Surprising Skylines: Reykjavik - A Jewel in the Land of Fire and Ice
ReykjavÃk is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have established around AD 870. Until the 18th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the next decades, as it transformed into a regional and later national centre of commerce, population, and governmental activities. It is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.
Country Iceland
Constituency ReykjavÃk North
ReykjavÃk South
Government
Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Jón Gnarr
Area
City and Municipality 274.5 km2 (106 sq mi)
Metro 777 km2 (300 sq mi)
Population (2011)
City and Municipality 119,108
Density 436.5/km2 (1,131/sq mi)
Metro 202,341
Metro density 259.4/km2 (672/sq mi)
View of the sea front line and the city of Reykjavik
View of part of the bay in front of the city hall
People attend a demonstration in Reykjavik
A protester blows a horn to protest against the Iceland’s 63-seat assembly vote from members of the Icelandic parliament in ReykjavÃk in favour of applying for EU membership on July 16, 2009
Riot police stand guard in front of the Icelandic Parliament house protesting the governments inability to handle the country’s ongoing financial crisis on October 1, 2010
Icelandic voters cross abridge on their way to the polling station at the City Hall
A low-lying rain cloud hovers above ReykjavÃk
A general view of crowd atmosphere during Sonar Reykjavik 2014 at Harpa Concert Hall on February 13, 2014
HARPA conference hall venue during Iceland Airwaves Music Festival on November 4, 2012 in Reykjavik,
A general view of The Marina during Iceland Airwaves Music Festival on November 4, 2012
downtown of Reykjavik
The house of Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is seen outside Reykjavik
an elevated view of the capital
general atmosphere at the Blue Lagoon Chill Party on day 4 of the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival on November 2, 2013
the Icelandic parliament, Althingi
people relax in a park in front of the Alpingi parliament in ReykjavÃk
A garden next to the Alpingi Icelandic Parliament
the headquarters of Iceland’s biggest bank Kaupthing in Reykjavik