ICELAND
Quite contrary to the mental picture which the word “Iceland” generates, Iceland is not filled with mountains of ice, nor is it as cold as its name might make you to believe. Infect there is a very interesting legend/story related to the christening of this beautiful country. The very first Vikings who landed in Iceland were so awestruck by its beauty and greenery that they thought if they’d call this country Iceland that would stop other Vikings from migrating to this country. Infect to take the matters a step further they very conniving named the part which is filled with snow and is colder as “Greenland”. So much to keep away unwanted visitors.
The average temperatures in Iceland in summers range from 10-13 degree Celsius. Its capital Reykjavik has the same climate as many other metro cities like New York. So the tourists can fearlessly plan a holiday here but at a very low cost.
Iceland the land of ice and fire is volcanically and geologically active island country. This stark and scenic island is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland is full of surprises and far different than one can ever imagine. It is a country of beaches, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and mountains. Iceland can proudly boast of its virgin nature still not explored by many tourists. Its breath taking natural beauty of spectacular landscapes and absence of pollution make it different from others. Irrespective of its high latitude, Iceland is warmer than the name suggests due to the presence of Gulf Stream and other abundant hot water resources under the earth which provides a habitable environment to live. The nature in Iceland is the main reasons for tourist to visit this country.
ECONOMY
The economy of Iceland relies heavily on the fishing industry which employs around 8% of the workforce and provides 40% of the exports. Its importance is however diminishing due to depletion of fish stocks and drop in the world prices of its export. The travel industry of Iceland has brought a big boom to the economy of the country recently. This strong economic growth has led to the modernization of infrastructure makes it presently one of the most developed countries of the world. Manufacturing, biotechnology and service industry such as software production has also contributed to its economy. The national currency of Iceland is Icelandic krona (ISK). Unfortunately Iceland has been badly hit by the recent recession all over the world. Its banking system has collapsed leading it to economic crisis. The hard working Icelanders along with their government are battling hard to save their economy for which United Nations’ Human Development Index has ranked Iceland first.
CULTURE
Icelandic culture has its roots in Norse traditions. Most of the people in Iceland are Scandinavian. Icelanders speak the language of the Vikings called Icelandic who came and settled in the island in the 9th century. However, English, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are other widely spoken languages here. Nearly half of the population of Iceland lives in the capital city Reykjavik and its neighbouring towns. Iceland is a very self-sufficient, independent and a secular country. It is the first country in the world to openly accept the gay, lesbian relationships by having a homosexual prime minister. In 2007, Iceland was ranked as the most developed country of the world by United Nations. Its liberal culture makes it a very friendly nation. Icelandic people call each other by their first names instead of surnames which show their cool and cordial attitude toward others. They are known for their friendliness and politeness towards the foreigners. This nation also has the highest literacy rate 100% in the world. Icelanders are the second longest living people with a life expectancy at birth of 81.8 years.
REYKJAVIK
This vibrant capital of Iceland is the northern most capital of the world. It is the heart of the contemporary Icelandic civilization. It is named after a geothermal stream meaning ‘Smoky Bay’ which provides it with a natural central heating system. The peaceful and pollution free environment of Reykjavik attracts many tourists from all over the world. Being the capital, Reykjavik serves as an administration, culture and trade hub for the whole country. It has emerged as a cosmopolitan city from the past decades offering a wide series of exuberant cultural activities and exhilarating nightlife. There are several nightclubs, cafes, museums and art galleries which provide the city with animated sophistication. Weekend in downtown are an invigorating experience. The combination of old fashioned and modern architecture of low and brightly painted houses gives this welcoming city a toy like impression. Literature plays an important role in Icelandic society giving rise to a number of bookshops in the city selling books in Icelandic, German and English. Icelanders are considered the most creative readers and writers of the world.
ATTRACTIONS
There are numerous attractions in Iceland which attract tourists from all over the globe.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa where guests relax in warm sea water and enjoy an exotic experience. It is situated in the middle of moss covered lava field and has geothermal beach, lava caves and silica mud. This natural spa is good for the skin and attracts visitors in search of relaxation and health.
Geysers
Geysers are natural spring hot waters which erupt from the surface of the earth. The term geyser got their name from the world’s greatest geyser ‘Great Geysir of Iceland’ which first erupted in 14th century. Another hot spouting spring Strokkur is the second most popular geyser in Iceland which erupts in every 8 minutes and appreciated for its medicinal qualities.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Also called the “Golden Waterfall” is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. It is located just a few kilometres from Geysir and is well preserved by the Iceland government from foreign investors. There are also guided coach tours to the waterfall for visitors to get its best view.
Volcanoes
Iceland has a huge concentration of active volcanoes which makes it an exact paradise for volcanologists. The most famous and active volcano of Iceland is Mount Hekla which has erupted 18 times since 1104. It erupted last in 2000 and received lot of attention from the scientist all over the world. Eruptions occur about every 5-10 years from these fascinating volcanoes. Heimaey, Krafla, Askja and Katla are some other prominent volcanoes here. Being a country having history of volcanoes, the Iceland government has proper control over these eruptions so that they don’t cause much damage to the country.
Glaciers
A considerable part of Iceland is covered by glaciers which have played a major role in forming the landscape of the island. Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajokull has the highest point in Iceland with a height of 2119 m over sea level. Many Icelandic glaciers lie above volcanoes so there is a true interplay between fire and ice. The Icelandic word for glacier is jokull.
Northern Lights
Visitors from around the globe make a trip to Iceland to witness the natural phenomenon of northern lights for which Iceland is very well placed. Also known as Aurora Borealis, this illumination a light the winter sky with bizarre green and yellow streaks and can best be viewed in the winter months from September through March. Northern Lights are undeniably one of the most stunning natural phenomenons. There are many guided tours which take the tourist to the country side for the best view of nature’s best own lightshow as little pollution can reduce their visibility.
LEISURE
Icelanders are known for their hard work but they even play hard. There are many leisure activities for tourists here like horse riding, fishing and open air swimming pools which serve as health spas. There is a lot of opportunity for visitors who have a knack for adventure also like hiking, river rafting, whale watching and glacier trips.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
Iceland is well connected to most of Europe by a three hour flight and a five hour flight from North American Eastern countries. The biggest airport in Iceland is Keflavik International Airport which serves as the main hub for the country in general. The main mode of transportation within the country is the roads as there the railways are still not developed in Iceland. Travellers can hire cars and other road vehicles to roam around the country.
There are a number of hotels and guest houses in Iceland from luxurious to simple to suit all tastes and budgets of the visitors. Hotels, business facilities and modern comforts are as good in Iceland as anywhere else in the world. There is great variety of bars and restaurants in Iceland serving different cuisines. Extravagant farmhouses in the country side are also available for travellers who want to engage themselves in activities like fishing, horse riding, hunting and rounding up sheep.
Iceland’s strong economic foundations in fisheries and human capital will allow it to overcome the economic crisis it is going through during these recession days. Iceland being a large country but sparsely populated is the last European country to be settled. Spend Christmas in Iceland, the originator of Santa Claus and discover a country of festivity and magic enveloped by illumination. The economic crisis in Iceland actually comes as a blessing to the tourists who want to visit this magnificent country as it is gradually turning out to be a low-cost exotic getaway.
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