Garður
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Garður () is a former
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
and town located in southwestern
Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
, bordered by the Faxaflói Bay on the
Southern Peninsula Southern Peninsula ( is, Suðurnes ) is an administrative unit and part of Reykjanesskagi (pronounced ), or Reykjanes Peninsula, a region in southwest Iceland. It was named after Reykjanes, the southwestern tip of Reykjanesskagi. The region ha ...
. In 2018 it merged with Sandgerði to create the new municipality of Suðurnesjabær. The town Garður, which means ''garden'' or ''yard'', was named after one of the many earthen walls once erected on the boundaries between local properties. Garður was mentioned in the Book of Settlement when Ingólfur Arnarson, the first settler in Iceland, gave his cousin Steinunn Gamla this area of land."Hit Iceland information page about Iceland"
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Overview

The rich fishing grounds by the shore remain the town's economic base. A great deal of fishing was carried out here in earlier centuries, and there are relics to be found along the shore. Garður remains a strong fishing center with fish processing firms. The Garður Peninsula Historical Museum, which is located at the peninsula, tells the story of the fishermen and the history of the people who lived and worked in the community. Garður is also known for its lighthouses. The old Garðskagi Lighthouse was built in 1897 and was used until recently as a centre for studying the thousands of migrating birds which arrive there from Greenland and North America every year to breed on the surrounding shore. Today there is a restaurant located here, known as The Old Lighthouse Cafe/Rostin Restaurant which serves a small menu of meals. A new one was built in 1944.


Sports

The local sports club is called Víðir. Their football team played the 2011 season in the men's third division. They last played in Iceland's top tier in 1991.Iceland 1991
- RSSSF


References


External links


Official website

More information and photos about Garður on Hit Iceland
Municipalities of Iceland Populated places in Southern Peninsula (Iceland) Reykjanes Populated places disestablished in 2018 {{Iceland-geo-stub