Iceland

A country of nature, history and journey

One of the most interesting is the country of fire and ice, Iceland. The Iceland is known to possess the dramatic volcanic topography, grandiose waterfalls, glaciers, and geothermal hot-spots, which makes it an incomparable destination to travelers. Iceland surely is a country of adventure where you can have the most magical experience in natural beauty no matter what you do, whether it is visiting the otherworldly Blue Lagoon, a hike over glaciers or gazing at the Northern Lights. Whether it is its rich Viking history, and its contemporary inventions, simply put you will wonder at the brilliance of Iceland.

To obtain all information about Iceland, look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Iceland

In case you want to find more information regarding Iceland, such as its flag, language, area, currency, and population, you can produce and download free  this information by visit in  Random Country Generator tool. 

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Geographical Location

Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean found between Greenland and Europe. It is almost 300km south east to Greenland and nearly 1000km west of Norway. The position of Iceland physically makes it a country that is located slightly below the Arctic circle and this makes the summers to be very long and the winter night an excellent time of viewing Northern Lights.

As the name suggests, Iceland is made up of volcanic activity as well as glaciers, and therefore it is a land of contrasts. Iceland ranks as the 18 th largest island in the world; it covers an area occupied by approximately 103,000 square kilometers. The landscape consists of great volcanic landscapes, glaciers, lava plateaus and hot springs. The Gulf Stream keeps the country of Iceland climate relatively mild in spite of its northern position.

Nature Sciences and Landmarks

Iceland houses some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the whole world which are due to the effects of the volcanoes. There are over 30 active volcanoes in the country such as Eyjafjallajokull that erupted in 2010 and caused a hitch in the air traffic all over the world. Iceland has other attractions such as magnificent waterfalls e.g. Gullfoss, Skogafoss, geothermal regions, e.g Geysir and peaceful glacial lagoons e.g. Jokulsarlon.

This route especially popular, Golden Circle, will tell you about some of the most memorable and recognizable natural attractions of Iceland, such as the Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal region, and Gullfoss waterfall. Iceland also has plenty of hot springs and geothermal baths with the Blue Lagoon being the most popular.

Climate

The climate in Iceland is subarctic and winters are cold, and summers are cool. The island has long winter nights, in the North in particular, and a long day during the summer. The Capital, Reykjavik, receives an average temperature of 10-0C to 15-0C in summer and -1-0C and 4-0C in winter. Although it is located well in the North, the Gulf Stream makes Iceland fairly warm in comparison with fellow countries with such latitudes.

History of Vikings and Medieval History

The history of Iceland dates to the settlement of Viking people who were on a mission to settle in the 9 th century. Historically, Norway Vikings under the leadership of Ingolfr Arnarson are said to have established settlement in Iceland in the year 874. Iceland became the seat of the Norse culture and the Icelandic sagas, epics tales of the Vikings and their adventures became the significant cultural maiden of Iceland.

During the medieval times, Iceland was the subject to Norwegian and later to the Danish crown and the island developed into a constantly connected member of Scandinavian politics and commerce.

Independence and Modern History

Iceland was a colony of the Danes until the early 20 th century when it attained its independence in the year 1918. Iceland gained its independence as an independent country in 1944, after a referendum, which saw Icelanders decide that they were going to be a republic. Iceland is nowadays one of the richest and the most technologically advanced nations in the world since its independence.

Over the past few years, Iceland has led when it comes to sustainable energy and green technology. Iceland also has the reputation of having used renewable energy with almost a hundred percent of energy in Iceland being generated by geothermal and hydroelectric power.

Diversity of Ethnic and Religious backgrounds

Iceland is a rather homogenous nation and its population is mainly of Norse and Celtic origin. The state has a very low population of only more than 350, 000 inhabitants hence it is one of the least populous states in Europe. The official language is Icelandic and it is quite close to Old Norse. Majority of the Iceland people can speak English fluently, and most of them know other languages such as Danish and German.

Iceland is a Christian nation where most of the people fall in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. Catholic, Protestants and Atheists communities are minor too, and it also speaks of the open-minded and secular character of the country.

Traditions and Cultural Practice

The culture of Iceland has strong Viking traditions and some customs such as saga storytelling, folk music and handicrafts are highly vital in the day to day activities of the country. The Icelandic Sagas are 13 th century epic tales about the life of the early settlement of Icelanders, their battles and their exploits.

The most famous tradition in Iceland is one of the many holidays (8, in comparison to the holidays of 55 in Russia and 14 in Japan, by the way), the festival Þorrablot, which is celebrated in January and February every year, where the people of Iceland eat the traditional Icelandic food: hakarl (fermented shark), svið (sheep head) and skyr (yogurt). The Iceland cuisine greatly depends on fish, lamb and dairy products.

Language

Icelandic is the official language and it has only changed a bit since the middle ages. It is one of the best preserved of the Old Norse languages and so modern Icelanders can read modern versions of the ancient sagas without translation.

Religious Festivals

The two major Christian holidays in Iceland are Christmas and Easter but Christmas is the most important. Icelanders celebrate the 23rd of December as a holiday, Þorláksmessa (St. Thorlak), also known as St. Thorlak/ Thorlak the Good Day, which heralds the commencement of the celebrations of Jól (Christmas), with a main course dinner and gift giving.

Family get-togethers and outdoor activities also mark the Easter when there is a weekend holiday and church services are also invigorated.Special Days and National Holidays

Icelandic National Day otherwise known as The Independence Day is celebrated every June 17th, it commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in the year 1944. It is a day full of parades, concerts and other celebrations in the streets.

Reykjavik Festivals of Arts

Other significant cultural events include the annual Reykjavik Arts Festival of June which is the most important investigation into numerous European and other nations and individuals. It is a festival of the arts, such as music, theatre, visual arts and literature and is a destination and gathering place of artists world-wide.

Economic Development

The traditionally fishing-based economy of Iceland still takes an important role in the country. Nonetheless during the last decades, the country has ventured to other industries like tourism, geothermal energy and financial services. The use of renewable energy is high in Iceland as more than 85 percent of its energy consumption sources use geothermal and hydropower.

Tourism

One of the biggest industries in Iceland is tourism because of its scenic natural beauty i.e., glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs. It is a must to see the Golden Circle that incorporates such places as Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss waterfall. Iceland is a destination that is also appealing to individuals who want to see the Northern Lights during winter or see the Midnight Sun during summer.

Industry and commerce

One key export of Iceland is geothermal energy and Iceland is a leader in green technologies. There is also the aluminum industry, which Iceland can provide cheap and renewable energy on smelting.

Iceland must-see attractions.

Iceland is full of impressive sceneries and natural phenomena peculiar to the country. There are six not to be missed places:

1. The Blue Lagoon

blue lagoon The Blue Lagoon is a well-known geothermal spa in Iceland, and its warm mineral waters have become one of the most renowned in the country. It is set outside of Reykjavik and is one of the most wanted rest and healing places.

2. Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is one of the foreigner tours and it comprises Gullfoss, the geysir geothermal area, and Thingvellir national park and this park provides some of the most famous natural wonders of Iceland.

3. Jokulsar Lagoon

Jokulsarlon is an exceptional glacial lagoon consisting of fleeting icebergs. Tourists have an opportunity to make boat trips around the lagoon and visit the Diamond Beach (not too far) where the pieces of ice wash near the shore.

4. Vik and cliffs of Reynisfjara Beach

Vik is a small coastal village renowned to have black sand beaches such as Reynisfjara, which is characterized by massive basalt columns and sea stacks.

5. Eyjafjallajokull and mount Hekla

Hekla Mount is one of the active volcanic mountains in Iceland and Eyjafjallajokull is associated with 2010 eruption. They both make a great hiking destination, with spectacular scenery of the landscape.

6. Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and historically marked as the first parliament in the world. It provides spectacular sceneries as well, such as the Almannagj China.

Healthcare System

Healthcare in Iceland is efficient with healthcare being given to every resident. Landsp rili University Hospital in Reykjavik is the largest and main provision of advanced medical services of the country.

Education System

Iceland has a very elaborate education system that covers both secondary and primary education which is free. Some of the universities found in the country include the University of Iceland.

Transport Network

The transportation system in Iceland is well connected with international flights at the Reykjavik International Airport and major cities and towns are linked by highway road transport system. Ring Road (Route 1) can be named the most wanted route of those who wish to visit the most popular attractions of Iceland.

Urban Development

The urban construction process in Iceland is concentrated on the capital city of Reykjavik that is characterized by the modern architecture, rich cultural activity, and sustainable policy.

Ideal Seasons

The ideal period to travel to Iceland is affording to the interests of the tourist. The summer (June to August) is mild with round the clock sunshine whereas winter (October to March) is most suitable to those who want to enjoy Northern lights and winter sport.

Special Events and Festivals

Recommended especially for music lovers is the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival that is conducted annually in November in Reykjavik. Another good culture to sample is the Reykjavik International Film Festival and the place to be.

Conclusion: 

Wonderful non-urban scenery, strong traditional values and adherence to sustainability are what make Iceland one of the most unique destinations in the world. Iceland is one country that every traveler has to visit to enjoy nature and innovation that the country is developing and exploring, especially in the fields of tourism, renewable energy and green energy technologies.

Questions asked most often

When is the time to visit Iceland?

Its mild weather and long daylight hours during summer (June to August) are the best time to go, or winter (October to March) is when one goes to see the Northern Lights.

Which are the best things to do in Iceland?

Iceland is home to Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, Reykjavik, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, In Vik and Reynisfjara beach, Hekla volcano, and Thingvellir national park, which are the top attractions of the land.

What languages include Iceland?

The language of the country is Icelandic, although English is very common, particularly in the tourist regions.

Is Iceland tourist friendly?

Certainly, being a relatively crime-free nation, Iceland is quite safe to be a tourist.

Which cultural festivals must I attend in Iceland?

Significant cultural events to participate in are Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival,