August 18 – the day Reykjavik became a city

On August 18, 1786 Reykjavik, the current capital of Iceland, received the status of a city. The settlement was repeatedly attacked by pirates, but despite almost complete destruction in 1627, it was rebuilt and became a centre for the production of woolen fabrics, which were exported to other countries. In 1845 it formed the center of the administrative district of Norway, then Denmark. And in 1904, the city formed the government of the Autonomous Iceland. Thanks to the developed textile and footwear industry, as well as its favorable location on the geopolitical map, Reykjavik has become one of the richest cities in the world.