Iceland is an island just about the size of Kentucky State. This small sized island lies in the northern direction in the Atlantic Ocean just east to Greenland and it also touches the Arctic Circle. The land of Iceland is also famous as it is one of the most aggressive volcanic regions of the world. More than thirteen percent of Iceland’s total land is covered by glaciers or are snowfields. Major part of Iceland’s total population inhibits only in the seven percent part of the island because that seven percent land is considered a very fertile coastland. The gulf stream of Atlantic Ocean keeps the climate of the Iceland milder and temperature very moderate than what is expected in an island around Arctic Circle.
It is believed that the first inhabitants of Iceland were the hermits from Ireland. These hermits vacated this island when pagan Norse people arrived here in ninth century. A constitution was formed in 930 A.D and a democracy and a parliament was formed which is also known as Althing. Now Althing has the honor to be the world’s oldest still running legislative assembly. The history of Iceland is very well preserved in the Icelandic sagas written during 13th century.
In the year 1262, Iceland was occupied by Norwegian rule and was further given to the ultimate control of Denmark through the very famous ‘the kalmar union’ in which kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark united in 1397. In the year, 1874, Iceland gained their own constitution and then in 1918, Denmark recognized Iceland as a separate country and unlimited sovereignty through the act of union. By this time also, Iceland was partially under the rule of Danish monarchy. During the Second World War when Germany attacked on Denmark first the British troops and then the American troops landed in Iceland and used it as the strategic air base. According to historians, neutral Iceland supported its allies through out the war. On June 17th, 1944, after the official referendum Iceland was declared independent republic and the Althing also proclaimed it as an independent republic.
Iceland joined NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] in 1949 and its maiden American air force base in 1951. In 1971 it was recognized by EFTA [European Free Trade Association]. In the year 1972, Iceland extended its fishing coastline to 200 nautical miles from 3 nautical miles. This was done without the consent of England. For this reason both Iceland and England were trapped in the dispute known as the cold wars. This dispute ended in 1976 with England agreeing to the new fishing borders of Iceland. In the year 1980, Iceland made yet another history, when it became the first country in the world to have a woman president in the office of the presidency. It was the case of the year 1990, when after the recession the economy and the financial condition of Iceland stabilized.
Iceland refused to sign the agreement which stated that moratorium of commercial whaling will continue as it was since 1986. This incident took place in the meeting of the International Whaling Commission in 2001. Finally in 2003, Iceland agreed on the initialization of hunting of whales for researches and experiments.
Author Bio:
Dagur Jonsson is the editor of Iceland Guest, a website specializing in tourist information for travelers to Iceland. For more information visit www.icelandguest.com
Friday, August 31, 2007
The strong culture and heritage of Iceland
Iceland is a country located in the north of Europe. The surprising thing about Iceland is that although entire Europe is connected with a very good network of railways, this is a country which can be accessed only by air transport or sea transport. The culture of this country is full of amazing colors. Infact it was because of the culture and somewhere the expectation of freedom and adventure that motivated early Vikings to settle here way back in ninth century.
Basically, it is believed that Icelanders are of Scandinavian origin with a small mixture of Celtic blood. Even now also, for every individual in Iceland, their freedom and self-respect is the thing the matters the most. The political stability is displayed in the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. Tourists going to Iceland will notice a fact that most of Icelanders are of a classless society and that they still have a very strong literary tradition. Interest for cultural heritage of Iceland is inbuilt in every child that takes birth there and probably, this is the reason why the cultures and traditions of Iceland look very fresh. People of Iceland consider cultures and traditions as the identity of their older generations and a treasure for the generations to come. This statement is very strongly supported by the writings in Icelandic sagas and literary writing works of medieval period. Remember that these works are regarded as the classics of the world literature. Creative arts and performing arts are thriving very successfully in Iceland and it’s very heartening and motivating to see this in a land which has total population of just around three hundred thousand.
It is believed there, that the culture of Iceland is as broad as its landscape. Let me tell you that Iceland has much more than raw and unspoiled nature. Icelandic Writers, composers, actors, artists and musicians, all are very famous in the world. Some of these famous names are the names of Halldor Laxness, Jon Leifs, Kristjan Johansson, Sigur Ros and Bjork. The first class attractions of Iceland include the very famous Reykjavik art festival, the museums and the restaurants made in ancient arts. In addition to these, there are various art galleries and museums in and around Reykjavik area. The good thing about Iceland is that every region there have its own museum [urban and rural] to display the local history and facts about the atmosphere of that region. No doubt, museum of every region is worth a visit which can give you a closer view of Icelandic life and culture of both past age and present age. There are more than 15 public and private libraries in the capital area of Reykjavik. The most famous are the National and University Library of Iceland and Headquarters of Municipal Library. Every book and document related to Iceland’s past, present and future are available here.
In the past few years, music of Iceland has broken its shackles and spread all around the world and this is all because of huge success and fame gained throughout the world by some superstar musicians of Iceland like Sigur Ros, Mum, Mugison, Bjorg and The Sugar cubes. However, Iceland is not short of artists of classical, jazz, folk, experimental, dance, pop and rock music. There are many music stores in the shopping malls in Reykjavik which can provide you the huge variety of Icelandic music right from sixties to present date.
Although Iceland is considered a much unknown country to the world but the culture and the art is not unknown, Infact it is creating waves and the world of arts and cultures.
Author Bio:
Dagur Jonsson is the editor of Iceland Guest, a website specializing in tourist information for travelers to Iceland. For more information visit www.icelandguest.com
Basically, it is believed that Icelanders are of Scandinavian origin with a small mixture of Celtic blood. Even now also, for every individual in Iceland, their freedom and self-respect is the thing the matters the most. The political stability is displayed in the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. Tourists going to Iceland will notice a fact that most of Icelanders are of a classless society and that they still have a very strong literary tradition. Interest for cultural heritage of Iceland is inbuilt in every child that takes birth there and probably, this is the reason why the cultures and traditions of Iceland look very fresh. People of Iceland consider cultures and traditions as the identity of their older generations and a treasure for the generations to come. This statement is very strongly supported by the writings in Icelandic sagas and literary writing works of medieval period. Remember that these works are regarded as the classics of the world literature. Creative arts and performing arts are thriving very successfully in Iceland and it’s very heartening and motivating to see this in a land which has total population of just around three hundred thousand.
It is believed there, that the culture of Iceland is as broad as its landscape. Let me tell you that Iceland has much more than raw and unspoiled nature. Icelandic Writers, composers, actors, artists and musicians, all are very famous in the world. Some of these famous names are the names of Halldor Laxness, Jon Leifs, Kristjan Johansson, Sigur Ros and Bjork. The first class attractions of Iceland include the very famous Reykjavik art festival, the museums and the restaurants made in ancient arts. In addition to these, there are various art galleries and museums in and around Reykjavik area. The good thing about Iceland is that every region there have its own museum [urban and rural] to display the local history and facts about the atmosphere of that region. No doubt, museum of every region is worth a visit which can give you a closer view of Icelandic life and culture of both past age and present age. There are more than 15 public and private libraries in the capital area of Reykjavik. The most famous are the National and University Library of Iceland and Headquarters of Municipal Library. Every book and document related to Iceland’s past, present and future are available here.
In the past few years, music of Iceland has broken its shackles and spread all around the world and this is all because of huge success and fame gained throughout the world by some superstar musicians of Iceland like Sigur Ros, Mum, Mugison, Bjorg and The Sugar cubes. However, Iceland is not short of artists of classical, jazz, folk, experimental, dance, pop and rock music. There are many music stores in the shopping malls in Reykjavik which can provide you the huge variety of Icelandic music right from sixties to present date.
Although Iceland is considered a much unknown country to the world but the culture and the art is not unknown, Infact it is creating waves and the world of arts and cultures.
Author Bio:
Dagur Jonsson is the editor of Iceland Guest, a website specializing in tourist information for travelers to Iceland. For more information visit www.icelandguest.com
Iceland, the most unique of all Nordic countries
The country of Iceland is very different from other countries in its region which is popularly known as “Nordic region” or “Nordic countries”. The reason is Iceland’s entire landscape which is covered by plateaus, volcanoes, geysers and glaciers and most importantly very big uninhabited and unpopulated areas. Iceland has got the world’s biggest count of natural hot geysers and hot springs.
This relatively cooler country of Iceland lies on the extreme North West border of Europe [more towards north and less towards west] between the tundra zone with moorlands without trees and huge pine forest zones. The ancient remains of birch forest are still visible at many places. Bogs and marshes are found in plenty. As little as only 25 percent of total land is covered by green vegetation and out of this only one percent is covered by trees. Only one percent of Iceland contains arable lands and market gardens. The season for cultivation is very small in Iceland. Hence, all agricultural products are more concentrated towards animal farming. The maximum part of arable land is utilized for the cultivation of hay and other foodstuffs.
Not only in Iceland but in whole Nordic region, climate is controlled by two important factors.
-their position in that particular area, and
-their proximity to the Atlantic ocean with the gulf stream
The more northern position means that the average temperature will remain very low i.e. around or below zero during the coolest months of winter. It has been recorded in books that Iceland has never recorded the average temperature of more than 19 degrees from 1961 till 1990. In other Nordic countries like Norway and Sweden, there is a bigger difference between the temperature in winters of northern region and southern region as the land stretches from far south to far north.
And because the location if Iceland lies in extreme north, it is far more cool than one can expect, in winters especially. The mean temperature of capital city Reykjavik is five degrees and the temperatures in January and July are -0.4 degrees and 11 degrees respectively. The southern part and south coast of Iceland receives an annual rainfall of 3000 MM and this quantity decreases to around 400 MM in highlands and in north of Vatnajokull.
In whole it can be said that the weather of Iceland is not reliable as it depends mostly on the atmospheric pressure going trans-Atlantic. The passage of this depression from southern Iceland makes weather more dry and cold there. The passage of this depression from north east Iceland and Greenland makes weather mild and dry in that area. The coastal areas of Iceland are windy and gales are very common here in winter season and thunderstorms are not that common.
The southern and western coasts and parts of Iceland are relatively hotter in winter and this is all due to warm waters flowing in gulf streams. July and august are the warmest months of this region and the quality of weather improves as one moves towards north and east. These directions have more chances of clear weather but in interior deserts can show you blizzards and strong winds flowing along with dust and sand. In Iceland there is continuous day for two or three months i.e. early spring and late autumn. During summers the sun never sets especially in June. Tours are organized to the island of grimsey where one can view the most spectacular scene of his life “the midnight sun”. It is always advised to go through weather forecasts before you check in to Iceland because there is no guarantee of it.
Author Bio:
Dagur Jonsson is the editor of Iceland Guest, a website specializing in tourist information for travelers to Iceland. For more information visit www.icelandguest.com
This relatively cooler country of Iceland lies on the extreme North West border of Europe [more towards north and less towards west] between the tundra zone with moorlands without trees and huge pine forest zones. The ancient remains of birch forest are still visible at many places. Bogs and marshes are found in plenty. As little as only 25 percent of total land is covered by green vegetation and out of this only one percent is covered by trees. Only one percent of Iceland contains arable lands and market gardens. The season for cultivation is very small in Iceland. Hence, all agricultural products are more concentrated towards animal farming. The maximum part of arable land is utilized for the cultivation of hay and other foodstuffs.
Not only in Iceland but in whole Nordic region, climate is controlled by two important factors.
-their position in that particular area, and
-their proximity to the Atlantic ocean with the gulf stream
The more northern position means that the average temperature will remain very low i.e. around or below zero during the coolest months of winter. It has been recorded in books that Iceland has never recorded the average temperature of more than 19 degrees from 1961 till 1990. In other Nordic countries like Norway and Sweden, there is a bigger difference between the temperature in winters of northern region and southern region as the land stretches from far south to far north.
And because the location if Iceland lies in extreme north, it is far more cool than one can expect, in winters especially. The mean temperature of capital city Reykjavik is five degrees and the temperatures in January and July are -0.4 degrees and 11 degrees respectively. The southern part and south coast of Iceland receives an annual rainfall of 3000 MM and this quantity decreases to around 400 MM in highlands and in north of Vatnajokull.
In whole it can be said that the weather of Iceland is not reliable as it depends mostly on the atmospheric pressure going trans-Atlantic. The passage of this depression from southern Iceland makes weather more dry and cold there. The passage of this depression from north east Iceland and Greenland makes weather mild and dry in that area. The coastal areas of Iceland are windy and gales are very common here in winter season and thunderstorms are not that common.
The southern and western coasts and parts of Iceland are relatively hotter in winter and this is all due to warm waters flowing in gulf streams. July and august are the warmest months of this region and the quality of weather improves as one moves towards north and east. These directions have more chances of clear weather but in interior deserts can show you blizzards and strong winds flowing along with dust and sand. In Iceland there is continuous day for two or three months i.e. early spring and late autumn. During summers the sun never sets especially in June. Tours are organized to the island of grimsey where one can view the most spectacular scene of his life “the midnight sun”. It is always advised to go through weather forecasts before you check in to Iceland because there is no guarantee of it.
Author Bio:
Dagur Jonsson is the editor of Iceland Guest, a website specializing in tourist information for travelers to Iceland. For more information visit www.icelandguest.com
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