Vörunas

Vörunas is a town and municipality on the northeastern coast of Valyria, in the Nordmere region. It sits at the head of a sheltered harbor at the mouth of the Vöru River, about 50 kilometers northeast of Valyria City. As of 2022, the municipality had an estimated population of 4,900.

The earliest known form of the name is Varruna, recorded in 1220. The modern spelling Vörunas reflects ordinary sound changes in the local language. The etymology is uncertain; it is commonly linked to terms for harbor or lookout, though precise origins remain debated among scholars.

Vörunas began as a fishing hamlet in the 12th century and grew around its harbor. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it benefited from coastal trade. A railway link arrived in 1889, boosting industry, and the municipality was granted town status in 1920.

The town is built along a sheltered coastline with rocky shores and small inlets. The climate is temperate maritime, with mild winters and cool summers; average temperature is around 9 C, and annual precipitation is about 700 millimeters.

Today, fishing and fish processing remain core sectors, complemented by light manufacturing and tourism. The port handles both commercial and recreational traffic. Infrastructure includes a regional rail line, a two-lane highway, and a town bus network.

Notable sites include Saint Magnus Church (15th century) and the Vöru Maritime Museum. The annual Harbor Festival draws visitors with seafood markets, folk music, and boat parades.

The population is predominantly native speakers of the Nordish language, with small communities speaking minority languages. The town hosts Vörunas College of Applied Arts and a municipal public library.