[184], On 22 January 2009, Iceland announced its first round of offshore licences for companies wanting to conduct hydrocarbon exploration and production in a region northeast of Iceland, known as the Dreki area. As in other Nordic countries, equality between the sexes is very high; Iceland is consistently ranked among the top three countries in the world for women to live in. The main meal of the day for most Icelanders is dinner, which usually involves fish or lamb as the main course. [citation needed] Conflict with the United Kingdom led to a series of so-called Cod Wars, which included confrontations between the Icelandic Coast Guard and the Royal Navy over British fishermen: in 1952–1956 due to the extension of Iceland's fishing zone from 3 to 4 nmi (5.6 to 7.4 km; 3.5 to 4.6 mi), in 1958–1961 following a further extension to 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), in 1972–1973 with another extension to 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi), and in 1975–1976 after another extension to 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi). [97] Whale watching has become an important part of Iceland's economy since 1997. [citation needed], According to the 2011 Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, due to its lack of armed forces, low crime rate and high level of socio-political stability. The Icelandic Commonwealth lasted until the 13th century, when the political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains. Many species of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a major part of Iceland's economy, accounting for roughly half of the country's total exports. The Black Death swept Iceland twice, first in 1402–1404 and again in 1494–1495. [79], Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland. Due to the island's climate, fruits and vegetables are not generally a component of traditional dishes, although the use of greenhouses has made them more common in contemporary food. The pre-registration for visiting Iceland and screening tests for Covid-19. Iceland is also the smallest country to ever qualify for Eurobasket. Polar bears occasionally come over from Greenland, but they are just visitors, and no Icelandic populations exist. When he was about to depart, it started to snow. Iceland plans to unplug itself from all dependence on fossil fuels by 2050 to become a hydrogen economy. It is definitely worth checking out! In the West of Iceland, the largest towns are Borgarnes (<2,000 people) and Stykkishólmur (<1,200 people). Akureyri is one of those towns you can visit over and over again and still manage to discover something new and see it in a totally new light. [240], Most books in Iceland are sold between late September to early November. But its impact on the world has been impressive. The southwest corner of Iceland is by far the most densely populated region. [71] Iceland has three national parks: Vatnajökull National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park. Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar, was beheaded in 1550 along with two of his sons. It is now one of the most developed countries in the world. [254] Iceland ranked 12th in the World Economic Forum's 2009–2010 Network Readiness Index, which measures a country's ability to competitively exploit communications technology. The first thing you see entering town is the Ölfusá River which is the most voluminous river in Iceland. [137] Another Capacent Gallup poll conducted in February 2012 found that 67.4% of Icelanders would reject EU membership in a referendum. The animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, the sturdy Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic Sheepdog, all descendants of animals imported by Europeans. [154], On 26 January 2009, the coalition government collapsed due to the public dissent over the handling of the financial crisis. After having hiked Esja you should really not miss a stop at the Mosfellsbær swimming pool. Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy. If you are looking for a cheaper accommodation Kópavogur is a good option as the ride to Reykjavík is only about 15 minutes, you can easily catch the bus (in Icelandic Strætó) or drive your rental. [122], Iceland was the neutral host of the historic 1986 Reagan–Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of the Cold War. Mosfellsbær is home to the Álafoss factory the oldest and most prestigious wool factory in Iceland and where you can go to buy Icelandic wool sweaters (Lopapeysa), wool blankets or beautiful multicolored sheepskins. The sagas say that the rather despondent Flóki climbed a mountain and saw a fjord (Arnarfjörður) full of icebergs, which led him to give the island its new and present name. "Two millennia of North Atlantic seasonality and implications for Norse colonies", "The History of Iceland (Gunnar Karlsson) – book review", "Iceland: Milestones in Icelandic History", Ecological imperialism: the biological expansion of Europe, 900–1900, "Iceland lost almost 5000 people in 2009", "Viðskiptablaðið – Hagvöxtur 2012 mun minni en spár gerðu ráð fyrir", "Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election", "Iceland's Prime Minister Steps Down Amid Panama Papers Scandal", "Iceland elections leave ruling centre-right party in driving seat", "How Iceland's government was brought down by a letter from PM's father demanding paedophile's pardon", "An Environmentalist Is Iceland's New Prime Minister", "On the Encounter Between the Nordic and the Northern: Torn Apart But Meeting Again? Many Polish immigrants were also considering leaving in 2008 as a result of the Icelandic financial crisis.[201]. Kópavogur is a town in Iceland located within the capital region right next to Reykjavik. District court jurisdictions also use an older version of this division. The head of government is the prime minister who, together with the cabinet, is responsible for executive government. Description: This map shows cities, towns, villages, main roads, secondary roads, tracks and ferries in Iceland. [196] The first census was carried out in 1703 and revealed that the population was then 50,358. Traditional dishes also include skyr (a yoghurt-like cheese), hákarl (cured shark), cured ram, singed sheep heads, and black pudding, Flatkaka (flat bread), dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally baked in the ground in geothermal areas. It plays an important part in Iceland’s history and has been a trading post for centuries. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. [103], In 2016, Iceland was ranked second in the strength of its democratic institutions[104] and 13th in government transparency. The eight regions are primarily used for statistical purposes. You might recognize it as the Selfoss municipality, but Icelanders call it Árborg. World Airport Codes offers several ways of navigating to the airport page of your interest. To that end, Iceland provided aid and expertise to various NATO-led interventions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Visit Iceland, iceland tours, travels, holidays, what to do, travel, trips, travel, guide, attractions, vacation, sightseeing, activities, destination Rifle shooting became very popular in the 19th century with the encouragement of politicians and nationalists who were pushing for Icelandic independence. [71] Only scientists researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the island. Iceland has a left–right multi-party system. Icelandic name generator . The Government of Iceland established an embassy in Copenhagen and requested that Denmark carry out on its behalf certain defence and foreign affairs matters, subject to consultation with the Althing. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule. It plays an important part in Iceland’s history and has been a trading post for centuries. [81] Additional eruptions on 14 April forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes. It has become a very popular programme for children and adults and is shown in over 100 countries, including the Americas, the UK and Sweden. This paved road is 1,332 km (828 mi)[163] long with one lane in each direction, except near larger towns and cities and in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel where it has more lanes. The law took effect on 27 June 2010. The puristic tendency in the development of Icelandic vocabulary is to a large degree a result of conscious language planning, in addition to centuries of isolation. RKV serves general aviation traffic, and has daily or regular domestic flights to 12 local townships within Iceland. [48] A month later, British armed forces conducted Operation Fork, the invasion and occupation of the country, violating Icelandic neutrality. The road speed limits are 30 km/h (19 mph) and 50 km/h (31 mph) in towns, 80 km/h (50 mph) on gravel country roads and 90 km/h (56 mph) on hard-surfaced roads.[162]. Reykjavík is the capital city of Iceland, the world’s northernmost capital.Nearly two-thirds of the country’s population lives in the capital area. Also, health care and education spending have relatively poor returns by OECD measures, though improvements have been made in both areas. [142] As of 2016[update], it ranks 29th in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitive Index, one place lower than in 2015. During that time, cold winters, ash fall from volcanic eruptions, and bubonic plagues adversely affected the population several times. Low-lying inland areas in the north are the most arid. Consequently, "it is arguably the world's oldest parliamentary democracy. For most of Iceland's history, almost the entire population lived on farms. [198][199], In December 2007, 33,678 people (13.5% of the total population) living in Iceland had been born abroad, including children of Icelandic parents living abroad. [159], According to Bloomberg, Iceland is on the trajectory of 2% unemployment as a result of crisis-management decisions made back in 2008, including allowing the banks to fail. Iceland has excellent conditions for skiing, fishing, snowboarding, ice climbing and rock climbing, although mountain climbing and hiking are preferred by the general public. Iceland is a country in the North Atlantic Ocean, far to the northwest of the UK. The closest bodies of land in Europe are the Faroe Islands (530 km). [80], On 21 March 2010, a volcano in Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to flee their homes. Davíð was removed on 26 February 2009 in the wake of protests outside the Central Bank. An overview of contracts for Iceland. [187] Such a cable would give Iceland access to a market where electricity prices have generally been much higher than those in Iceland. [190] Students must adhere closely to the government mandated curriculum, and the parent teaching must acquire a government approved teaching certificate. [145] The corporate tax rate is a flat 18%, one of the lowest in the world. [185] Three exploration licenses were awarded but all were subsequently relinquished.[186]. [241] The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík Municipal Art Museum, Reykjavík Art Museum and the National Gallery of Iceland are the larger, more established institutions, curating shows and festivals. There are endless cities, towns and villages in Iceland. The Hot Dog stand down by Dominos and Subway is also a must-do stop, where you can get your carb-load going with fantastic hot dogs, subs, sandwiched and pitas. The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island of Grímsey off the main island's northern coast. The movie also led Björk to nominations for Best Original Song at the 73rd Academy Awards, with the song I've Seen It All and for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama. Isometric iceland map with city names and administrative divisions. A translation of the Bible was published in the 16th century. [68] The largest lakes are Þórisvatn reservoir: 83–88 km2 (32–34 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km2 (32 sq mi); other important lakes include Lagarfljót and Mývatn. [177] Iceland's largest geothermal power plants are Hellisheiði and Nesjavellir,[178][179] while Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant is the country's largest hydroelectric power station. Iceland is the world's 18th-largest island, and Europe's second-largest island after Great Britain. 10. Akranes is a little off the Ring Road if you make a turn at the roundabout just after the under-sea-tunnel of Hvalfjörður. Fun Fact: There is also an Arborg in Manitoba, Canada. [188] Iceland has considerable renewable energy resources, especially geothermal energy and hydropower resources,[189] and most of the potential has not been developed, partly because there is not enough demand for additional electricity generation capacity from the residents and industry of Iceland; the United Kingdom is interested in importing inexpensive electricity from renewable sources of energy, and this could lead to further development of the energy resources. [71], 74 municipalities in Iceland govern local matters like schools, transport, and zoning. Additionally, boiled or mashed potatoes, pickled cabbage, green beans, and rye bread are prevalent side dishes. Iceland is divided into regions, constituencies and municipalities. All Old Norse Names; Old Norse Female Names On rare occasions, bats have been carried to the island with the winds, but they are not able to breed there. Danish embassies around the world displayed two coats of arms and two flags: those of the Kingdom of Denmark and those of the Kingdom of Iceland. After the break-up of the union in 1523, it remained a Norwegian dependency, as a part of Denmark–Norway. [77], Iceland has many geysers, including Geysir, from which the English word is derived, and the famous Strokkur, which erupts every 8–10 minutes. [147] An assessment by the OECD 2011[148] determined that Iceland has made progress in many areas, particularly in creating a sustainable fiscal policy and restoring the health of the financial sector; however, challenges remain in making the fishing industry more efficient and sustainable, as well as in improving monetary policy to address inflation. Although the country's environment is generally ill-suited for golf, there are nevertheless many golf courses throughout the island, and Iceland has a greater percentage of the population playing golf than Scotland with over 17,000 registered golfers out of a population of approximately 300,000. USD, Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, Perlan & The Old Harbour, Chase the Auroras in a comfort Jeep from Reykjavik, 148 Akureyri is the first town we mention which is located far away from the Reykjavík but it is often named the capital of the North, stating its significance and size compared to the other settlements in the North. Other political parties with seats in the Althing (Parliament) are the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), the Centre Party (Miðflokkurinn), Iceland's Pirates, the People's Party (Flokkur fólksins), and the Reform Party (Viðreisn). This is the only Icelandic movie to have ever been nominated for an Academy Award. We’d suggest that’s a mistake – there’s a lot to see and do here, and we will be writing a whole post soon on what to see and do in Reykjavik. [29], Swedish Viking explorer Garðar Svavarsson was the first to circumnavigate Iceland in 870 and establish that it was an island. Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550, Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence. All rights reserved. In 2009, Iceland became the first country with an openly gay head of government when Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became prime minister.[113]. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. In 2006, parliament voted unanimously to grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in adoption, parenting and assisted insemination treatment. The elections for president, the Althing, and local municipal councils are all held separately every four years. Ingólfr was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Scandinavians and their thralls, many of whom were Irish or Scottish. The governments of Iceland have always been coalition governments, with two or more parties involved, as no single political party has ever received a majority of seats in the Althing throughout the republican period. Today’s Icelandic baby names. [182], Despite this, Icelanders emitted 16.9 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2016, the highest in EFTA, mainly resulting from transport and aluminium smelting. Icelandic names are names used by people from Iceland.Icelandic surnames are different from most other naming systems in the modern Western world by being patronymic or occasionally matronymic: they indicate the father (or mother) of the child and not the historic family lineage.Iceland shares a common cultural heritage … [252] According to a 2011 report by Freedom House, Iceland is one of the highest ranked countries in press freedom. Some great things to check out in Hafnarfjörður are the local swimming pools, the best being Suðurbæjarlaug, the excellent restaurants and cafés, Pallette, Brikk and Tilveran and the heritage museum Sívertsenhúsið. Iceland had been hit especially hard by the Great Recession that began in December 2007, because of the failure of its banking system and a subsequent economic crisis. Signed with the encouragement of politicians and nationalists who were pushing for Icelandic Independence returned to Iceland and immediately talking! 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