Iceland, a Land of Fire and Ice, was the last European country to be settled over a thousand years ago by Vikings from Norway. It is a country of geothermal springs, geysers, mudpools, volcanoes, glaciers, avalanches, waterfalls, fjords, and midnight sun. The country enjoys a high standard of living, comparable to that of the United States and the quality of housing is very high. Reykjavik, 'Smoky Bay', is the northernmost capital in the world, home to about 60% of Icelanders.
There is continuous daylight in June, July and August and a dark period from mid-November to February that only provides 3-4 hours of sunshine a day. Residents enjoy long twilights in early spring and late autumn. The nightlife in Reykjavik is legendary as hordes of young people overtake the streets in a ritual known as "runtur." Clubs, such as the Hard Rock Café, are popular with the young residents who work hard and play hard.
Icelanders are well-educated and well-traveled. Most speak English and Danish in addition to other languages. Icelandic is the national language based on the original languages of the Norse settlers. An ancient tradition of deriving their last name from the first name of their father, called the patronymic system, is used in naming children, required by law. This results in Icelanders being referred to by their full names. Women keep their own names even if they marry.
The year 2000 has been an eventful year for Iceland as they coped with a volcano eruption in February, an earthquake in May and the launching of the Viking ship, The Icelander in a recreation of the 2,600 miles odyssey that Icelander Liefur Eiriksson made a thousand years ago. The Icelander set sails from Reykjavik in June and will travel to the east coast of North America over the summer.
The international word 'geyser' comes from the Icelandic word "geysir" and their most famous geyser is in south Iceland -- Haukadalur - spouting a water column to a height of about 180 feet. Strokkur Geysir spouts every few minutes. The largest hot springs is Deildartunguhver that flows 40 gallons of boiling water per second.
Glaciers account for over 11.5% of the country's terrain with the Vatna glacier in southeast Iceland measuring 3.240 square miles and reaching a thickness of 3,000 feet. In the deep snow of the steep mountainous terrain of the northwest, north and east, avalanches have destroyed farms and killed people. Jules Verne's novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth, was set on Iceland's Snaefells Peninsula, known for Snaefellsjokul, a spectacular volcano crowned by a glacier.
The group of fifteen Westman Islands, 7 miles off Iceland's south coast, is home to millions of puffin birds, 5,000 people and Keiko, a resident whale. A volcanic crater formed during a 1973 eruption crushed homes with 1.5 million tons of lava - the evidence can still be seen from the towering cliffs.
The Blue Lagoon is a mineral-rich pool of geothermally-heated water in the middle of a lava field with 100-degree temperatures year-round. The blue-green algae and white silica, natural skin conditioners, give the water a soft and milky feel. The bottom consists of smooth sand and the lagoon is never deeper than four feet. Just forty minutes from Reykjavik, it draws visitors year-round for its healing effects on skin and relaxation.
Fish and fish products constitute more than 70% of Iceland's exports, plentiful because of the continental shelf around Iceland where the Gulf Stream and the Arctic meet creating favorable conditions for marine life. The main catches are cod, haddock, saithe, redfish, herring and capelin. Icelanders enjoy many seafood dishes and in many Icelandic homes the Sunday meal consists of a roast leg of lamb served with caramelized potatoes and brown sauce, green peas, pickled red cabbage, rhubarb jam and sometime a green salad.
Iceland is richer in geothermal hot springs and high-temperature activity than any other country in the world and geothermal power is one of the most important resources in Iceland. Home heating is provided by geothermal power in 81% of the homes.
Just over 81% of the households in Iceland live in owner-occupied dwellings. About a third of the residents live in detached homes, another third live in blocks of flats and 22% live in multi-family dwellings (2-5 families). Fifteen percent of the residents live in terraced or semi-detached houses.
Icelanders have one of the world's highest life expectancy rates: 74 years for men and 80 years for women. Almost 4/5ths of the country is uninhabited with most of the 270,000 people living along a narrow coastal belt and the lowland plains in the south and southwest in their 23 towns and 42 villages. Less than 11% of the population lives in the rural districts.
The currency is the krona (plural kronur) and foreigners must register with the Statistical Bureau to obtain an Icelandic identity number. If the intention is to reside in Iceland for more than 6 months, legal domicile must be transferred to Iceland.
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