Scandinavian Political Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names Further reading

Vestmannaeyjar

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Vestmannaeyjar , group of 15 small islands, c.10 mi (16 km) S of Iceland. In English they are known as the Westman Islands. The largest and most populous is Heimaey [home island]. The people live by fishing, fowling, and farming; great colonies of gannets and other waterfowl breed in these islands. The chief town is Vestmannaeyjar (1993 pop. 4,886) on Heimaey. In 1627, Algerian pirates ravaged the islands and carried nearly 300 people into slavery. In 1963 a volcanic eruption created the island of Surtsey. The eruption of a volcano on Heimaey in 1973 damaged Vestmannaeyjar and curtailed the fishing industry.

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Vestmannaeyjar

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland An island group and their capital town, meaning ‘Islands of the Western Men’ from vestan ‘western’, mann ‘man’, and eyjar ‘islands’, the plural of ey.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Vestmannaeyjar." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Vestmannaeyjar." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Vestmannaeyjar.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Vestmannaeyjar." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Vestmannaeyjar.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

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