Akranes is seaport town of 5,955 people (December 2006) on the west coast of Iceland.
History
The town started to form in the 19th century as a fishing village, and in 1942, it was formally chartered and in the following years, experienced the biggest surge in population in its history.
Industry has been a big and growing employer: a cement plant has been operated in the town since the 1950s, and an aluminum smelting plant has been in operation near the town since 1998.
Currently
The fishing industry remains the town’s most important source of employment, but commerce is also a significant employer as Akranes acts as a service center for a large rural region surrounding it.
The town is expected to grow further in the coming years because of growing industry and improvements of transportation to the Reykjavík area, following the construction of the 5.57 km long Hvalfjörður Tunnel which was opened in 1998, one of the world’s longest underwater road tunnels.
Akranes' has a strong football tradition and the local team, ÍA, has for many years been among the best of the Icelandic football league.
Notes
