Westmannaeyjar ( Isle. Vestmannaeyjar ) is a small archipelago south of Iceland . The area is 16.3 km² . The population as of December 2006 was 4,075 people .
| Westmannayayar | |
|---|---|
| isl Vestmannaeyjar | |
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Number of islands | 1 large, 13 small, rocks, cliffs |
| Largest island | Heimaei |
| total area | 16.3 km² |
| Population | 4075 people (2006) |
| Population density | 250 people / km² |
| Location | |
| Water area | Atlantic Ocean |
| A country |
|
| Region | Sydurland |
Content
Geography
The archipelago consists of one large ( Heimai , the only inhabited island ) island, 13 small, as well as several dozen rocks and cliffs .
Volcanic activity, as in Iceland itself, is very active. A major eruption of the Eldfetl volcano in 1973 forced the evacuation of Heimaei’s population. Upon its completion, a mountain about 200 meters high was formed at the place of the meadow .
Westmanayayyar lies in the path of migration of many species of birds . Some species nest in the archipelago.
Islands of the Archipelago
- Heimai (13.4 km²)
- Surtsey (1.4 km²)
- Edlidaei (0.45 km²)
- Biadnari (0.32 km²)
- Aulsey (0.25 km²)
- Sydurey (0.20 km²)
- Brandyur (0.1 km²)
- Hellisey (0.1 km²)
- Súlnasker (0.03 km²)
- Geldungur (0.02 km²)
- Geirfuglasker (0.02 km²)
- Hani
- Hæna
- Hrauney
History
The exact date of discovery of the islands is unknown, but it is assumed that the archipelago was discovered by Irish navigators and Vikings at the same time as Iceland. The islands are also known for being captured by the Ottoman fleet and the Berber pirates who took people into slavery in 1627 . The archipelago gained another notoriety in the 1960s , when a new island, Surtsey, was formed southwest of it.
Translated from Icelandic, Westmannayayyar means "islands of Western people", which mentions the first settlers of these places - the Irish (whom the Norwegian Vikings called "Western people"), slaves who rebelled against their host, the Norwegian viking Hjörleiva Hrodmarsson, and fled to the islands.
Transportation
You can get to Westmanayayyar either by air or by ferry from Torlaukshön .
Gallery
The islands of Vestmannaeyyar have rocky inaccessible shores
Vestmannaeyjar
Heimaei Island