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Akureyri ( 'a?k??r?ei?r? (help·info)) is a city in northern Iceland. Nicknamed "the Capital of North Iceland," Akureyri is an important port and fisheries centre, with a population of 17,304.[1] It is Iceland's second largest urban area (after the Greater Reykjavík area) and fourth largest municipality (after Reykjavík, Hafnarfjörður, and Kópavogur). The area where Akureyri is located was settled in the 9th century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1786.[2] The city 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. The area has a relatively warm climate due to geographical factors, and the city's ice-free harbor has played a significant role in its history. At present, Akureyri has the world's northernmost botanical gardens and 18-hole golf course. The Norse Viking Helgi magri (the slim) Eyvindarson originally settled the area in the 9th century. The first mention of Akureyri are in court records from 1562 when a woman was sentenced there for adultery.[3] In the 17th century, Danish merchants based their camps on the actual Akureyri, which was one of the numerous spits of land in Pollurinn. The main reasons for choosing this spot for trading operations were the outstanding natural harbour and the fertility of the area. The merchants did not live at Akureyri year round but returned home in the winter.[2]
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