Islands of Iceland on postage stamps of Iceland. This is a collection of 8 postage stamps issued by Iceland from 2001 to 2004 in sets of two each.
| 0: Hrísey Ver detalle |
| 1: Flatey Ver detalle |
| 2: Heimey Ver detalle |
| 3: Vigur Ver detalle |
| 4: Papey Island Ver detalle |
| 5: Viðey Ver detalle |
| 6: Grimsey Island Ver detalle |
| 7: Fiatey Island Ver detalle |
Hrísey is Iceland's second largest island. It is 7.5 km long, and at its widest measures 2.5 km across. Hrísey has been inhabited since Iceland's period of settlement. Hrísey is an independent, active community, and has been since 1931. Around 250 people live on the island. The population was at its height during the "herring-years" of the 1940s, when Hrísey was one of the biggest herring-villages in the North of Iceland; the inhabitants then numbered around 340. Reforestation has taken place in the north of the island since 1960. The year 1974 saw the opening of a quarantine centre for Galloway cows on the island. The biggest source of employment on Hrfsey is the fishing industry and fish processing.
Flatey in the Bay of Skjalfandi is approx. 2.8 km². It is estimated that the island has risen by one meter in the 20th century owing to it being situated in an extremely active earthquake area. Flatey is a fertile island. The first lighthouse was built in 1913 and reconstructed in 1963.The island was settled early in historical times and the number of inhabitants increased during the first decades of the 20th century. The population peaked at 120 in 1942 and then consistently slid. Flatey has been unihabited for a few decades. Tourists and visitors come to the island every year, some staying for the duration of the summer.
Heimaey (" Home Island") the largest and only inhabited island in the group is Iceland's longest off shore island, with an area of 13.4 sq. km. The town lies in an extremely picturesque position. Sheltered to the north by low mountains and the imposing bird-life Heimaklettur, which protects the narrow cove at the end of which the harbour lies. At the northern end of the island lies the town. Fishing and fish processing and subsidiary trades are the main source of income. The outermost of the islands formed in a submarine eruption and the one furthest to the west is Surtsey. In 1973 an eruption destroyed one third of the town. All the inhabitants, a total of 5300 people were evicted. The population of Heimaey now numbers 4500.
Vigur is the second largest island in Isafjardardjup. It is 2 km long and around 400 m wide. Fishing played a crucial part in the live of the farmers of Vigur for a long time, but by the middle of this century it decreased as fish stocks in Isafjardardjup disappeared. Perquisites have also played a substanial role in the farming in Vigur, especially eiderdown collecting. Revenues from puffin-catching have also been an important factor and travel services have yielded substantial benefits to the island's economy. Each summer around 1500 tourists come to the island, many of them with ferries from Isafjordur.
Papey IslandThis is the largest island off the east coast of Iceland. About 2 km² in area. and the only populated one until a few decades ago. There was only one farm there and a church built in 1902. The highest lying point of the island, Hellisbjarg. is only 58m high. The cliffs abound in seafowl and a great number of eider ducks occupies the island.Presumably the island was inhabited by Irish monks, when the Nordic settlement of Iceland started. They were called "papar", hence the name of the island. Some pieces of small, wooden crucifixes were discovered there in 1927. The lighthouse on Hellisbjarg, the highest point of the island, was built in 1922.
The island of Viðey just outside Reykjavik Harbour has been one of the most famous Icelandic historical sites throughout the ages. The island is small, only about 1.7 km². While it is mentioned in written accounts dating from the 12th century, archaeological investigations on the island in recent years have revealed evidence of settlement as early as the 10th century. The "father of Reykjavik" Skuli Magnusson built the mansion and the church on the island. The Icelandic Government presented the City of Reykjavik with Viðey on the city's 200th Anniversary on August 18th, 1986.
Grimsey is the northemmost inhabited part of Iceland. It has an area of 5.3 km² and is situated 41 km north of the main island. The Arctic Circle crosses it and the sun does not set there at summer solstice. The island's highest point is 105m. Although the island is on the Arctic Circle, the weather is relatively mild: The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is -1.1 °C and the warmest, August, +8.3°C.Grimsey is a community with about 100 inhabitants. who base their livelihood almost solely on fisheries. The island was settled early and according to unconfirmed reports there was up to 50 farms on the island in the days of old. Polar bears have often appeared on the island.being brought there by the drifting ice flows from Greenland.
Flatey, 2 km long and 0.5 km wide, is for various reasons unique among the islands in Breidafjordur. It is an early settlement and a homestead and was an important place of commerce for centuries. A monastery was erected on the island in 1172. The island was the main centre of culture and the arts since the middle of the 19th century. A part of the island has been a nature reservation since 1975.Tourists are offered a variety of services and sight-seeing possibilities. The ferryboat Baldur sails to the island on its regular tours across Breidafjordur. Flatey is the biggest of the Western Islands in Breidafjordur, comprising around 40 aits and islands. It is inhabited and has a small post office.