |publisher=Filminiceland.com |access-date=2013-12-27}}</ref>

==Town festival==
Every year on the second or third weekend in August, the people in Stykkishólmur celebrate the ''Danskir dagar'' ("Danish days") festival, which honors the town's historic connections with Denmark. The festival has been held every year since 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=Danskir Dagar|url=http://danskirdagar.stykkisholmur.is/|access-date=2016-12-29}}</ref>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Iceland}}

Stykkishólmur is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Vinabæjarmót í Stykkishólmi|url=https://www.stykkisholmur.is/frettir/stok-frett/2019/09/20/Vinabaejarmot-i-Stykkisholmi/|website=stykkisholmur.is|publisher=Stykkishólmur|language=is|date=2019-09-20|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Drammen]], Norway
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Kolding Municipality|Kolding]], Denmark
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Lappeenranta]], Finland
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Örebro Municipality|Örebro]], Sweden

{{Wide image|Stykkisholmur panorama.jpg|1000px|Stykkishólmur from the lighthouse|75%|none
|alt=Stykkishólmur from the lighthouse}}

==Climate==
Stykkishólmur features a [[subpolar oceanic climate]] moderated by the nearby ocean. It has cool summers, but also winter averages less cold than cities much further south featuring temperate continental climates, such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto, or Denver. April - July is the driest season, while autumn and winter is the wettest season.

{{Weather box
|location = Stykkishólmur, 1991–2020 normals
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 10.9
|Feb record high C = 10.5
|Mar record high C = 12.2
|Apr record high C = 16.4
|May record high C = 18.4
|Jun record high C = 21.0
|Jul record high C = 21.0
|Aug record high C = 20.8
|Sep record high C = 18.5
|Oct record high C = 15.7
|Nov record high C = 13.3
|Dec record high C = 13.4
|year record high C = 21.0
|Jan high C = 2.7
|Feb high C = 2.5
|Mar high C = 3.1
|Apr high C = 5.8
|May high C = 8.9
|Jun high C = 12.2
|Jul high C = 13.9
|Aug high C = 13.4
|Sep high C = 10.7
|Oct high C = 6.8
|Nov high C = 4.1
|Dec high C = 2.9
|year high C = 7.3
|Jan mean C = 0.2
|Feb mean C = -0.2
|Mar mean C = 0.3
|Apr mean C = 2.6
|May mean C = 5.7
|Jun mean C = 8.9
|Jul mean C = 10.7
|Aug mean C = 10.5
|Sep mean C = 8.1
|Oct mean C = 4.4
|Nov mean C = 1.8
|Dec mean C = 0.4
|year mean C = 4.5
|Jan low C = -2.2
|Feb low C = -2.5
|Mar low C = -1.9
|Apr low C = 0.3
|May low C = 3.2
|Jun low C = 6.4
|Jul low C = 8.4
|Aug low C = 8.3
|Sep low C = 6.0
|Oct low C = 2.5
|Nov low C = -0.3
|Dec low C = -2.0
|year low C = 2.2
|Jan record low C = -16.0
|Feb record low C = -17.7
|Mar record low C = -19.0
|Apr record low C = -16.0
|May record low C = -6.7
|Jun record low C = -0.8
|Jul record low C = 2.0
|Aug record low C = 0.5
|Sep record low C = -4.9
|Oct record low C = -8.0
|Nov record low C = -11.8
|Dec record low C = -14.8
|year record low C = -19.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 81.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 82.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 73.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 45.0
|May precipitation mm = 40.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 32.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 34.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 50.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 78.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 68.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 84.5
|year precipitation mm = 738.4
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14.3
|Feb precipitation days = 13.6
|Mar precipitation days = 12.8
|Apr precipitation days = 9.5
|May precipitation days = 8.9
|Jun precipitation days = 7.3
|Jul precipitation days = 7.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.0
|Sep precipitation days = 12.5
|Oct precipitation days = 12.6
|Nov precipitation days = 12.4
|Dec precipitation days = 13.8
|year precipitation days = 135.0
|unit snow days = 0 cm
|Jan snow days = 10.9
|Feb snow days = 12.1
|Mar snow days = 8.7
|Apr snow days = 1.7
|May snow days = 0.2
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.4
|Nov snow days = 4.1
|Dec snow days = 8.4
|year snow days = 46.5
|source 1 = [[Icelandic Meteorological Office]]<ref name="IMO">{{Cite web
|url = http://en.vedur.is/Medaltalstoflur-txt/Stykkisholmur_178_med6190.txt
|title = 30 years average 1961-1990 for selected stations
|access-date = December 4, 2012
|publisher = [[Icelandic Meteorological Office]]
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230818023316/https://en.vedur.is/Medaltalstoflur-txt/Stykkisholmur_178_med6190.txt
|archive-date = 2023-08-18}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA9120>{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Iceland/CSV/Stykkisholmur_04013.csv
|title = Stykkisholmur Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = August 18, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230818023340/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Iceland/CSV/Stykkisholmur_04013.csv
|archive-date = 2023-08-18}}</ref>
}}

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in Iceland]]
*[[Snæfellsjökull]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Stykkishólmur}}
*[http://stykkisholmur.is/ Official website] {{in lang|is}}

{{Cities and towns in Iceland}}
{{Municipalities of Iceland}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stykkisholmur}}
[[Category:Municipalities of Iceland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Western Region (Iceland)]]

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Stykkishólmur