Kolbeinsá

Kolbeinsá is a river located in northern Iceland, specifically in the Northeast Region (Norðurland eystra). It is known primarily for its association with the so-called "Kolbeinsá incident" or "Cod Wars" between Iceland and the United Kingdom.

The river's mouth became a focal point in the escalating disputes over fishing rights in the North Atlantic during the mid-20th century. Iceland, seeking to protect its fishing stocks and extend its exclusive fishing zone, progressively expanded its territorial waters. The British, with their distant-water trawler fleet heavily reliant on the fishing grounds around Iceland, resisted these expansions.

Iceland unilaterally declared new fishing limits in 1972, extending them to 50 nautical miles, and subsequently to 200 nautical miles in 1975. These actions were met with protest from the UK, and British trawlers continued to fish within the newly claimed zones, often under the protection of Royal Navy warships.

The Kolbeinsá, due to its proximity to important fishing grounds and strategic location, was involved in several confrontations between Icelandic Coast Guard vessels and British trawlers. Incidents often involved cutting trawler cables and ramming, resulting in damage to both Icelandic and British vessels. The Kolbeinsá incident, therefore, refers to a series of events and tensions related to these confrontations occurring in the vicinity of the river's mouth. While no major battles occurred directly on the river, its geographical significance makes it a shorthand reference point for this period of conflict.

The "Cod Wars" eventually ended in Iceland's favor, with the UK recognizing Iceland's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. The Kolbeinsá thus became a symbol of Iceland's successful defense of its fishing resources and sovereignty.