Kópavogur Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Kópavogur

Municipality

Skyline of Kópavogur

Coat of arms

Location of Kópavogur

Country

Iceland

Region

Capital Region

Constituency

Southwest Constituency

Established

1948

Market right

11 May 1955

Area

• Total

80 km² (30 sq mi)

Population

(2020)

• Total

37,959

• Density

462.19/km² (1,197.1/sq mi)

Postal code(s)

200–203

Municipal number

1000

Kópavogur (pronounced like KOH-pa-voh-goor) is a lively town in Iceland. It is the second largest municipality in the country based on how many people live there.

This town is located right next to Reykjavík, Iceland's capital. It is part of the Capital Region. The name Kópavogur means seal pup inlet, which is a cute name! The town's official seal even shows a church with a little seal pup underneath.

Kópavogur has many homes, but also busy shopping areas and lots of businesses. You can find the tallest building in Iceland here, called the Smáratorg Tower.

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Discover Kópavogur: A Major Icelandic Town
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Discover Kópavogur: A Major Icelandic Town

What is the History of Kópavogur?

Kópavogur has an interesting past. A very important event happened here in 1662, known as the Kópavogur meeting. During this meeting, leaders from Iceland signed a document. This document meant that Iceland officially became part of Denmark–Norway. It also confirmed that the king of Denmark now had complete power over Iceland.

The town is also famous for its stories about the huldufólk, or "hidden people." These are like elves or fairies in Icelandic folklore. In a 2010 movie called Sumarlandið, a stone in Kópavogur, called Grásteinn, is shown as an elf-house!

Kópavogur is a town that manages itself. It is located right next to Reykjavík, but it is its own separate community.

Sports and Famous Athletes in Kópavogur

Kópavogur is a great place for sports! The main sports clubs here are Gerpla, Breiðablik, and HK.

Breiðablik's football team won their first Icelandic league title in 2010. HK's handball team also won their first Icelandic league title in 2012.

The town is also home to 'Thor's Power Gym'. This is a special gym for strongman and powerlifting training. It is owned by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who is known as one of the strongest men ever! He even set a world record here in 2020 by lifting 501 kg (1,105 lb) in a Deadlift.

Who are Some Famous People from Kópavogur?

Many talented people come from Kópavogur, including:

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (born 1988), a professional strongman and actor.
Sverrir Ingi Ingason (born 1993), a well-known footballer.
Eiður Guðjohnsen (born 1978), another famous footballer.
Emilíana Torrini (born 1977), a popular singer.
Diljá (born 2001), a singer who represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Kópavogur's Sister Cities Around the World

Kópavogur has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities. They often share cultural events and learn from each other.