Akureyri, Iceland, Panorama Postcard

"Akureyri, Iceland, Panorama" by Catherine Sherman. Akureyri, a town in northern Iceland, sits at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord. It is Iceland's fifth largest municipality and is surrounded by mountains. Nicknamed the Capital of North Iceland, Akureyri is an important port and fishing center. The area has a relatively mild climate because of geographical factors, and the town's ice-free harbor has played a significant role in its history.The area around Akureyri has one of the warmest climates in Iceland, even though it is only 100 km (62 mi) from the Arctic Circle. The area where Akureyri is located was settled in the 9th century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1786.The town was the site of Allied units during World War II. Further growth occurred after the war as the Icelandic population increasingly moved to urban areas. In the center of the photo is Akureyrarkirkja or The Church of Akureyri is a prominent Lutheran church in Akureyri, northern Iceland. The church towers above the city center on a hill in the center. It was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, and completed in 1940.