Reykjavík (population 113,387, 2003 census) is the capital of Iceland. According to Landnámabók, the Book of Settlements, the first permanent settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson, decided to settle in Reykjavík after his high-seat pillars had washed upon the shore there. The year is generally admitted to have been 874. Reykjavík remained a tiny village until 1786, when the town was granted its municipal charter. Today, the city and its 6 suburbs:
- Kópavogur: 25,291
- Seltjarnarnes: 4,566
- Garðabær: 8,863
- Hafnarfjörður: 21,190
- Mosfellsbær: 6,573
- Álftanes: 1,876
Current mayor, as of February 1, 2003: Þórólfur Árnason
Population of Reykjavík as of December 1998: Men: 53,146, Women: 55,205, Total: 108,351.
The name literally means "smokey bay". The reason for this is that, when arriving on their ships, the early settlers saw steam (resembling smoke) rising from hot springs near the coast.
In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. In 1986, Reykjavík was the site of a summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Reykjavík is the northernmost capital city in the world and receives only 4 hours of sunlight a day in the depth of winter. However, in the summer, the nights are almost as bright as day. Its latitude is 64° 08' N, not far from the arctic circle at 66° 33' N.
Some of the best-known neighborhoods of Reykjavík are Vesturbærinn, Þingholt and Norðurmýri.
