Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland (Icelandic:
Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland; IPA: ['liðv?ld?ð
'istland]) is a country in northern Europe, comprising the island
of Iceland and its outlying islets in the North Atlantic Ocean between
the rest of Europe and Greenland.[1] It is the least populous of
the Nordic countries and the second smallest; it has a population
of about 313,000 and a total area of 103,000 km². Its capital
and largest city is Reykjavík.
Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is volcanically and
geologically active on a large scale; this defines the landscape
in various ways. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterized
by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers
flow to the sea through the lowlands. Warmed by the Gulf Stream,
Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude and provides
a habitable environment and nature.
The settlement of Iceland began in 874 when, according to Landnámabók,
the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first
permanent Norwegian settler on the island.[2] Others had visited
the island earlier and stayed over winter. Over the next centuries,
people of Nordic and Gaelic origin settled in Iceland. Until the
twentieth century, the Icelandic population relied on fisheries
and agriculture, and was from 1262 to 1944 a part of the Norwegian
and later the Danish monarchies. In the twentieth century, Iceland's
economy and welfare system developed quickly.
Iceland is the most developed country in the world.[3] Based upon
a mixed economy where service, finance, fishing and various industries
are the main sectors, it is also the fourth most productive country
per capita.[4] Icelanders have a rich culture and heritage, and
the country is a candidate for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security
Council. Iceland is a member of the UN, NATO, EFTA, EEA and OECD,
but not of the European Union.
Contents [hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Topography
1.2 Geological activity
1.3 Climate
1.4 Flora and fauna
2 History
2.1 Age of settlement
2.2 Middle ages
2.3 Independence and recent history
3 Government
3.1 Subdivisions
3.2 Politics
3.3 Foreign relations
4 Demographics
4.1 Language
4.2 Religion
4.3 Social structure
4.3.1 Social system and education
5 Economy and infrastructure
5.1 Transportation
5.2 Energy
6 Culture
6.1 Literature and the arts
6.2 Music
6.3 Media
6.4 Cuisine
6.5 Sports
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
[edit] Geography
Main article: Geography of Iceland
[edit] Topography
Strokkur, a geyser in the process of erupting. Lying on the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, Iceland is one of the most geologically active areas on Earth.Iceland
is located in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic
Circle, which passes through the small island of Grímsey
off Iceland's northern coast, but not through mainland Iceland.
Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part
of Europe, not of North America, though geologically, the island
belongs to both continents. Because of cultural, economic and linguistic
similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included in Scandinavia.
The closest bodies of land are Greenland (287 km) and the Faroe
Islands (420 km). The closest distance to the mainland of Europe
is 970 km (to Norway).
Iceland, as seen from space
Iceland, as seen from space on January 29, 2004. Source: NASAIceland
is the world's 18th-largest island, and Europe's second largest
island following Great Britain. The country is 103,000 km²
(39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7%is wasteland. Lakes and
glaciers cover 14.3%; only 23% is vegetated. [5] The largest lakes
are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km² (32–34
sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km² (32 sq mi); other important
lakes include Lögurinn and Mývatn. Öskjuvatn is
the deepest lake at 220 m (722 ft).
A map of Iceland with major towns marked.Many fjords punctuate its
extensive coastline, which is also where most towns are situated
because the island's interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold
and uninhabitable combination of sands and mountains. The major
towns are the capital Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður,
Reykjanesbær, where the international airport is located,
and Akureyri. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle
contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.[6]
Iceland has four national parks: Jökulsárgljúfur
National Park, Skaftafell National Park, Snæfellsjökull
National Park, and Þingvellir National Park.
[edit] Geological activity
A geologically young land, Iceland is located on both a geological
hot spot, thought to be caused by a mantle plume, and the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, which runs right through it. This combined location means
that geologically the island is extremely active, having many volcanoes,
notably Hekla, Eldgjá, and Eldfell. The volcanic eruption
of Laki in 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a
quarter of the island's population;[7] the eruption caused dust
clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Asia
and Africa for several months after the eruption.
There are also many geysers in Iceland, including Geysir, from
which the English word is derived. With this widespread availability
of geothermal power, and because many rivers and waterfalls are
harnessed for hydroelectricity, most residents have hot water and
home heat cheaply. The island itself is composed primarily of basalt,
a low-silica lava associated with effusive volcanism like Hawaii.
But Iceland has various kinds of volcanoes, many of which produce
more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite.
Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, is located in
north-eastern Iceland.Iceland controls Surtsey, one of the youngest
islands in the world. It rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic
eruptions between November 8, 1963 and June 5, 1968.[6]
[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Iceland
The climate of Iceland's coast is cold oceanic. The warm North Atlantic
Current ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most
places of similar latitude in the world. The winters are mild and
windy while the summers are damp and cool. Regions in the world
with similar climate include the Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula
and Tierra del Fuego although these regions are closer to the equator.
Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain
ice-free through the winter. Ice incursions are rare, last having
occurred on the north coast in 1969.[8]
There are some variations in the climate between different parts
of the island. Very generally speaking, the south coast is warmer,
wetter and windier than the north. Low-lying inland areas in the
north are the most arid. Snowfall in winter is more common in the
north than the south. The Central Highlands are the coldest part
of the country.
The highest air temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F)
on 22 June 1939 at Teigarhorn on the south-eastern coast. The lowest
was -38 °C (-36.4 °F) on 22 January 1918 at Grímsstaðir
and Möðrudalur in the northeast hinterland. The temperature
records for Reykjavík are 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) on 11
August 2004, and -24.5 °C (-12.1 °F) on 21 January 1918.
Mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures (°C) (1961–1990)[9]
Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec All
Reykjavík[10] 1.9 2.8 3.2 5.7 9.4 11.7 13.3 13.0 10.1 6.8
3.4 2.2 High 7.0
-3.0 -2.1 -2.0 0.4 3.6 6.7 8.3 7.9 5.0 2.2 -1.3 -2.8 Low 1.9
Akureyri[11] 0.9 1.7 2.1 5.4 9.5 13.2 14.5 13.9 9.9 5.9 2.6 1.3
High 6.7
-5.5 -4.7 -4.2 -1.5 2.3 6.0 7.5 7.1 3.5 0.4 -3.5 -5.1 Low 0.2
[edit] Flora and fauna
An Icelandic sheepThe short time since the last ice age, 10,000
years ago, was very little time for plants and animals to migrate
from elsewhere or evolve locally. There are around 1,300 known species
of insects in Iceland, which is rather low compared with other countries
(about 925,000 are known in the world). The only native land mammal
when humans arrived was the arctic fox, which came to the island
at the end of the ice age, walking over the frozen sea. There are
no native reptiles or amphibians on the island.
Approximately three-quarters of the island are barren of vegetation;
plant life consists mainly of grassland which is regularly grazed
by livestock. The only tree native to Iceland is the northern birch
Betula pubescens, which formerly formed forest over much of southern
Iceland. Permanent human settlement greatly disturbed the isolated
ecosystem of thin, volcanic soils and limited species diversity.
The forests were heavily exploited over the centuries for firewood
and timber. Deforestation caused a loss of critical topsoil due
to erosion, greatly reducing the ability of birches to grow back.
Today, only a few small birch stands exist in isolated reserves.
The planting of new forests has increased the number of trees, but
does not compare to the original forests. Some of the planted forests
include new foreign species.
The animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, and
the sturdy Icelandic horse. Many varieties of fish live in the ocean
waters surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a main contributor
to Iceland’s economy, accounting for more than half of its
total exports. Wild mammals include the arctic fox, mink, mice,
rats, rabbits and reindeer. Before and around the 1900s polar bears
occasionally visited the island, traveling on icebergs from Greenland.
Birds, especially sea birds, are a very important part of Iceland's
animal life. Puffins, skuas, and kittiwakes nest on its sea cliffs.
Though Iceland no longer has a commercial whaling fleet (as of August,
2007) it still allows scientific whale hunts, which are not supported
by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission
(IWC).
See also: Whaling in Iceland
See also: The Botany of Iceland
[edit] History
Main article: History of Iceland
A 19th century depiction of a meeting of the Alþingi at Þingvellir.
[edit] Age of settlement
See also Settlement of Iceland and Icelandic commonwealth.
The first people thought to have inhabited Iceland were Irish monks
or hermits who came in the eighth century, but left with the arrival
of Norsemen, who systematically settled Iceland in the period AD
870-930. The first known permanent Norse settler was Ingólfur
Arnarson, who built his homestead in Reykjavík in 874. Ingólfur
was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Norsemen and
their Irish slaves. By 930, most arable land had been claimed and
the Althing, a legislative and judiciary parliament, was founded
as the political hub of the Icelandic Free State. Christianity was
adopted in 1000. The Free State lasted until in 1262 the political
system devised by the original settlers could not cope with the
increasing power of Icelandic chieftains.
[edit] Middle ages
The internal struggles and civil strife of the Sturlung Era led
to the signing of the Old Covenant, which brought Iceland under
the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland passed to Denmark-Norway
in the late 14th century when the kingdoms of Norway and Denmark
were united in the Kalmar Union. In the ensuing centuries, Iceland
became one of the poorest countries in Europe. Infertile soil, volcanic
eruptions, and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society
whose subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. The Black
Death swept Iceland in 1402–1404 and 1494–1495, each
time killing approximately half the population.[12]
Jón Sigurðsson, leader of the Icelandic independence
movementAround the middle of the 16th century, King Christian III
of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all his subjects. The
last Catholic bishop in Iceland was beheaded in 1550, and the country
became fully Lutheran. Lutheranism has remained the dominant religion.
In the 1600s and 1700s, Denmark imposed harsh trade restrictions
on Iceland, while pirates from England, Spain and Algeria raided
its coasts. A great smallpox epidemic in the 18th century killed
around one-third of the population.[13][14]
[edit] Independence and recent history
In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken
up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel. Iceland remained
a Danish dependency. The country's climate worsened during the 19th
century, causing mass emigration to North America, largely Canada.
Meanwhile, a new independence movement arose under the leadership
of Jón Sigurðsson, inspired by the romantic and nationalist
ideologies of mainland Europe. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland
home rule, which was expanded in 1904. The Act of Union, an agreement
with Denmark signed on December 1, 1918, recognized Iceland as a
fully sovereign state under the Danish king.
During World War II, the German occupation of Denmark on April
9, 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark. At that
point Iceland's parliament declared that the Icelandic government
should exercise the authority that hitherto had been that of the
King and take control over issues previously handled by Denmark
on behalf of Iceland (principally foreign affairs). A month later,
British military forces occupied Iceland, violating Icelandic neutrality.
Allied occupation of Iceland lasted throughout the war. The Althing
voted, on June 14, 1941, to elect Sveinn Björnsson as regent
for King Christian X of Denmark.[15]
In 1941, responsibility for the occupation was taken over by the
United States Army. On December 31, 1943 the Act of Union agreement
expired by its terms after 25 years. Beginning on May 20, 1944,
four days of voting were conducted in a plebiscite on whether the
union with Denmark should be renewed, or a republic should be established.[16]
The vote was 97% in favor of the latter, and Iceland formally became
an independent republic on June 17, 1944, with Sveinn Bjornsson
as the first President. The occupation force left in 1946. Iceland
became a member of NATO on March 30, 1949, amid domestic controversy
and riots and on May 5, 1951, a defense agreement was signed with
the United States -- American troops returned and stayed as part
of the defense agreement throughout the Cold War and until autumn
2006.
The immediate post-war period was followed by substantial economic
growth, driven by industrialization of the fishing industry and
the rebuilding, Marshall aid and Keynesian government management
of the economies of Europe, all of which promoted trade. The 1970s
were marked by the Cod Wars – several disputes with the United
Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits. The economy
was greatly diversified and liberalized following Iceland's joining
of the European Economic Area in 1992.
[edit] Government
Main article: Politics of Iceland
Iceland is a representative democracy and a parliamentary republic.
The modern parliament, called "Alþingi" (English:
Althing), was founded in 1845 as an advisory body to the Danish
king. It was widely seen as a reestablishment of the assembly founded
in 930 in the Commonwealth period and suspended in 1799. It currently
has sixty-three members, each of whom is elected every four years.
The president of Iceland is a largely ceremonial office that serves
as a diplomat, figurehead and head of state, but who can also block
a law voted by the parliament and put it to a national referendum.
The current president is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. The
head of government is the prime minister, who, together with the
cabinet, takes care of the executive part of government. The cabinet
is appointed by the president after general elections to Althing;
however, this process is usually conducted by the leaders of the
political parties, who decide among themselves after discussions
which parties can form the cabinet and how its seats are to be distributed,
under the condition that it has a majority support in Althing. Only
when the party leaders are unable to reach a conclusion by themselves
in reasonable time does the president exercise this power and appoint
the cabinet himself. This has not happened since the republic was
founded in 1944, but in 1942 the regent of the country (Sveinn Björnsson,
who had been installed in that position by the Althing in 1941)
did appoint a non-parliamentary government. The regent had, for
all practical purposes, the position of a president, and Sveinn
in fact became the country's first president in 1944.
Stjórnarráðið, the seat of the executive branchThe
governments of Iceland have almost always been coalitions with two
or more parties involved, due to the fact that no single political
party has received a majority of seats in Althing in the republic
period. The extent of the political powers possessed by the office
of the president is disputed by legal scholars in Iceland; several
provisions of the constitution appear to give the president some
important powers but other provisions and traditions suggest differently.
Iceland elected the world's first female president, Vigdís
Finnbogadóttir in 1980 and she retired from office in 1996.
Elections for the office of town councils, parliament and presidency
are each held every four years. The next elections are going to
be held in 2010, 2011 and 2008, respectively.
[edit] Subdivisions
Main article: Administrative and electoral divisions of Iceland
The Althing in Reykjavík, with the cathedral on the left.Iceland
is divided into regions, constituencies, counties, and municipalities.
There are eight regions which are primarily used for statistical
purposes; the district court jurisdictions also use an older version
of this division.[1] Until 2003, the constituencies for the parliament
elections were the same as the regions, but by an amendment to the
constitution, they were changed to the current six constituencies:
Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South (city regions);
Southwest (four geographically separate suburban areas around Reykjavík);
Northwest and Northeast (north half of Iceland, split); and,
South (south half of Iceland, excluding Reykjavík and suburbs).
The redistricting change was made in order to balance the weight
of different districts of the country, since a vote cast in the
sparsely populated areas around the country would count much more
than a vote cast in the Reykjavík city area. The imbalance
between districts has been reduced by the new system, but still
exists.[1]
Iceland's twenty-three counties are, for the most part, historical
divisions. Currently, Iceland is split up among twenty-six magistrates
that represent government in various capacities. Among their duties
are running the local police (except in Reykjavík, where
there is a special office of police commissioner), tax collection,
administering bankruptcy declarations, and performing civil marriages.[1]
There are seventy-nine municipalities in Iceland which govern local
matters like schools, transportation and zoning. These are the actual
second-level subdivisions of Iceland, as the constituencies have
no revelance except in elections and for statistical purposes. Reykjavík
is by far the most populous municapility, about four times more
populous than Kópavogur, the second one. [1]
Regions of Iceland
Constituencies of Iceland
Counties of Iceland
[edit] Politics
Iceland has a left-right multi-party system. The biggest party is
the right wing Independence Party (’’Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn’’),
while the second largest one is the social democratic Alliance (‘’Samfylkingin’’).
Following the May 2007 parliamentary elections, these two formed
a coalition, enjoying a strong majority in Althing, with 43 out
of 63 members supporting it.
Other political parties that have a seat in Althing are the centrist
Progressive Party (‘’Framsóknarflokkurinn’’),
which had been in government with the Independence Party for 12
years before the 2007 election, the Left-Green Movement (‘’Vinstrihreyfingin
- grænt framboð’’), founded in 1999, and the
Centre-right Liberal Party. Many other parties exist on the municipal
level, most of which only run locally in a single municipality.
[edit] Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Iceland
Iceland maintains diplomatic and commercial relations with practically
all nations, but its ties with the Nordic countries, Germany, the
US, and with the other NATO nations are particularly close. Icelanders
remain especially proud of the role Iceland played in hosting the
historic 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík, which
set the stage for the end of the Cold War. Iceland's principal historical
international disputes involved disagreements over fishing rights.
Conflict with Britain led to the so-called Cod Wars in 1952-1956
because of extension of Fishing zone from 3 to 4 nautical miles
(6 to 7 km), 1958-1961 because of extending the fishing zone to
12 nautical miles (22 km) in 1972-1973 because of extension to 50
nautical miles (93 km) and in 1975 to 1976 because of extension
to 200 nautical miles (370 km).
Iceland has no standing army. The U.S. Air Force maintained four
to six interceptors at the Keflavík base, until 30 September
2006 when they were withdrawn. Iceland supported the 2003 invasion
of Iraq despite much controversy and condemnation in Iceland. Iceland
also participated in the Invasion of Afghanistan and the 1999 bombing
of Yugoslavia.
[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Iceland
Citizenship of Iceland residents (Dec. 2007) [17] Iceland 291,594
Poland 8,350
Lithuania 1,316
Germany 980
Denmark 970
Portugal 886
Philippines 753
Ex-Yugoslavia 660
United States 598
Thailand 553
Latvia 426
United Kingdom 418
Sweden 406
China (PRC) 379
Ex-Czechoslovakia 365
Faroe Islands 330
Norway 299
others 3,962
total (without Icelanders) 21,651
The original population of Iceland was of Nordic and Celtic origin.
This is evident by literary evidence from the settlement period
as well as from later scientific studies such as blood type and
genetic analysis. One such genetics study has indicated that the
majority of the male settlers were of Nordic origin while the majority
of the women were of Celtic origin.[18] The modern population of
Iceland is often described as a "homogeneous mixture of descendants
of Norse, Scottish and Irish Celts" but some history scholars
reject the alleged homogeneity as a myth that fails to take into
account the fact that Iceland was never completely isolated from
the rest of Europe and actually has had a lot of contact with traders
and fishermen from many nations through the ages.
Suburban Reykjavík. Over 60% of Icelanders live in the Reykjavík
Metropolitan AreaIceland has extensive genealogical records dating
back to the late 1600s and fragmentary records extending back to
the Age of Settlement. The biopharmaceutical company deCODE Genetics
has funded the creation of a genealogy database which attempts to
cover all of Iceland's known inhabitants. It sees the database,
called Íslendingabók, as a valuable tool for conducting
research on genetic diseases, given the relative isolation of Iceland's
population.
The population of the island is believed to have varied from 40,000
to 60,000 in the period from initial settlement until the mid-19th
century. During that time, cold winters, ashfall from volcanic eruptions,
and bubonic plagues adversely affected the population several times.
The first census was carried out in 1703 and revealed that the population
was then 50,358. After the destructive volcanic eruptions of the
Laki volcano during 1783–1784 the population reached a low
of about 40,000. Improving living conditions triggered a rapid increase
in population since the mid-19th century - from about 60,000 in
1850 to 313,000 in 2007.
In December 2006, 30,387 people (9.9% of the total population)
who were living in Iceland had been born abroad, including children
of Icelandic parents living abroad. 18,563 people (6% of the population)
held foreign citizenship. Poles make up the far largest minority
nationality (see table on the right for more details). The recent
surge in immigration has been credited to a labor shortage because
of the booming economy while restrictions on the movement of people
from the Eastern European countries that joined the EU/EEA in 2004
have been lifted. Large-scale construction projects in the east
of Iceland (see Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project) have
also brought in many people whose stay is expected to be temporary.
The south-west corner of Iceland is the most densely populated
region, It is also the location of the capital Reykjavík,
the northernmost capital in the world. The largest towns outside
the capital region are Akureyri and Reykjanesbær.
[edit] Language
Main article: Icelandic language
Iceland's official written and spoken language is Icelandic, a North
Germanic language descended from Old Norse. It has changed less
from Old Norse than the other Nordic languages, has preserved more
verb and noun inflection, and has to a considerable extent developed
new vocabulary based on native roots rather than borrowings from
English. It is the only living language to retain the runic letter
Þ. The closest living language to Icelandic is Faroese. In
education, the use of Icelandic Sign Language for Iceland's deaf
community is regulated by the National Curriculum Guide.
English is widely spoken, and many Icelanders speak it at an almost
native level. Danish is also widely understood. Studying both these
languages is a mandatory part of the compulsory school curriculum.[19]
Other commonly spoken languages are German, Norwegian and Swedish.
Danish is mostly spoken in a way largely comprehensible to Swedes
and Norwegians – it is often referred to as "Scandinavian"
in Iceland.
In addition to Icelandic, many immigrants speak their respective
native languages. Polish is arguably the most widespread of them.[citation
needed]
Religion
Hallgrímskirkja, Church of Hallgrímur, in Reykjavík,
Iceland.Main article: Religion in Iceland
Icelanders enjoy freedom of religion under the constitution, though
there is no separation of church and state. The National Church
of Iceland, a Lutheran body, is the state church and all Icelanders
are automatically registered as members of it and therefore the
following numbers do not represent actual belief.[citation needed]
The national registry keeps account of the religious affiliation
of every Icelandic citizen. In 2005, Icelanders divided into religious
groups as follows:[20]
82.1% members of the National Church of Iceland.
4.7% members of the Free Lutheran Churches of Reykjavík and
Hafnarfjörður.
2.6% not members of any religious group.
2.4% members of the Roman Catholic Church, which has a Diocese of
Reykjavík (see also Bishop of Reykjavik (Catholic))
5.5% members of unregistered religious organisations or with no
specified religious affiliation
The remaining 2.7% is mostly divided between around 20–25
other Christian denominations and sects, and less than 1% are in
non-Christian religious organisations. But polls show that 43% of
the population never attends religious events and only 10% attends
regularly.[citations needed] The largest of the aforementioned denominations
and sects is Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið,
a neo-pagan group.[21]
A classroom in an Icelandic gymnasium.
[edit] Social structure
Iceland is the most developed society in the world, ranked first
on the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Icelanders
are the second longest-living nation with a life expectancy at birth
of 81.8 years.
Iceland is a very technologically advanced society. In 1999, 82.3%
of Icelanders had access to a computer, [22] and this figure has
not declined in the last years. Iceland also had 1,007 cell phone
subscriptions per 1,000 people in 2006, the 16th highest in the
world. [23] The social structure of Iceland is very dependent upon
transportation, especially the personal automobile; Icelanders have
on average one car per inhabitant older than 17 years,[24] one of
the highest figures in the world. Most Icelanders travel by car
to work, school or other activities.
[edit] Social system and education
See also: Education in Iceland
Iceland is a welfare state and its population enjoys a wide range
of benefits, for example old-age pensions, unemployment benefits
and generous housing subsidies. Icelanders also have access to excellent
healthcare and education. These are supported by a type of progressive
taxation, similar to that implemented in other Northern European
states, making Iceland one of the most equalitarian countries in
the world, according to the Gini coefficient. The Ministry of Health
runs the healthcare system. The Ministry of Education, Science and
Culture is responsible for the policies and methods that schools
must use, and they issue the National Curriculum Guidelines. However,
the playschools and the primary and lower secondary schools are
funded and administered by the municipalities.
Playschool or leikskóli, is non-compulsory education for
children younger than six years, and is the first step in the education
system. The current legislation concerning playschools was passed
in 1994. They are also responsible for ensuring that the curriculum
is suitable so as to make the transition into compulsory education
as easy as possible.
Compulsory education, or grunnskóli (lit. “basic school”),
comprises primary and lower secondary education, which often is
conducted at the same institution. Education is mandatory by law
for children aged from 6 to 16 years. The school year lasts nine
months, and begins between August 21 and September 1, ending between
May 31 and June 10. The minimum number of school days is 170, but
after a new teachers’ wage contract, this will increase to
180. Lessons take place five days a week. The Programme for International
Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, currently ranks the
Icelandic secondary education as the 27th in the world, significantly
below the OECD average. [1]
Upper secondary education or framhaldsskóli (lit. “continued
school”), follows lower secondary education. These schools
are also known as gymnasia in English. It is not compulsory, but
everyone who has had a compulsory education has the right to upper
secondary education. This stage of education is governed by the
Upper Secondary School Act of 1996. All schools in Iceland are mixed
sex schools.
[edit] Economy and infrastructure
Main article: Economy of Iceland
Akureyri is the largest known town in Iceland outside of the greater
Reykjavík area. Most rural towns are based on the fishing
industry, which provides 40% of Iceland's export.Iceland is the
fourth most productive country in the world by nominal gross domestic
product per capita (54,858 USD), and the fifth most productive by
GDP at purchasing power parity (40,112 USD). Except for its abundant
hydro-electric and geothermal power, Iceland lacks natural resources;
historically its economy depended heavily on the fishing industry,
which still provides almost 40% of export earnings and employs 8%
of the work force. The economy is vulnerable to declining fish stocks
and drops in world prices for its main material exports: fish and
fish products, aluminium, and ferrosilicon. Although the Icelandic
economy still relies heavily on fishing, its importance is diminishing
as the travel industry and other service, technology and various
other industries grow. Economic growth slowed from 2000 to 2002,
but the economy expanded by 4.3% in 2003 and 6.2% in 2004. The unemployment
rate of ~1.0% (2007 est.) is among the lowest in the European Economic
Area.
Although Iceland is a very developed country, it is still one of
the most newly-industrialized ones in Europe. Until the 20th century,
it was probably the poorest country in Western Europe. The fast
economic growth that it has experienced in the last decades is only
recently allowing for upgrading of infrastructure such as transportation.
The government coalition plans to continue its generally neo-liberal
policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting
foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and
fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatising state-owned
industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily
because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing
resources.
Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and
service industries in the last decade, including software production,
biotechnology, and financial services. The tourism sector is expanding,
with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale-watching. Iceland's
agriculture industry consists mainly of potatoes, turnips, green
vegetables (in greenhouses), mutton and dairy products.[25] The
financial center is Borgartún in Reykjavik, hosting a large
number of companies and three investment banks. Iceland's stock
market, the Iceland Stock Exchange (ISE), was established in 1985.
The Ring Road of Iceland and some towns it passes through: 1.Reykjavík,
2.Borgarnes, 3.Blönduós, 4.Akureyri, 5.Egilsstaðir,
6.Höfn, 7.SelfossThe primary currency of Iceland is the Icelandic
Króna (ISK). Iceland's then foreign minister Valgerður
Sverrisdóttir said in an interview on 15 January 2007 that
she seriously wished to look into whether Iceland can join the Euro
without being a member of the EU. She believes it is difficult to
maintain an independent currency in a small economy on the open
European market.[26]
[edit] Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Iceland
The main mode of transport in Iceland is road. Iceland has 13,034
km of administered roads, of which 4,617 km are paved and 8,338
km are not. Until the second half of the 20th century, Iceland could
only afford to pave roads near the biggest towns. Today, roads are
being improved throughout the country and freeways are being built
in and around Reykjavík. Still, Iceland has no railroads.
The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant services the Greater Reykjavík
Area's hot water needs.Route 1 or the Ring Road (Icelandic: Þjóðvegur
1 or Hringvegur) is a main road in Iceland that runs around the
island and connects all habitable parts (the interior of the island
is uninhabited). The road is 1339 km long (840 miles). It has one
lane in each direction, except near larger towns and cities and
in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel where it has more lanes. Most
smaller bridges on it are single lane and made of wood and/or steel.
Most of the road's length is paved with asphalt, but some stretches
in the east still have a gravel surface.
The main hub for international transportation is Keflavík
International Airport, which serves Reykjavík and the country
in general. There are 86 airport runways in Iceland; most of them
are unpaved and located in rural areas.
[edit] Energy
See also: Renewable energy in Iceland
Renewable energy provides over 70% of the nation's primary energy.[27]
Over 99% of the country's electricity is produced from hydropower
and geothermal energy, and the country expects to be energy-independent
by 2050.[28] Iceland's largest geothermal power plant is located
in Nesjavellir, while the Kárahnjúkar dam will be
the country's largest hydroelectric power plant.
Yet, Icelanders still emit 10.0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent of greenhouse
gasses per capita, higher than France or Spain. This is due to the
wide use of personal transport. Iceland is the only country that
has filling stations dispensing hydrogen fuel for cars powered by
fuel cells. It is also one of only a few countries currently capable
of producing hydrogen in adequate quantities at reasonable cost,
because of Iceland's plentiful geothermal energy.
[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Iceland
Icelandic culture has its roots in Viking and Norse traditions.
Icelandic literature is popular, in particular the sagas and eddas
which were written around the time of the island’s settlement.
Icelanders place relatively great importance on independence and
self-sufficiency; in a European Commission public opinion analysis
over 85% of Icelanders found independence to be "very important"
contrasted with the EU25 average of 53%, and 47% for the Norwegians,
and 49% for the Danes.[29]
Some traditional beliefs remain today; for example, some Icelanders
either believe in elves or are unwilling to rule out their existence.[30]
Iceland ranks first on the Human Development Index, and was recently
ranked the fourth happiest country in the world.[31]
An example from Brennu-Njáls saga. The sagas are a significant
part of the Icelandic heritage.Iceland is liberal in terms of lesbian,
gay bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) matters. In 1996, Parliament
passed legislation to create registered partnerships for same-sex
couples, covering nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage.
In 2006, by unanimous vote of Parliament, further legislation was
passed, granting same-sex couples the same rights as different-sex
couples in adoption, parenting and assisted insemination treatment.
[edit] Literature and the arts
Main articles: Icelandic literature and Art of Iceland
The poet Steinn Steinarr. by Einar Hákonarson.Iceland's best-known
classical works of literature are the Icelanders' sagas, prose epics
set in Iceland's age of settlement. The most famous of these include
Njáls saga, about an epic blood feud, and Grœnlendinga
saga and Eiríks saga, describing the discovery and settlement
of Greenland and Vinland (modern Newfoundland). Egils saga, Laxdæla
saga, Grettis saga, Gísla saga and Gunnlaugs saga ormstungu
are also notable and popular Icelanders' sagas. In 1262, Iceland
united to the Norvegian monarchy, and lost its independence, starting
a decline in literature. A great translation of the Bible was published
in the 16th century. Important compositions since the 15th to the
19th century include sacred verse, most famously the Passíusálmar
of Hallgrímur Pétursson, and rímur, rhymed
epic poems with alliterative verse that consist in two to four verses
per stanza, popular until the end of the 19th century. In recent
times, Iceland has produced many great writers, the best-known of
which is arguably Halldór Laxness who received the Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1955. Steinn Steinarr is considered by some
to be the first important Icelandic modernist poet.
The distinctive rendition of the Icelandic landscape by its painters
can be linked to nationalism and the movement to home rule and independence,
which was very active in this period. Other landscape artists quickly
followed in the footsteps of Þorláksson and Jónsson.
These included Jóhannes Kjarval, Jón Stefánsson,
and Júlíana Sveinsdóttir. Kjarval in particular
is noted for the distinct techniques in the application of paint
that he developed in a concerted effort to render the characteristic
volcanic rock that dominates the Icelandic environment. Contemporary
Icelandic painting is typically traced to the work of Þórarinn
Þorláksson, who, following formal training in art in
the 1890s in Copenhagen, returned to Iceland to paint and exhibit
works from 1900 to his death in 1924, almost exclusively portraying
the Icelandic landscape. Several other Icelandic men and women artists
learned in Denmark Academy at that time, including Ásgrímur
Jónsson, who together with Þorláksson created
a distinctive portrayal of Iceland's landscape in a romantic naturalistic
style. Einar Hákonarson is an expressionistic and figurative
painter who brought the figure back into Icelandic painting. Hákonarson
said that he got more influenced by feeling for nature, rather than
by trying to paint a specific part of it.
Icelandic architecture draws from Scandinavian influences. The
scarcity of native trees resulted in traditional houses being covered
by grass and turf. The grasshouses built by the original settlers
were based on Viking longhouses.
[edit] Music
Main article: Music of Iceland
Icelandic music is related to Nordic music, and includes vibrant
folk and pop traditions, including medieval music group Voces Thules,
alternative rock band The Sugarcubes, singers Björk and Emiliana
Torrini; and Sigur Rós. The national anthem of Iceland is
"Lofsöngur", written by Matthías Jochumsson,
with music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson [32].
Björk is one of the most famous people from IcelandTraditional
Icelandic music is strongly religious. Hallgrímur Pétursson
wrote many Protestant hymns in the 17th century. This music was
further modernized in the 19th century, when Magnús Stephensen
brought pipe organs, which were followed by harmoniums. Other vital
traditions of Icelandic music are epic alliterative and rhyming
ballads called rímur. Rímur are epic tales, usually
a cappella, which can be traced back to the Viking Age Eddic poetry
of the Skalds, using complex metaphors and cryptic rhymes and forms.
Some of the most famous rímur were written from the 18th
to the early 20th century, by poets like Hannes Bjarnason (1776-1838),
Jón Sigurðsson (1853-1922) and Sigurður Breiðfjörð
(1798-1846). Rímur were, for a long time, officially banned
by the Christian church, though they remained popular throughout
the period. A modern revitalization of the tradition began in 1929
with the formation of the organization Iðunn [33].
Icelandic contemporary music consists of a big group of bands,
ranging from pop-rock groups such as Sálin hans Jóns
míns, Á móti sól (Rockstar: Supernova
Magni's band), Írafár, Í Svörtum Fötum,
Quarashi, Bang Gang, Amiina, and Skítamórall,to solo
ballad singers like Bubbi Morthens, Megas, Björgvin Halldórsson
and Páll Rósinkranz. The indie-scene is also very
strong in Iceland, bands such as Múm, Sigur Rós and
the solo artist Mugison are fairly well-known outside Iceland.
Many Icelandic artists and bands have had great success internationally,
most notably Björk and Sigur Rós but also Quarashi,
Ampop, Mínus and múm. The main music festival is arguably
Iceland Airwaves, a yearly event on the Icelandic music scene, where
Icelandic bands along with foreign ones occupy the clubs of Reykjavík
for a week.
"Icelandic rímur"
A rimur from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern
California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by
Sigurd Bardarson on April 29, 1940 in Carmel, California'
Problems playing the files? See media help.
[edit] Media
See also: Media in Iceland and cinema of Iceland
Iceland’s largest television stations are the state-run Sjónvarpið
and the privately owned Stöð 2 and Skjár einn. Smaller
stations exist, many of them local. Radio is broadcast throughout
the country, including some parts of the interior. The main radio
stations are Rás 1, Rás 2 and Bylgjan. The daily newspapers
are Morgunblaðið, Fréttablaðið and 24 stundir
(formerly known as Blaðið). Icelanders are a very technologically
advanced nation and a large proportion of them keep a blog. The
most popular websites are the news sites Vísir and Mbl.is.
[34]
Iceland is home to the television station Nick Jr.'s animated program
LazyTown (Icelandic: Latibær), a children's television program
created by Magnús Scheving. It has become a very popular
program for children and adults, and is shown in over 98 countries,
including the US, Canada, Sweden and Latin America.[35] The LazyTown
Studios are located in Garðabær.
The puffin is common, especially in the southern part of Iceland,
and is a part of Iceland's traditional cuisine.
[edit] Cuisine
Main articles: Cuisine of Iceland and Þorramatur
Most national Icelandic foods are based around fish, lamb and dairy
products. Þorramatur is a national food consisting of many
dishes and is usually consumed around the month of Þorri.
Traditional dishes include skyr, cured ram scrota, cured shark,
singed sheep heads and black pudding.
The modern Icelandic diet is very diverse, and includes cuisines
from all over the world. Still, the normal Icelandic breakfast and
meal is casual and may include bread, cereal and fruits, for example.
The dinner is more diverse. Like in other Western societies, fast
food restaurants are widespread. Casual dining is popular as well.
[edit] Sports
Main article: Sport in Iceland
Sport is an important part of the Icelandic culture. The main traditional
sport in Iceland is Glíma, a form of wrestling, thought to
have originated with the Vikings and is still played. Though changing
in the past years, Icelanders remain a very healthy nation.
Children and teenagers participate in various leisure activities.
Popular sports are football, track and field, handball and basketball.
Others are golf, tennis, swimming, chess and horseback riding on
Icelandic horses. Team handball is often referred to as a national
sport, Iceland's team is one of the top-ranked teams in the world,
and Icelandic women are surprisingly good at football compared to
the size of the country, the national team ranked the 18th best
by FIFA. Iceland has excellent conditions for ice and rock climbing,
although mountain climbing and hiking is preferred by the general
public.
The oldest sport association in Iceland is the Reykjavik Shooting
Association, founded 1867. Rifle shooting became very popular in
the 19th century and was heavily encouraged by politicians and others
pushing for Icelandic independence. Shooting remains popular and
all types of shooting with small arms practiced in the country.
[36]
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