Grindavík, (pop. 2,856) a fishing village that became a market town in 1974. The town consists of three main areas: Þórkötlustaðahverfi, Járngerðarstaðahverfi, now the main part of town; and Staðarhverfi to the far west, which today is mostly deserted. Information signs in each area document its history. Entering the harbour remains a challenge for sailors, despite extensive improvements there. Nonetheless, this harbour has been used for fishing for centuries, and contributed greatly to the wealth of the bishop at Skálholt. The peninsula of Reykjanes was so important for fishing and trade that the English and Germans fought there over the most sheltered places for boats. This struggle climaxed on June 11th 1532, when the Germans allied with some natives and killed about 20 Englishmen. This event marked a turning point in Iceland’s commercial history, ending an era of English dominance. Main industries: fishing and fish processing. The town has a church, compulsory school, community centre, health centre and swimming pool. There is a monument to drowned sailors by Ragnar Kjartansson, while glass art by Einar Lárusson depicts the historical raid here by Muslim pirates. A local thistle, Cirsium arvense, is otherwise rare in Iceland; it is said that it first appeared when the blood of the Muslim pirates mixed with that of the Christians. The French trawler Cap Fragnet stranded by Þórkötlustaðahverfi in 1931. For the first time in history, a line thrower was used in order to reach the crew and rescue 38 people.