{{Short description|Town in Iceland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}} {{for|the crater|Grindavik (crater)}} {{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Grindavíkurbær |settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Iceland|Municipality]] |image_skyline = Grindavík apríl 2025.jpg |imagesize = 250px |image_caption = Aerial view of Grindavík in 2025 |image_shield = |shield_size = 85px |image_map = Grindavíkurbær.svg |map_caption = Location of Grindavíkurbær |mapsize = 250px |pushpin_map = Iceland |coordinates = {{coord|63|50|36|N|22|26|10|W|type:city_region:IS|display=inline,title}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Iceland |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Iceland|Region]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Southern Peninsula (Iceland)|Southern Peninsula]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Constituencies of Iceland|Constituency]] |subdivision_name2 = [[South (Althing constituency)|South Constituency]] |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = Ásrún Helga Kristinsdóttir |unit_pref = Metric |area_total_km2 = 425 |population_total = ~3,000 (until <nowiki>2023</nowiki>)<br />~100 (<nowiki>2024</nowiki>–present)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Um hundrað manns dvelja í Grindavík|date=2025-01-31|url=https://www.visir.is/g/20252682907d/um-hundrad-manns-dvelja-i-grindavik|work=Vísir|trans-title=Roughly one hundred people are living in Grindavík|language=Icelandic}}</ref> |population_density_km2 = 6.80 |postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Iceland|Postal code(s)]] |postal_code = 240 |code1_name = Municipal number |code1_info = 2300 |website = {{URL|grindavik.is}} }} '''Grindavík''' ({{IPA|is|ˈkrɪntaˌviːk|audio=Grindavík pronunciation.ogg}}) is a fishing town in the [[Southern Peninsula (Iceland)|Southern Peninsula]] district of [[Iceland]], located near [[Þorbjörn (mountain)|Þorbjörn]].
It is one of the few towns with a harbour on this coast. Most of the inhabitants work in the fishing industry. The [[Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)|Blue Lagoon]], Grindavík's première attraction, is located {{convert|3|mi|km|order=flip|0}} from the town.
In November 2023, in the midst of escalating and severe [[2023–2025 Sundhnúkur eruptions|seismic activity]], a state of emergency was declared and the town evacuated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/12/iceland-experts-predict-feared-volcanic-eruption-could-destroy-town-near-reykjavik |title=Iceland: experts predict feared volcanic eruption could destroy town near Reykjavik |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 November 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2024-01-14}}</ref> On 18 December 2023, at around 22:00 local time ([[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]), the [[Sundhnúkur]] volcano erupted. The eruption was close to Hagafell, about {{convert|3|km|mi|0}} northeast of Grindavík.<ref>{{Cite web |author1= Taylor Ward |author2=Mitchell McCluskey |author3=Jessie Yeung |date=2023-12-18 |title=Volcano erupts on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/europe/reykjanes-volcano-erupts-iceland/index.html |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> A risk was also posed to [[Svartsengi Power Station]]. Fountains of lava, up to {{convert|330|ft|m|order=flip}} high, could be seen from Iceland's capital, [[Reykjavík]]. Authorities said they were highly prepared.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moses |first=Claire |date=2023-12-18 |title=After Weeks of Warnings, Iceland Volcano Erupts in Plumes of Fire |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/world/europe/iceland-volcano-eruption-earthquakes.html |access-date=2023-12-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[2023–2025 Sundhnúkur eruptions|volcano erupted again]] on 8 February, for the third time since December, this time at the edge of the town, and the lava flow destroyed a few buildings and infrastructure. The residents of Grindavík had remained evacuated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=di Marco |first1=Marco |title=Volcano in south-western Iceland erupts for third time since December |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/world/volcano-in-south-western-iceland-erupts-for-third-time-since-december-ASRBJDWETZILDOAIYYYSUFQRZQ/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=[[The Irish News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=8 February 2024}}</ref> On 20 February, the residents were allowed to return to their homes, but on 2 March, Grindavík was again evacuated because of new seismic activity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Likely that magma flow has stopped for time being; Grindavík & Blue Lagoon evacuated|publisher=Ruv.is|date=2 March 2024|access-date=2 March 2024|url=https://www.ruv.is/english/2024-03-02-likely-that-magma-flow-has-stopped-for-time-being-grindavik-blue-lagoon-evacuated-406370}}</ref> On 16 March, a fourth eruption began near the site of the first eruption, which ended on 8 May. A fifth eruption began as a fissure on 29 May, but the eruptive activity quickly localized to a primary edifice in Sundhnúkur crater row, close to the northern edge of Grindavík town. This eruption ended on 22 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/volcanic-unrest-grindavik|title =Magma inflow continues into the Svartsengi reservoir at a steady rate|access-date=15 July 2024|publisher=IMO, Iceland}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Aerial view of Grindavík, Hópsnes and mountains.jpg|thumb|Grindavík from the air in 2022]] {{lang|is|[[Landnáma]]}} or ''The Book of Settlements'' mentions that around 934, two Viking settlers, Molda-Gnúpur Hrólfsson {{IPA|is|ˈmɔltaˌknuːpʏr ˈr̥oulsˌsɔːn|}} and Þórir Haustmyrkur Vígbjóðsson {{IPA|is|ˈθouːrɪr ˈhœystˌmɪr̥kʏr ˈviɣˌpjouðsˌsɔːn|}}, arrived in the [[Reykjanes]] area. Þórir settled in [[Selvogur]] and Krísuvík and Molda-Gnúpur in Grindavík.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grindavíkurbær |url=https://www.grindavik.is/ |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=grindavik.is}}</ref>
The sons of Moldar-Gnúpur established three settlements; Þórkötlustaðahverfi {{IPA|is|ˈθour̥ˌkʰœhtlʏˌstaːðaˌkʰvɛrvɪ|}}, Járngerðarstaðarhverfi {{IPA|is|ˈjau(r)tnˌcɛrðar̥ˌstaːðar̥ˌkʰvɛrvɪ|}} and Staðarhverfi {{IPA|is|ˈstaːðar̥ˌkʰvɛrvɪ|}}. The modern version of Grindavík is situated mainly in what was Járngerðarstaðarhverfi.
The town has been an important fishing station since medieval times. In the 13th century its fishing rights were owned by the Bishop of [[Skálholt]], who took payment in stacks of salted [[cod]]. It was the scene of fierce disputes between English fishermen and German merchants in the 16th century, leading to 280 Germans storming the ship of John Breye (also known as John the Broad) in 1532 and killing 15 people, including John. The English were subsequently expelled from Iceland.<ref name="Evans 2014 p. 210">{{cite book | last=Evans | first=Andrew | title=Iceland | publisher=Bradt Travel Guides | date=2014 | isbn=978-1-84162-499-0 | page=210}}</ref><ref name="Holterman 2020">{{cite book | last=Holterman | first=Bart | title=The Fish Lands | publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG | date=2020-09-21 | isbn=978-3-11-065182-9}}</ref>
In June 1627, Grindavík was raided by [[Barbary Pirates]] in an event known as the [[Turkish Abductions]]. Twelve Icelanders and three Danes, along with two vessels were taken, and with captives taken from other Icelandic settlements, transported into slavery in [[Salé]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=5743|title=Hvað gerðist í Tyrkjaráninu?|website=Vísindavefurinn|language=is|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
The origins of the municipality can be traced to Einar Einarsson's decision to move there to build and run a shop in 1897. During that time the population was only around 360. Fishing had for centuries been a crucial element in the survival of Grindavík's population, but fishing trips were often dangerous. Men were frequently lost at sea and the catch not always stable. However, when a safer access point to land was created at Hópið {{IPA|is|ˈhouːpɪθ|}} in 1939, fishing conditions changed dramatically. From 1950 serious development in the fishing industry had begun to take place. Grindavík was declared a municipality in 1974.
===Etymology=== The name 'Grindavík' combines two [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] elements. ''Vík'' means a shallow inlet, while ''grind'' has the meaning of a gate or gateway – possibly referring to an opening in a fence used to control the movement of livestock.<ref name="visindavefur">{{cite web |url=https://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6588 |title=Hvaðan kemur nafn Grindavíkur á Reykjanesskaga? |language=Icelandic |trans-title=Where does the name Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula come from? |work=Vísindavefurinn |date=13 April 2007 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> The ''[[Landnámabók|Book of Settlements]]'' mentions Grindavík twice but gives no explanation for the name. "Grind" can furthermore signify a dock – that is, where the boats are stored (in the sea or up on the land), as well as [[long-finned pilot whale]], and in the old language any small whale, suggesting that the settlers may have found whales in the area.
==Geography and geology== Grindavík is situated on the far south-western part of the [[Reykjanes Peninsula]]. The town stands on a lava field that erupted up to about 2,350 years ago from the Sundhnúkur crater chain just north of Grindavík, as well as from the Svartsengisfell volcanoes and fissures on Stora Skogsfell, both nearby.<ref name="Jenness Clifton 2009 pp. 715–728">{{cite journal |last1=Jenness |first1=Maria H. |last2=Clifton |first2=Amy E. |title=Controls on the geometry of a Holocene crater row: a field study from southwest Iceland |journal=Bulletin of Volcanology |publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC |volume=71 |issue=7 |date=17 February 2009 |issn=0258-8900 |doi=10.1007/s00445-009-0267-9 |pages=715–728|bibcode=2009BVol...71..715J |s2cid=128405263 }}</ref> The town is one of six communities on the peninsula that is situated on or near an eruptive fissure.<ref name="VR-Hopsnes">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitreykjanes.is/en/place/hopsnes |title=Visit Reykjanes – Hopsnes |website=www.visitreykjanes.is |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref>
Grindavík's harbour, called Hópið, was created by an eruption from Sundhnúkur approximately 2,800 years ago that created a peninsula south-east of where the town stands, {{cvt|2|km}} long by {{cvt|1|km}} wide, known as Hópsnes on the west side and Þórkötlustaðanes on the east side. A lighthouse, built in 1928, stands on the southern tip. The town's fishing industry originally operated from huts on Þórkötlustaðanes before moving to Grindavík harbour in 1939 after local residents dug a channel through a reef to connect Hópið to the sea.<ref name="VR-Hopsnes" />
===2023–25 volcanic eruptions=== {{See also|2023–2025 Sundhnúkur eruptions}}
On 25 October 2023, an [[earthquake swarm]] started north of Grindavík<ref>{{Cite web |title=Óbreyttar líkur á eldgosi {{!}} Fréttir |url=https://www.vedur.is/um-vi/frettir/jardskjalftahrina-nordan-vid-grindavik-hofst-i-nott |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Veðurstofa Íslands |language=is}}</ref> and escalated over the next few days. A state of emergency was issued on 10 November 2023 as continued earthquakes – by then numbering over 22,000 since 25 October – signalled a potentially impending volcanic eruption.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2023 |title=State of emergency declared over possible volcanic eruption |url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/iceland-state-of-emergency-declared-after-volcano-eruption/baf912fa-74aa-40ec-a5db-a312fde6fe2b |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=9news.com.au}}</ref> Inhabitants were ordered to evacuate on the evening of 10 November 2023,<ref name="RUV liveblog evacuation of Grindav;ik">{{cite web |url=https://www.ruv.is/english/2023-11-10-grindavik-evacuated-and-level-of-danger-live-396249 |title=Grindavík evacuated and Level of Danger: Live |last=Adam |first=Darren |date=10 November 2023 |website=ruv.is |publisher=[[RÚV]] |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111000426/https://www.ruv.is/english/2023-11-10-grindavik-evacuated-and-level-of-danger-live-396249 |archive-date=11 November 2023 |url-status=live}}<!-- This links to a live blog, so explicitly linked the used version as well --></ref> after a [[Igneous intrusion|magmatic intrusion]] was suspected to have formed beneath the town.<ref name="IMO swarm north of Grindavík">{{cite web |url=https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/a-seismic-swarm-started-north-of-grindavik-last-night |title=Magma intrusion possibly extending beneath Grindavík |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=25 October 2023 |website=en.vedur.is |publisher=[[Icelandic Meteorological Office]] |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111001836/https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/a-seismic-swarm-started-north-of-grindavik-last-night |archive-date=11 November 2023 |url-status=live}}<!-- This links to a (daily) updating article, so explicitly linked the used version as well --></ref> This occurred following weeks of recorded uplift and seismic unrest north of the town, near the [[Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)|Blue Lagoon]].<ref name="IMO swarm north of Grindavík" /> Between midnight and 2 p.m. on 10 November 2023, almost 800 earthquakes were recorded, with the shallowest occurring at depths ranging from {{convert|3|to|3.5|km|mi}}, as reported by the Icelandic Meteorological Office.<ref name=":0" />
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency released statements expressing concerns that a magma dike under formation could extend towards Grindavík. Press photographs from Grindavík on 11 November showed the extent of damage to roads, and the golf course, due to fault movements caused by the activity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gazette.com/news/us-world/a-general-view-of-damage-due-to-volcanic-activity-at-a-golf-course-in-grindavik/image_568c52f7-6984-5b48-b132-ca00253166fe.html |title=A general view of damage due to volcanic activity at a golf course, in Grindavik |first=Ruv/Ragnar |last=Visage |date=11 November 2023 |website=gazette.com |publisher=Colorado Springs Gazette |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120143722/https://gazette.com/news/us-world/a-general-view-of-damage-due-to-volcanic-activity-at-a-golf-course-in-grindavik/image_568c52f7-6984-5b48-b132-ca00253166fe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 18 December, a volcanic eruption north of Grindavík by Hagafell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iceland-volcano-erupts-after-weeks-quake-activity-2023-12-18/ |title=Iceland volcano erupts near town after weeks of quake activity |first=Terje |last=Solsvik |date=19 December 2023 |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=20 December 2023}}</ref> prompted the evacuation of the town.
On the morning of 14 January 2024 at 8:00 local time, a volcanic fissure erupted {{convert|450|m|mi}} from the town, followed by a second fissure opening around noon.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Miranda |date=2024-01-14 |title=Houses set alight as lava from volcano eruption reaches Icelandic town |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/volcano-erupts-near-reykjavik-forcing-evacuation-of-residents |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Lava from the eruptions flowed into the town, breaching defensive barriers and destroying three houses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=Iceland volcano:Three Grindavik homes burn but lava defences save rest of town |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/iceland-volcano-eruption-today-grindavik-news-live-b2478602.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Civilians were not endangered by the volcanic activity as they had already been evacuated overnight due to a series of earthquakes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-14 |title=Iceland volcano erupts, spewing lava toward town near country's main airport - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iceland-volcano-grindavik-eruption-icelandic-meteorological-office/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 9 February 2024, the Icelandic government published a bill to offer to buy residential property owned by individuals in Grindavík, and to take over housing loans on residential property in the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-09 |title=State will offer to buy Grindavík residents' housing |url=https://www.ruv.is/english/2024-02-09-state-will-offer-to-buy-grindavik-residents-housing-404622 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=RÚV |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=Frumvarp um kaup íbúðarhúsnæðis í Grindavík |url=https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2024/02/09/Frumvarp-um-kaup-ibudarhusnaedis-i-Grindavik/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=Stjórnarráð Íslands |language=is-IS}}</ref>
On the morning of 1 April 2025, another volcanic eruption began which prompted another evacuation of the town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-01 |title=Tourists evacuated as Icelandic volcano erupts, spewing lava and smoke |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/iceland-volcano-eruption-grindavik-b2725110.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> A further eruption occurred at 4am on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 after its precursor seismic activity caused what transpired to be temporary evacuations locally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-16 |title=Iceland volcano eruption forces evacuation of town and iconic geothermal spa |url=https://apnews.com/article/iceland-volcano-eruption-blue-lagoon-grindavik-c72f44eb9ecb5f2d87e87fd53ed3b26d |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
==Activities== [[File:Grindavik hit iceland.jpg|thumb|right|Grindavík harbour]] A short distance to the north, there is the [[Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)|Blue Lagoon]] ({{langx|is|Bláa Lónið}}), a geothermal spa using hot and mineralized waters from the nearby Svartsengi power station.
[[Ungmennafélag Grindavíkur]] (Umfg) is the town's sport club, and the town contains the [[Grindavíkurvöllur]] stadium.
The [[Leif the Lucky Bridge]] spans the [[Álfagjá|Álfagjá rift valley]] {{IPA|is|ˈaulvaˌcauː|}} that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. It was built in 2002 and named in honour of Icelandic explorer [[Leif Erikson]], who travelled from Europe to explore North America 500 years before Columbus.
The Icelandic Saltfish Museum in Grindavík opened in 2002. It displays the story of salt fish production and its importance for the Icelandic economy throughout the centuries in a specially designed building of {{convert|650|m2}}.<ref>{{cite book |title=Iceland Review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=72cWAQAAMAAJ |year=2005 |publisher=H.J. Hamar |via=books.google.com |access-date=2024-01-14}}</ref>
===Sports=== Grindavík has a [[Grindavík men's football|football team]] and a [[basketball]] team.
==Notable residents== The Icelandic writer [[Guðbergur Bergsson]] was born here, and [[Kalli Bjarni]], the first winner of the Icelandic version of ''[[Pop Idol]]'', lives in the town. The Spanish publisher and writer {{ill|Jaime Salinas Bonmatí|es}}, engaged to Guðbergur Bergsson, lived, died and is buried here. Icelandic footballer [[Alfreð Finnbogason]] was also born in Grindavík.
Former [[Manchester United]] footballer, [[Lee Sharpe]], had a spell with Grindavík football club, at the end of his career in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/018f-0f844a4ae92e-6eddd481223c-1000--grindavik-get-sharpe/ |title=Grindavík get Sharpe |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=18 March 2003 |website=[[UEFA]] |publisher=UEFA |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>
==United States Naval communication facility== Near Grindavík, the [[United States Navy]] has operated the 1049 acre [[Naval Radio Transmitter Facility Grindavik]] since the mid-1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World BEYOND War |url=https://worldbeyondwar.org/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=World BEYOND War |language=en-US}}</ref> It uses several antennas, including two [[guyed mast]]s. The mast situated at 63°51′1″N 22°28′0″W was built in 1993 and is {{convert|304.8|m|ft}} tall. The other mast at 63°51′3″N 22°27′6″W was built in 1983 and is {{convert|182.9|m|ft}} tall. The taller mast replaced a {{convert|243.8|m|ft}} mast, and the second replaced a mast of the same height.
==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Iceland}}
Grindavík is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Vinabæir|url=http://www.grindavik.is/vinabaeir|website=grindavik.is|publisher=Grindavík|language=is|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> {{col div|colwidth=25em}} *{{flagicon|POR}} [[Ílhavo]], Portugal *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jonzac]], France *{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Penistone]], United Kingdom *{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Piteå Municipality|Piteå]], Sweden *{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Rovaniemi]], Finland *{{flagicon|POL}} [[Uniejów]], Poland {{col div end}}
==See also== * [[List of cities and towns in Iceland]] * [[Geothermal power in Iceland]] * [[Reykjanes]]
==References== {{reflist|25em}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://grindavik.is/ Official website] {{in lang|is}} * [https://www.almannavarnir.is/oryggiskort/ 2024 civil defence map Grindavík] * [https://hiticeland.com/towns_and_villages_in_iceland/grindav%C3%ADk More information and photos about Grindavík on Hit Iceland]
{{Cities and towns in Iceland}} {{Municipalities of Iceland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grindavik}} [[Category:Southern Peninsula (Iceland)]] [[Category:Municipalities of Iceland]] [[Category:Ghost towns in Europe]] [[Category:Natural disaster ghost towns]] [[Category:Populated places in Southern Peninsula (Iceland)]] [[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]