Húsavík facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Húsavík
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Town
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Aerial panorama of the town and the harbour
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Location of the Municipality of Norðurþing
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 Húsavík
Location in Iceland
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| Country | Iceland |
| Constituency | Northeast Constituency |
| Region | Northeastern Region |
| Municipality | Norðurþing |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 2,307 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| Post Code |
640, 645
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Húsavík is a charming town located on the northeast coast of Iceland. It sits right by the beautiful Skjálfandi bay. About 2,485 people call Húsavík home. One of the most famous buildings here is the lovely wooden church, Húsavíkurkirkja, which was built in 1907. Húsavík even has its own airport, making it easy to visit.
Contents
About Húsavík
The people of Húsavík earn their living from different things. Many work in tourism, helping visitors explore the area. Fishing is also very important here. There are also shops and small businesses that help the town thrive.
Húsavík has a special place in Iceland's history. According to an old book called Landnámabók (which means "Book of Settlement"), Húsavík was the first place in Iceland where a Norseman settled. A Swedish Viking named Garðar Svavarsson spent a winter here around 870 A.D. When he left in the spring, he left behind a man named Náttfari and two slaves. They started a farm, making it the first known settlement in Iceland. The name Húsavík means "bay of houses," probably because Garðar's homestead was the only group of houses in Iceland at that time.
Things to Do in Húsavík
Húsavík is known as the "Whale Capital of Iceland." Many different kinds of whales often swim into the bay, making it a perfect spot for whale watching. You can take a boat tour to see these amazing creatures up close!
Museums and Culture
The Húsavík Whale Museum is located right by the harbour. It's a great place to learn all about whales and their lives in the ocean.
There's also a local museum that teaches you about the town's culture and nature. It has interesting exhibits, including a stuffed polar bear that arrived in Grímsey in 1969, and old boats.
The Exploration Museum in Húsavík tells the story of human exploration. It covers everything from ancient explorers to space travel. Outside the museum, you'll find a special monument. It honors the Apollo astronauts who trained near Húsavík in the 1960s to prepare for their moon missions.
If you love music, especially the Eurovision Song Contest, you might enjoy The Eurovision Museum. It opened in 2021 and celebrates the history of this famous song competition.
Festivals and Nature
Every year in mid-July, Húsavík hosts a fun festival called Mærudagar. This means "Candy Days." Thousands of people come from all over Iceland to enjoy the music, colorful decorations, and lots of tasty food and drinks.
Húsavík is also close to some incredible natural wonders. The Mývatn region is nearby, famous for its unique geology and diverse wildlife. You can also visit Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. This park features the amazing horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi and powerful waterfalls like Dettifoss, Hafragilsfoss, and Selfoss.
Sports
The local football (soccer) team in Húsavík is called ÍF Völsungur. They last played in Iceland's top football league in 1988.
Town Connections
Húsavík has special connections with several towns in other countries. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They help promote friendship and cultural exchange.
- Karlskoga, Sweden
- Fredrikstad, Norway
- Riihimäki, Finland
- Aalborg, Denmark
- Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland
- Fuglafjørður, Faroe Islands
- Eastport, Maine, USA
Weather in Húsavík
Húsavík has a cool climate, similar to many coastal areas in Iceland. It can be quite chilly in winter and mild in summer.
| Climate data for Húsavík (2000–2019) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.1 (55.6) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
20.0 (68.0) |
23.5 (74.3) |
26.7 (80.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.3 (34.3) |
1.6 (34.9) |
1.4 (34.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
13.8 (56.8) |
14.3 (57.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
6.3 (43.3) |
2.6 (36.7) |
1.4 (34.5) |
7.0 (44.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.9 (44.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.0 (35.6) |
0.7 (33.3) |
5.6 (42.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.2 (24.4) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
1.9 (35.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.2 (45.0) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.8 (38.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
0.5 (32.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −18.0 (−0.4) |
−16.5 (2.3) |
−21.2 (−6.2) |
−17.4 (0.7) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−21.2 (−6.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 78.6 (3.09) |
60.2 (2.37) |
62.7 (2.47) |
50.4 (1.98) |
37.2 (1.46) |
42.0 (1.65) |
43.3 (1.70) |
58.2 (2.29) |
90.1 (3.55) |
101.4 (3.99) |
87.3 (3.44) |
77.1 (3.04) |
788.5 (31.03) |
| Source: Icelandic Met Office | |||||||||||||
Daylight Hours
Because Húsavík is so far north, it experiences something called the midnight sun. From June 11th to June 29th, the sun never fully sets! It stays light all night long.
In winter, the days are very short. On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, Húsavík only has about 2 hours and 45 minutes of daylight. The sun rises around 11:45 AM and sets by 2:30 PM.
Gallery
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Húsavík harbour (1)
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Church of Húsavík, Húsavíkurkirkja
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Whales in Skjalfandi near Húsavík
See also
In Spanish: Húsavík para niños
