Editing Akureyri (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Akureyri (Iceland) OpenStreetMap 2024-09-11.png|thumb|right|Map of Akureyri]]
[[File:Kjarnaskogur.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kjarnaskogur]]
Akureyri is located at {{Coord|65|41|N|18|06|W|display=inline, title}} and positioned on the west side of the inland end of the [[fjord]] [[Eyjafjörður]].

It is surrounded by mountains, the highest being Strýta {{IPA|is|ˈstriːta|}} ({{convert|1,451|m|ft|abbr=on}}); {{convert|10|km|abbr=off}} to the west) and Kerling {{IPA|is|ˈcʰɛ(r)tliŋk|}} ({{convert|1,538|m|abbr=on}}) at the head of Glerádalur {{IPA|is|ˈklɛːrˌauːˌtaːlʏr̥|}}, {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} to the southwest. It has a narrow coastal strip of flat land; inland is a steep but low hill. In earlier times, a few spits of land (Icelandic: ''eyri'', thus Akur-eyri) jutted from the narrow coast, but much land has since been reclaimed from the sea, so that today the coastline is more even except for the largest spit, Oddeyri {{IPA|is|ˈɔtːˌeiːrɪ|}}, which was formed by the river [[Glerá]], which runs through the town. The name of the town is possibly derived from the name of a field that may have been situated near some of the sheltered locations by the river.<ref name="english-history">{{cite web|url=http://www.akureyri.is/english/history|access-date=2009-06-13|title=From the History of Akureyri|publisher=akureyri.is|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20080317115925/www.akureyri.is/english/history|archive-date=2008-03-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The body of sea between Oddeyri and the end of the fjord is known as Pollurinn {{IPA|is|ˈpʰɔtlʏrɪn|}} ("The Pool") and is known for calm winds and a good natural harbour. Akureyri today is centered on Ráðhústorg {{IPA|is|ˈrauðˌhusˌtʰɔrk|}} (Town Hall Square) near the northwest corner of Pollurinn. The districts of Akureyri are: Innbær {{IPA|is|ˈɪnːˌpaiːr̥|}}, the oldest part of town on the strip of land between the hill and Pollurinn south of the central area; Brekkan {{IPA|is|ˈprɛhkan|}}, on top of the hill; Oddeyri on the peninsula of the same name; and Glerárhverfi {{IPA|is|ˈklɛːrˌaurˌkʰvɛrvɪ|}} on the north bank of the Glerá (also referred to colloquially as Þorpið {{IPA|is|ˈθɔr̥pɪθ|}}, 'the Village'). Because of the town's position at the head of a long fjord surrounded by high mountains, the climate is more typically inland than coastal, with greater variations in temperature (warmer summers, colder winters) than in many other inhabited parts of Iceland. However, the mountains shield the town from strong winds. The relatively warm climate (for its latitude) allows the botanical gardens to flourish without need of a greenhouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geographia.com/iceland/akuryeri.htm|title=Akureyri|publisher=geographia.com|access-date=2009-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408161657/http://www.geographia.com/iceland/akuryeri.htm|archive-date=2009-04-08|url-status=live}}</ref> The area around Akureyri has one of the warmest climates in Iceland, even though it is only {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Arctic Circle.<ref name="ITB-Akureyri">{{cite web|url=http://www.icelandtouristboard.com/index.php?page=akureyri |title=Akureyri |publisher=Iceland Tourist Board |access-date=2009-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203140302/http://www.icelandtouristboard.com/index.php?page=akureyri |archive-date=2011-02-03 }}</ref>