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Keflavík.PNG
Keflavík is a town of around 10,200 inhabitants in the Reykjanes region in south-west Iceland. It has now merged with Njarđvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbćr.
Founded in the 16th century, Keflavík developed due to its fishing and fish processing industry. Later its growth continued from tourism and Keflavík International Airport which was built by the US during the 1940s. The airport also holds a significant NATO military base.
During WWII and the Cold War, the base played an important role in monitoring marine and submarine traffic from the Norwegian and Greenland sea, into the Atlantic Ocean. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, the base's role has been cast into doubt, as there is now little threat from hostile submarines carrying ICBMs passing through the North Sea into the Atlantic.
In Iceland, the town is renowned as a rich source of musicians during the 1960's and 70's, and is therefore also known as "bítlabćrinn" or "The Beatle Town".
The NATO military base is used as a setting for an important story line in Tom Clancy's novel Red Storm Rising.
See also
External Links
Reykjanesbćr - picture gallery from islandsmyndir.is (http://www.islandsmyndir.is/html_skjol/sudvesturland/keflavik/forsida_reykjanesbaejar.htm)de:Keflavík fr:Keflavík is:Keflavík no:Keflavík pl:Keflavík sv:Keflavík