Reykjavík | Iceland, History, & Population - Encyclopedia Britannica

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The contemporary city

Geothermal power station1 of 2
Geothermal power stationA geothermal power station in Iceland that creates electricity from heat generated in Earth's interior. (more)
Reykjavík, Iceland2 of 2
Reykjavík, Iceland(more)

Reykjavík is the commercial, industrial, and cultural center of the island. It is a major fishing port and the site of nearly half of the country’s industries. An international airport is at Keflavík, 20 miles (32 km) west-southwest. Reykjavík’s manufactures include processed fish and food products, machinery, and metal products. Strikingly modern and clean in appearance, the city is largely built of concrete and is heated by hot water piped from nearby hot springs. Its many public outdoor swimming pools are also geothermal. Buildings of note include the Parliament Building (1881) and the Church of Hallgrímur (1986).

Among the city’s cultural highlights are the National and University Library of Iceland (1994, a merging of the National Library [1818] and the University Library [1940]), the University of Iceland (founded 1911), the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and the National Gallery of Iceland. The Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland, a department within the University of Iceland, is based on the manuscript collection of Árni Magnússon (long held by the University of Copenhagen). The Reykjavík Art Museum, consisting of three buildings, and the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum are among the city’s many museums and galleries. Bessastaðir, the residence of the president of Iceland, is outside the city. Pop. (2011) mun., 117,965; urban agglom., 201,325; (2022 est.) mun., 135,688; urban agglom., 236,518.

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