Heimaey (pronounced HAY-mah-ay or IPA: [ˈheɪmaeɪ]) is the largest island (13.4 km²) in the Vestmannaeyjar cluster, approximately 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off the south coast of Iceland. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, and currently there are around 4,500 inhabitants.

History

Oldest tales

In Landnáma it is said that when Ingólfur Arnarson, the first settler in Iceland had spent a winter at Ingólfshöfği, and went west in search of his "Öndvegissúlur" (somewhat like totem poles, that were ritualistically dumped into the sea and let float to shore. Where they came ashore, there the Viking in question would build his farm), and found upon Hjörleifshöfği his brother, Hjörleifur, dead and his slaves missing. Out at sea he could see boats going towards a small group of islands, and likewise he set off after them.

The slaves in question had been abducted from Ireland, and were called westmen (Vestmenn), since Ireland was the most western part of the known world at that time (c.a. 840). The slaves came ashore in Heimaey and took shelter upon the mountains and anywhere else they thought they might be safe, but alas, Ingólfur slaughtered them all, unknowingly creating names for various places in the process—for example "Dufşekja", an area on Heimaklettur, Heimaey's highest mountain (283 m), is named after the slave Dufşakur, who is said to have thrown himself off Heimaklettur at that point—rather taking his own life than to let Ingólfur take it.

First settlers

The first person said to have built a farm in Heimaey was known as Herjólfur Bárğarson. He apparently built his farm in Herjólfsdalur (literally: Herjólf's valley). The ruins in Herjólfsdalur were excavated in 1971, and did much to unsettle the story of Herjólfur Bárğarson though.

"Turkish" invasion

The year 1627, three pirate ships from the Ottoman-controlled Barbary Coast raided many towns on the south coast of Iceland, most notably Grindavík and Vestmannaeyjar. In Grindavík townspeople could flee into the lava field of Reykjanes and hide indefinitely, however Heimaey, being so remote and secluded, was hit rather badly. Many heroic stories exist of the people who survived the invasion, most notably Guğríğur Símonardóttir, better known as Tyrkja-Gudda (Turkish-Gudda), who was taken from her home at Stakkagerği on Heimaey to the slave market in Algeria. From there she bought her way back to Iceland through Tunisia, Italy and Denmark—Iceland was then under Danish rule. Upon returning to Iceland she married Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, to whom Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík is honoured.

Eldfell

On 23 January 1973 at around one in the morning a volcanic eruption of the mountain Eldfell began on Heimaey. During the night the 5000 inhabitants of the island were evacuated, mostly by fishing boats, as almost the entire fishing fleet was in dock. The encroaching lava flow threatened to destroy the harbour that was the main source of livelihood for most of the town. However, by spraying the lava constantly with cold sea water some of it solidified and diverted the rest, saving the harbour from destruction. During the eruption, though, half of the town was crushed and the island grew a great deal.

Present day

Currently Vestmannaeyjar is the home to around 4,500 humans, 2,000,000 puffins , and many millions of other birds.

The island is connected to the rest of Iceland by a ferry and Vestmannaeyjar Airport.

Trivia

Heimaey is mentioned in the song Island by American progressive-metal band Mastodon. The line is "Ice and fire, Settling down, Ocean Geysir, Gullfoss, Heimaey '73." This may refer to the eruption of Eldfell.

External links

• Vestmannaeyjar town council
• All you need to know about Westman Islands
• local news paper
• local news paper
• photos
• the eruption