Useful data for tourists about Iceland, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Iceland, cuisine, peculiarities of visa and customs restrictions in Iceland.
Information about Iceland
- Capital: Reykjavik
- Territory: 103 thousand sq. km
- Country code: +354
- Domain: .is
- Network: 220V
- Time: Moscow time: -3 hours (in summer), - 2 hours (in winter).
- A visa is required to enter
Geography of Iceland
The Republic of Iceland is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean (northwest of Great Britain). The territory of the state consists of the island of Iceland and small islands around it.
The island has over 120 glaciers, a large number of lakes and rivers. Iceland is also characterized by a large number of volcanoes, craters and hot springs. Of more than 100 volcanoes, 25 have erupted in the last thousand years. The most famous among them are Hekla (1491 m) and Laki, which have about 100 craters.
Popular cities and resorts
The state
State structure
Iceland is a republic with a presidential form of government. The executive power in the country is in the hands of the President and the government. Legislative power is vested in the President and the unicameral parliament, the Althingi.
Tongue
State language: Icelandic
English is spoken almost everywhere.
Religion
The state religion is Lutheranism (96% of believers), Catholics and other Christian communities make up about 3%. The influence of old pagan traditions is strong.
Currency
International name: ISK
The Icelandic krone is equal to 100 auras. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5000, 1000, 500 and 100 kroons, coins of 50, 10, 5 and 1 kroons, as well as 50 and 10 auraras.
You can freely exchange cash at banks, offices of "The Change Group" and hotels. Traveler's checks are accepted everywhere. Credit cards from the world's leading payment systems are accepted everywhere. ATM machines are located in all banks, major stores, hotels and most main streets, and work with all types of credit cards.
Iceland map
Popular attractions
Iceland Tourism
Popular hotels
Tours and attractions in Iceland
Iceland is an island state washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The main attraction of the country is its unique nature. Here you can see waterfalls of unimaginable beauty, geysers, bizarre volcanic landscapes, fjords, glaciers and much more. Iceland is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife enthusiasts.
Iceland's capital Reykjavik is the northernmost capital in the world. This is a fairly young and modern city. There is not a single industrial facility here, and houses are heated by hot water from thermal springs, so the city is famous for truly clean and fresh air. Among the sights of Reykjavik, the most interesting are the Althing (House of Parliament), Government Building, Reykjavik Cathedral, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Reykjavik Free Church, National Museum of Iceland, National Gallery of Iceland, Museum of Art, Perlan, Hövdi and Arnie Magnusson Institute. The city is also full of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discos, as well as a vibrant nightlife. Not far from Reykjavik is Iceland's famous spa complex, the Blue Lagoon. The unique composition of the water of the geothermal source (with a year-round temperature of + 38- + 39 ° C) and its healing properties make the resort very popular.
Geyser fields are considered to be one of the visiting cards of the country. Iceland has over 250 distinct groups of geysers (approximately 7,000 hot springs). The most interesting is the Haukadalur Valley, which is included in the popular tourist route "Golden Ring". The valley is home to two of the most famous Icelandic geysers - Strokkur (eruption height up to 20 m) and Geysir or Great Geysir (eruption height up to 60 m), as well as the famous Gullfoss waterfall - one of the most picturesque places in Iceland. This route also includes the famous Tingvellir National Park (included in the UNESCO heritage list). Here is the so-called Silfra Fissure (fault) - the only such place in the world where fans of extreme diving have the opportunity to swim between the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Iceland is famous for its huge number of waterfalls. In addition to Gullfoss, the most beautiful waterfalls include the "God's Falls" Goudafoss, the most powerful in Europe Dettifoss, the black Svartifoss waterfall, the lava waterfalls Hreinfossar, Seljalandsfoss, as well as the Joksaraurfoss, Glymur, Hauyfoss and Thoufafoss waterfalls. Iceland is also home to many volcanoes, the most famous of which is Hekla, which is considered the country's most active volcano and the largest in Europe.
One of the most famous attractions is the Vatnajökull National Park, which combines the Skaftafell and Jökulsaurgluvur parks. It is located at the foot of the glacier of the same name - the largest in Europe. The unique natural landscapes of the park create an unforgettable experience. There are mountains and plains, giant glaciers and volcanoes, active geysers and lava fields, as well as stunning hot spring ice caves and amazing waterfalls.
Every year Iceland becomes more and more popular and attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world.
Icelandic cuisine
A feature of Icelandic cuisine is the variety of ways to process food. The meat is smoked, salted and marinated. By tradition, almost all parts of the animals are used. There are a lot of fish and seafood dishes. Fish as well as meat is often dried, dried or smoked. One of the national fish dishes is hakarl - shark meat stored in the ground for 2 months, served in small pieces and washed down with Icelandic schnapps. Dairy products are also very common.
Tip
Tipping is not accepted, usually it is given only to doormen in restaurants and hotels. In all other cases, the service tip is included in the bill. In luxury hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, wardrobe is paid.
Visa
Opening hours of institutions
Banks usually work from Monday to Friday from 09:15 to 16:00.
Shops usually work from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays - from 10:00 to 14: 00-16: 00. Some major department stores are open until 22:00 on Fridays. On Sunday, and on Saturdays in summer, all shops are closed.
Security
Particular care should be taken when moving independently through unfamiliar terrain, especially in mountainous areas, since volcanic activity is quite high here even outside the volcanic fields. Therefore, it is quite possible to "run into" a sudden eruption of a geyser or fall into a mud pit.
Iceland will be the subject of our review today. Description of the country, interesting facts, sights - all this in the material below.
general information
Iceland is an island and a state. is 103 thousand sq. km, where about 322 thousand people live. The capital is the city of Reykjavik, where one third of the total population of the country is concentrated, and more than half with the suburbs. The official language is Icelandic, and the currency is the Icelandic krona, which in 2016 was at 122 kroons per 1 USD. Iceland is a parliamentary republic headed by a president who is elected for a 4-year term. To enter the country, Russian citizens need a passport and a Schengen visa.
Location
Iceland - the land of ice - is located at the northern tip of the Atlantic Ocean, up to the North Pole there are no more large areas of land. Its northern part is located near the Arctic Circle.
The island is removed from the rest of Europe: from the nearest Faroe Islands at 420 km, from the island of Great Britain at 860 km, and from the nearest point on the continental coast of Norway at 970 km. An interesting fact is that, despite this, Iceland belongs to European countries, although it is much closer to the North American island of Greenland - 287 km.
Iceland: interesting facts about the country
The discovery of Iceland dates back to the end of the 8th century by Irish monks, and after them the Normans Nadod and Floki arrived here. Following these events, at the end of the 9th century, the island began to be actively populated by Vikings - immigrants from Norway, who for half a century managed to master almost all land suitable for living and economic development.
In 1264, Iceland was annexed to Norway, and in 1381, it is part of Denmark. The country gained its independence only in 1944.
The inhabitants of the island are a courageous and proud people who respect their historical past and cultural traditions. Especially to the old Icelandic legends - sagas telling about family strife, exciting events, about elves, dwarfs and other mysterious characters, in the existence of which some residents still believe.
Iceland is that there is practically no crime here - there is only one prison, and it contains no more than a dozen people. The police are here without weapons, but there is no army at all.
The basis of the modern economy is made up of only two industries - aluminum processing and fishing. By the way, it will be said that the islanders are second only to Norway in annual catch volumes from European countries.
Iceland is one of the prosperous states. So, the average per capita annual income here is $ 39,000 (according to our ruble standards, every resident here, including an infant, is a millionaire).
Nature
The country of Iceland, for all its modest size, is the world's largest volcanic island. The relief of the island is predominantly mountainous, the peaks are the vents of extinct and active volcanoes. The highest of them is the Hvannadalskhnukur peak (2110 m), located on the southwestern coast. The lowest point is located very close - it is the lagoon of the glacial lake (0 meters above sea level).
Many of the active volcanoes from time to time declare themselves powerful eruptions. The largest volcano on the island is the famous Hekla (1488 meters), located near the "Greater Reykjavik" and scared the locals with its eruption in 2000.
The longest river on the island is Tyursau (237 km). Of other water bodies, glaciers and glacial lakes abound, which are ubiquitous and innumerable.
Iceland is unique in its variety of natural landscapes. In addition to glaciers, the surface of the country is covered with lava fields in many places. Geysers and hot springs are common in these areas. Stony placers covered with thick mosses and lichens, islets of birch forests and meadows of gramineous herbs are widespread on the island. Waterfalls make the area in different parts of the island especially picturesque. On the west coast, numerous fjords are striking with their beauty. National parks have been created in the country to protect the stunning nature.
Climate and typical weather
Iceland is a northern country that doesn't quite live up to its icy name. The Gulf Stream, especially from the south, washing it, prevent it from becoming a cold, harsh desert.
Winters are relatively warm here, with an average monthly temperature of -1 ° C, which can be the envy of many of Russia's southern territories. However, in some periods of this season, cold winds are frequent, which, together with accumulations of drifting Arctic ice, especially in the southeast, cause sharp drops in temperature down to -30 ° C. The duration of daylight hours is no more than five hours.
Summer is not hot here. Average temperatures in July are only + 12 ° C. The warmest on the southern coast - up to +20 ° C, with highs up to + 30 ° C. In summer, the entire island is illuminated by the sun around the clock, and there are white nights characteristic of the polar latitudes.
Precipitation is unevenly distributed over the island. For example, on the west coast, their number ranges from 1300 to 2000 mm per year, on the northeastern coast, their rate is up to 750 mm, and in the mountainous part of the southern regions they can be up to 4000 mm.
The weather here is very changeable, and without exaggeration, we can say that it can change in just a few minutes. It had just been warm and sunny, when suddenly the sky was overcast, and a cold, dank wind blew. Residents of the country jokingly tell their visiting guests and tourists: "If suddenly you did not like something about the weather, then do not despair, wait half an hour and it will change."
Reykjavik landmarks
Reykjavik is the main city, the capital of Iceland. What country cannot boast of a huge number of attractions? Iceland also has something to show tourists. In particular, its main city houses historical and architectural monuments, museums and modern institutions. Among them, the attention of tourists is attracted by:
- The Hallgrimskirkja Temple is a cult Lutheran building of the mid-20th century, in the form of a volcanic eruption. There is a large organ inside. There is a statue of the Happy One in front of the church.
- The Cathedral, which is the main church built at the end of the 18th century.
- The building of the Althing (parliament) in the classicist style, erected in the 19th century.
- Perlan, or pearl, looks like a daisy with a blue dome. It is located on a high hill and has a revolving platform for viewing the panorama of the city. Inside the building are the Saga Museum, a winter garden, an artificial geyser, shopping pavilions and restaurants.
- Kaffi Reykjavik - This bar is unusual in that it consists of solid blocks of ice, and drinks are certainly served in ice glasses.
- Concert Hall "Harpa". Its facades consist of multi-colored glass cells, which, using built-in LEDs, impress visitors with a play of colors.
Blue Lagoon
The lagoon is a geothermal source and resort with all the necessary infrastructure. This is perhaps the most famous and visited place for hundreds of thousands of tourists. The lagoon is an artificially created reservoir with a constant temperature of 40 ° C. This is the only place of its kind on the planet that is filled with visitors all year round. It has been found that bathing in the mineral-rich waters of the lake helps heal skin conditions.
Valley of Geysers
It arose in the XIII century after a strong earthquake. The main source, called the Great Geysir, throws out a jet of water of very high temperature to a height of 70 meters from a depth of more than two thousand meters. The contemplation of this magnificent sight leaves a strong impression. There are also places for swimming in less hot springs. Residents use the natural warmth of the geysers to heat their homes.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
The waterfall is located in the south of the island and is very popular with tourists. Water falls from a height of 60 meters. It flows down from the rocks that used to be the coastline, but now a picturesque valley has formed on this place. The beauty of the waterfall (combined with the surrounding landscape) has no equal. That is why his photographs are featured on calendars and postcards.
Colored mountains
In the warm season of the year, in the Landmannalaugar National Park you can see a striking sight - colorful mountains. The mountain slopes gleam with unusual stripes - brown, yellow, pink, blue, purple, green, white and black. The reason for this phenomenon is associated with the volcanic origin of rocks. The location of the park near the Hekla volcano makes it one of the most popular tourist centers in the country.
Vatnajökull National Park
What else can you tell us about Iceland? Facts about the country, all its attractions simply cannot be listed in one article. Still, I would like to mention this park. It was created in 2008. It covers almost 12% of Iceland and is the largest in Europe. The main highlight of the park is the glacier of the same name with an area of \u200b\u200bup to 8100 sq. km and ice thickness up to 500 meters. There are beautiful ice caves under its shell, as well as seven active volcanoes.
As entertainment in Vatnajökull, tourists can go for walks in beautiful places, do winter sports, but bathing in hot springs located inside ice caves is in special demand.
Undoubtedly, this is only a small part of the natural attractions of the country of Iceland.There are many more interesting and mysterious things awaiting tourists in its vastness.
\u003e Iceland
Iceland (Icelandic Island) is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The territory of the state consists of the island of Iceland and small islets around it. The name of the country literally means ice country... Iceland's northern point reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern point is 306 km. from it, located at a latitude of 63 degrees 24 minutes N. The length of the island from west to east is 480 km.
Square countries 103 thousand sq. km.
Highest point - Mount Hvannadalskhnukur (2119 m).
Population 317.900 people (20,010). The population density is 2.6 people per 1 sq. km. The share of the urban population is 91%, the rural population is 9%.
Capital - the city of Reykjavik (118,427 people).
Official language- Icelandic.
State religion - Lutheranism.
Administrative division: consists of 8 sisla: Austyurland (administrative center - Iglstadur), Westfjordir (Isafjordur), Vestyurland (Borgarnes), Nordurland Vestra (Stadur), Nordurland Eistra (Akureyri), Sudyurland (Selfoss ), Sydurnes (Keflavik), Hofudborgarsvaedi (Reykjavik).
Currency: Icelandic krone
National holiday: The day of the proclamation of the republic is June 17.
Telephone code +354
Republic of Iceland, a state in the North of Europe. Located on the island of the same name, the second largest in Europe. Iceland's northern point reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern point is 306 km. from it, located at a latitude of 63 degrees 24 minutes N. The length of the island from the west (13 degrees 28 minutes W) to the east (24 degrees 32 minutes W) 480 km. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 103 thousand square meters. km. Population 317.900 (2010). The capital is the city of Reykjavik (118,427 people).
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NATURE
Terrain relief. Geologically, Iceland is a young country formed as a result of volcanic eruptions over the past 60 million years (which corresponds to the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods in the history of the Earth). The most ancient parts of the country are located in the west, north and east. It is mainly a plateau composed of ancient basaltic lavas. The plateau-like character of the surface is best preserved in the north-west, while in the east and north of the central part of the island, the relief takes on an alpine appearance. Across the country, from north to southwest, stretches a vast area, mainly filled with palagonite tuffs and breccias, which were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.A large number of volcanoes are associated with this zone, as well as the Snйfellsnes region in the west, of which 20 erupted after the settlement of the country. Almost all types of volcanoes found on Earth are represented in Iceland. The most characteristic are chains of craters that have arisen as a result of eruptions along cracks and faults. In 1783, during the eruption of a volcano of this type Laki, located southwest of Vatnajökull, the largest lava flow observed on Earth in historical time was formed. It covered an area of \u200b\u200b570 sq. km. To the southwest of Vatnajökulla is the Hekla volcano, which erupted in 1947 and 1970. As a result of an underwater eruption off the southwestern coast of Iceland in 1963, the small island of Surtsey arose. In 1973, during a volcanic eruption on Heimaey Island, the population of the city of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated.
Hot springs are closely associated with volcanic activity, scattered throughout the country (there are more than 250 of them). Fields of sulfur fumaroles (solfatars) are confined only to areas of young volcanism. The most famous of the gushing springs is the Big Geyser, whose name has become a household name for all such formations. Thermal energy is widely used in Iceland. 85% of the population lives in houses heated by their water. In addition, warm water is supplied to numerous greenhouses and swimming pools.
Iceland's coastline is approx. 5 thousand km. In the northwest, north and east, rocky shores are dissected by numerous bays, fjords and islands. Many fjords are filled with hooked pebble spits that protect natural harbors from storms blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal towns and villages are often located on such spits. Iceland's southwestern and southern shores are sandy, leveled; there are no natural harbors.
Ice caps and other glaciers cover an area of \u200b\u200b11,900 square kilometers. km. The largest of the ice caps, Vatnajökull, with an area of \u200b\u200b8,300 sq. km, located in the south-east of Iceland. Here is the highest point of the country, Hvannadalshnukur (2119), which is the uplifted edge of the caldera of the Erayvajökull volcano. Other large ice caps are Hofsjökull and Laungjökull in the interior of the island and Eyjafjallajökull and Mirdalsjökull in the south (covering active volcanoes).
Due to the abundance of rainfall, Iceland has many fairly large rivers, but they are not navigable. To the south of Vatnajökull, the rivers branch into branches, which often change their position. This is a major obstacle to transport. During subglacial volcanic eruptions and during the breakthrough of ice dams on periglacial lakes, huge masses of melt water cause violent floods on rivers. The largest lakes in Iceland are Tingvadlavatn and Tourisvatn.
Climate. Contrary to its name and the presence of glaciers, Iceland is by no means an Arctic country. Its climate is softened by the warm waters of the North Atlantic Current (an extension of the Gulf Stream), a branch of which runs along the southern and western coasts of the island. The average annual temperature on the southwestern coast in Reykjavik is 4 ° C, the average temperature in January is -1 ° C, July is 11 ° C. The corresponding indicators on the northern coast in Akureyri are 3 ° C, –2 ° C and 11 ° C. Coastal waters are free from ice all year round. The exceptions are situations associated with the removal of polar ice in the north and east. Due to the significant improvement in the climate since the early 1920s, the polar ice was transported to Iceland only once in 1965. The weather in this country changes dramatically, sometimes during the day, depending on the passage of cyclones eastward across the Atlantic Ocean. Average annual precipitation is 1300-2000 mm on the southern coast, 500-750 mm on the north and over 3800 mm on the slopes of Vatnajökull and Mirdalsjökull open to the south.
Soils and flora. Iceland's soils are partly mineral, loess-like, partly boggy, enriched in mineral material derived from volcanic ash, and partly aeolian silty and sandy. Less than 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with vegetation (versus 2/3 when the country was populated 1100 years ago). The vast inner plateaus are almost entirely devoid of vegetation. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and grasses. Until recently, woody plants occupied only 1% of the area. These are mostly birches, usually with twisted trunks due to strong winds. In recent years, significant plantations of conifers have been created in some places.
Animal world. The species composition of the Icelandic fauna is poor. When the country was settled, there was only one species of terrestrial mammals - the Arctic fox. At the end of the 18th century. reindeer were introduced. In addition, mice, rats and mink were accidentally brought to the island. In Iceland approx. 80 species of birds. Many swans, ducks and geese live on mountain lakes and rivers, and gulls, terns, etc. are common on the sea coast. Trout is found in the lakes, and salmon in the rivers. There are two species of seals and some species of whales in coastal waters. There are feeding and spawning grounds for fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut, and shrimp.
POPULATION
Demography. Iceland was inhabited in the 9th and 10th centuries. and since then it has been inhabited mainly by the descendants of the first settlers; later immigration to the island was limited. Until the middle of the 20th century. most of the population lived on isolated farms. In the history of the country, there have been several sharp reductions in the number of inhabitants due to epidemics, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and famine. In the 20th century. there was a constant population growth (by 1.5% per year) and migration of rural residents to cities. Currently, 95% of residents live in cities and towns, with 40% concentrated in Reykjavik. In the northern part of the country, settlements are concentrated along the coast and in the river valleys. 20% of the country's territory is uninhabited.The average age of the population is 34 years. Age composition: under 15 years old - 22.7%; 15–64 years old - 65.4%; over 65 years old - 11.9%. The annual population growth in 2009 was 0.54%. The birth rate is 14.13 per 1000; mortality rate - 6.95 per 1000; child mortality - 3.5 per 1000. Average life expectancy is 79.8 years.
In 2002, more than 87% of the population belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, more than 4% to other Protestant denominations (primarily Seventh-day Adventists), about 2% to the Roman Catholic Church, 7% to other denominations.
The independent population in 2000 was employed in various services (59.5%), fishing and fish processing (11.8%), construction (10.7%), industry (12.9%) and agriculture (5.1%) ...
Ethnogenesis and language. Icelanders are of predominantly Scandinavian descent, being mainly descendants of the Vikings who migrated to the island in the early Middle Ages. Part of the population are descendants of the Celts from Ireland and Scotland. Icelandic, which is essentially a dialect of Old Norse, has changed little in 1000 years, and modern Icelanders can easily read ancient texts. Only 6% of the population are persons of foreign origin.
Cities. The capital of the country is Reykjavik, seat of parliament and government, financial, cultural and business center of Iceland. Other large cities are Kopavogur (30.314 inhabitants), Habnarfjordur (25.872 thousand), Akureyri (17.563 thousand).
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
The Constitution of the Republic of Iceland was adopted in 1944. Significant changes were made in 1991. The country is a republic. The head of state and parliament are elected by universal suffrage, and all citizens of the country, men and women over 18, who have lived in Iceland for at least 5 years before the elections, have the right to vote.President and government. The head of state is the president, elected for a four-year term by universal direct and secret suffrage. When only one candidate is nominated for the presidency, no vote is taken and the candidate automatically becomes president. The Icelandic President is the head of the highest executive branch, but in reality his powers are limited and largely formal. Since August 1, 1996, the President of Iceland is Olafur Ragnar Grimsson. Born in 1943, studied economics and political science in Manchester (UK), in 1973-1991 he worked as a professor of political science in Iceland. In 1978 he was first elected to parliament from the People's Union, in 1987-1995 he was the chairman of this party. In 1988-1991 he served as Minister of Finance; in this position, he managed to achieve a significant reduction in inflation and is considered the "father of economic stabilization". In 1996 he won the presidential election with over 41% of the vote. In 2000, due to the lack of other candidates, the Icelandic parliament declared him the country's president for a new term.
With the consent of parliament, the president instructs the leader of the parliamentary majority to form a government and approves its composition. He presides over the Council of State.
Executive power belongs to the government headed by the prime minister. Ministers are accountable to parliament. Prime Minister of Iceland since 1991 - David Oddson. Born in 1948, studied law, worked as a lawyer. In 1973-1975 he was a member of the Board of the youth organization of the Independence Party (PN), since 1974 - a member of the city council of Reykjavik, in 1982 he was elected mayor of the capital. Since 1989, Oddson is deputy chairman, and since 1991 - chairman of PN, in 1991 he was elected to parliament from it.
Parliament. Legislative power under the constitution is vested in the President and Parliament. Parliament of Iceland - Althingi is considered the oldest in the world. Elected by popular vote for a term of four years. Until 1991, the althing consisted of two chambers: elected deputies elected 1/3 of their composition to the Upper Chamber, the rest formed the Lower Chamber. Since 1991, the althing has been unicameral. It currently consists of 63 deputies who are elected through proportional representation across the national and local constituencies. Althingi approves the state budget, discusses and adopts laws, changes and supplements the constitution, gives consent to the president to conclude treaties and agreements with other states, and controls the financial activities of the executive authorities. Parliament can pass a vote of no confidence in the government, has a great influence on foreign and trade and economic policy.
Political parties. The Independence Party (PN) is the largest political party in the country. Founded in May 1929 as a result of the merger of the Conservative and Liberal parties. GON dominates Icelandic political life and has participated in most Icelandic governments. In the field of economics, GON has always advocated limiting the role of the state in matters of economy and privileges for entrepreneurs. In her opinion, the main function of the state in the economy is not direct intervention, but the creation of favorable conditions for economic activity, the development of research, etc. According to the 2003 election manifesto, GON seeks to reduce taxes and public debt, increase entrepreneurial activity, strengthen competitiveness and diversify the Icelandic economy. She intends to “simplify” the social insurance system and maintain the efficiency of the pension system. Declares its intention to increase child benefits, pensions and assistance to people with disabilities. Calls for increased competition in education and the development of private medicine.
In the area of \u200b\u200bsecurity, the emphasis is on strengthening the police force. In foreign policy, the party advocated NATO membership and the retention of American troops on Icelandic territory. It currently advocates strengthening cooperation with NATO and the United States, which it recognizes as the bloc's "leading power". He considers it necessary to develop relations with the EU, but speaks out against joining it.
In the 2003 parliamentary elections, she collected 33.7% of the vote and won 22 of 63 seats in the althing. Party leader David Oddson has been prime minister since 1991.
The Progressive Party (PP) is a centrist one, founded in 1916 by the leaders of the cooperative movement and enjoys the greatest influence among the country's farmers. She advocated the development of the national economy, controlled attraction of foreign investment and subsidies to farmers. Supports the country's membership in NATO, although there were forces in its ranks that sought greater foreign policy independence.
Until 1995, she most often acted as an opponent of PN in the country's political arena. However, since 1995 she has been a member of the coalition government as a junior partner of PN. In the 2003 elections, the party collected 17.7% of the vote and won 12 seats in the althing. The leader of the PP is Halldor Asgrimsson.
The Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) was formed in 2001 as a result of the merger of the Social Democratic Party of Iceland (founded in 1916), the People's Union (created in 1968 on the basis of the communist United Socialist Party) and the Women's List. Declares its commitment to the goals and methods of the social democratic movement, the principles of freedom and democracy, women's liberation, equality and social responsibility. According to the 2001 manifesto, the alliance stands for "a society that enables each individual to enjoy the full range of life opportunities and at the same time learn to provide the same opportunities to others." Seeks the expansion of democracy and participation of the population in government. Social Democrats call for "equality through mutual assistance", for ensuring for all members of society the right to health care, education and other social services, to a dignified life, regardless of their financial situation. In the foreign policy area, the SDA - for turning Iceland into a "window open to the world", for the development of international cooperation and assistance to less developed countries.
The Green Left Alliance (LZA) is an alliance of independent leftists, public service union activists, teachers, students, former members of Trotskyist and Maoist groups, members of the environmental movement, various non-governmental organizations and civil initiatives. Created in the late 1990s. Speaks out against neoliberal government policies, against the privatization and commercialization of social services, for the protection of the environment and human rights, for justice, equality and social security. In the 2003 elections, he received 8.8% of the vote and won 5 seats in the althing. It is in opposition. The leader is Steingrimur Sigfusson.
The Liberal Party (LP) was formed in 1998 by former minister Sverrir Hermansson. Advocates a free market system and rejects centralization and government intervention in the economy. Calls for the encouragement of free competition and entrepreneurship, for the reduction of government spending and taxes, for the elimination of the income tax and the introduction of consumption taxes. At the same time, he condemns the neoliberal policy of the Icelandic government and intends to continue helping the elderly, sick and disabled people, resist the curtailment of medical programs, and invest in the development of education. Supports preserving the role of NATO and strengthening cooperation with Europe. In the 2003 elections, the Liberals received 7.4% of the vote and 4 seats in the althing. They are in opposition. Chairman - Gudion Kristjansson.
Local government. Iceland is divided into 23 districts (syuslur) and 14 urban districts (köupstadir). Each is governed by a council of parish representatives. The parishes have their own councils. All councils are elected by general vote.
The judicial system. The country has 8 district courts and a Supreme Court, whose members are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice. In addition, there are special courts for maritime, labor and religious affairs.
Military establishment. Iceland does not have its own armed forces, but the US Air Force is located on its territory (Keflavik base). The country has a police force and coast guard.
Foreign policy. Iceland is a member of NATO, the Nordic Council, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Free Trade Association, the United Nations and its specialized organizations, as well as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Iceland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in October 1943).
ECONOMY
For most of the country's history, fishing and agriculture have been the backbone of its economy. After World War II, the importance of the fishing and fish processing industry increased. There has been some diversification of the Icelandic economy,Economic growth in 1996-2001 was 3-5% per year. In 2002, the country was hit by a global economic downturn, with industrial growth of just 0.2% and GDP declining by 0.6%. In 2003, economic growth resumed, inflation fell from 5% to 2%.
GDP in 2002 amounted to more than US $ 8.4 billion (US $ 30,200 per capita). The unemployment rate in 2002 is 2.8%.
Agriculture. Arable land occupies less than 1% of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe country. Only 5% of the working population is employed in agriculture. The country has approx. 6 thousand farms, of which 80% are owned by private individuals. The main branch of animal husbandry is sheep breeding (450 thousand in 1996); lamb is the main meat food in Iceland and is also an export commodity, along with wool and sheep skins. There are also significant livestock of cattle (73 thousand) and poultry (350 thousand), goats, pigs, black-brown foxes, minks and ponies are bred.
The farms produce hay, grow potatoes, turnips, cabbage and other vegetables. On the basis of geothermal springs, a greenhouse economy is being developed (cucumbers, tomatoes, other vegetables, flowers, bananas, etc.). The state pays significant subsidies to farmers.
Fishing and fish processing. This industry employs 12% of the population and 70% of the country's export earnings. The main commercial objects are cod (in the waters off the southwestern coast from January to May), herring (off the northern coast from June to September), etc. With the decline in herring and cod catches and the decline in fish stocks in the North Atlantic, the importance of capelin and saithe has increased in recent years. The fish catch in 1996 was 2 thousand tons.
In fishing, motor boats with trawls are widely used. Cod is processed primarily in Reykjavik; herring is salted and processed into fish oil and fishmeal in Siglufjördur and other towns on the northern coast.
In 1989, under pressure from the international community and under the threat of a boycott of Icelandic goods, Iceland agreed to join a moratorium on whale fishing. In the mid-1990s, the government approved the resumption of whaling on a limited scale.
Manufacturing industry. The industry began to develop only after the Second World War. Currently, it employs about a third of the population. The mining industry is practically non-existent (apart from the small development of brown coal, pumice and Icelandic spar). Since the late 1960s, aluminum has been produced from imported raw materials (aluminum dioxide); the resulting metal is exported. The main industrial sector is fish processing, fillets and fresh frozen fish production. There are shipyards and ship repair enterprises serving the fishing fleet. Ready-made dresses, shoes, metal products, electrical equipment, furniture and building materials are produced. There is a mineral fertilizer factory (near Reykjavik) and a cement plant (in Akranes). Since 1979, the production of ferrosilicon (an alloy of iron and silicon) has been established.
International trade. Until recently, foreign trade was characterized by a negative balance, since Iceland did not have significant natural resources and was dependent on the import of petroleum products and foodstuffs. Currently, this trend has been reversed. In 2002, the value of exports reached US $ 2.3 billion and imports - US $ 2.1 billion.
The main export product is fish and fish products (70%). Agricultural products, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon are also exported. Key partners: Germany (18%), UK (17.5%), Netherlands (11%), USA (11%), Spain (5%), Denmark (5%), Portugal (4%), Norway (4 %).
Machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, textiles, etc. are imported to Iceland. Main partners: USA (11%), Germany (11%), Denmark (8.5%), Norway (85), UK (7.5%), Netherlands (6%), Sweden (6%).
Energy. Iceland has large reserves of hydropower. Potential hydropower generation is estimated at 80 billion kWh per year. Currently, only 6% of hydropower resources are used. In addition, there is a huge potential for geothermal energy, which is widely used in public utilities and greenhouses. Over half of Iceland's energy needs were met by oil imports. Previously, oil came from the USSR, now mainly from the UK and Norway. Of the total reserves of technologically available resources, only 70% is expedient to exploit for financial reasons. Energy production in 1994 amounted to 5 billion kW, of which hydroelectricity accounted for 95%. At the end of the 20th century. energy consumption in Iceland has increased by an average of 7% annually. Roughly half of the energy generated was consumed by energy-intensive industries. A third of energy consumption was met by imported fuel. Even with a higher level of energy development in the country, the fishing fleet will remain the main consumer of imported oil.
Transport.
Motor transport. Iceland has no railways, but there is an extensive road network with a total length of 12,955 km. There is a regular bus service between many cities and towns. Many families have cars. In 1996 there were 125 thousand cars in the country, that is, one for every two inhabitants.
Sea transport. The total displacement of merchant ships is 192 thousand tons. There are three large companies operating in the country - Icelandic Steamship, State Shipping and Cooperative Shipping. Steamships and motorized boats run regularly between coastal towns and villages. Supported by sea links with the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and Norway.
Air Transport. The rapid development of air traffic is characteristic of modern Iceland. There were two main airlines operating in the country. Flygfelag Icelands served domestic flights and connected Iceland to the UK, the Scandinavian countries and mainland Europe. The Loftleidir company flew to the USA, Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and Luxembourg. In 1979 the two companies merged to form the Flygleidir or Icelandar company. There are two international airports - Reykjavik and Keflavik. The latter is used jointly by Iceland and the United States. There are 86 airfields in the country, in. incl. 13 - paved tracks.
Banking and finance. The monetary unit of Iceland is the krone, which is equal to 100 airirs. After World War II, there was a gradual devaluation of the crown, which was accompanied by a rapid rise in inflation. In 1967, after the devaluation of the British pound sterling, the exchange rate was set at 57 kroons to 1 US dollar. In 1979, the Icelandic krona fell sharply to 352 kroons against the dollar. In the late 1990s, it stabilized at 70 kroons against the dollar.
There are eight large commercial banks in Iceland - National, Central, Fishing, Agricultural, Industrial, Trade, Cooperative and Narodny. Their headquarters are in Reykjavik, but numerous branches are scattered throughout the country. In addition, there are savings banks in all counties.
The state budget. The main sources of government revenue are taxes, customs duties and other payments. The state receives significant revenues from commercial enterprises that it controls, for example from postal, telephone and telegraph communications, coastal shipping, as well as a number of monopolies (sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products). In addition to regular government spending, the Icelandic government spends funds to support artists and writers and to subsidize agriculture and various industries. Revenues in 2002 amounted to $ 3.5 billion, expenses - $ 3.3 billion.In 1999, external debt amounted to $ 2.6 billion.
Standard of living. After gaining independence, Iceland's economy has significantly strengthened, the living standard of the population has increased. In this respect, Iceland was ahead of other Scandinavian countries and became one of the richest countries in the world. In 2001 there were 197 thousand telephone lines in the country, the number of mobile phones exceeded 248 thousand. In 2002, more than 220 thousand Icelanders used the Internet.
Housing construction. Modern Icelanders live in robust, spacious houses with well-run heating systems that are considered to be among the best in the world. In ancient times, farm houses and some city houses were built from peat, but they are practically gone. Until recently, wood was the main building material, but now it is usually stone and concrete. With the rapid population growth, especially in the Reykjavik area, it became necessary to introduce government housing programs, and many new homes were built in and around the capital.
Healthcare. In Iceland, a lot of attention is paid to health care. The indicators of the state's concern for the health of the population are a long life expectancy (76 years for men and 81 years for women at the beginning of 1997) and a very low infant mortality rate (about 5.3 per 1000 newborns). The country is divided into 50 medical districts. There are 25 hospitals that provide medical care, including operational, at the highest level. Once the true scourge in Iceland was tuberculosis, now it is practically eradicated. There are two sanatoriums and one superbly equipped rehabilitation center, which were previously intended for patients with tuberculosis, and then were redesigned. There is a psychiatric clinic in Reykjavik.
SOCIETY
The structure of society. There are practically no poor in the country and class stratification is less pronounced than in many other countries. Increased prosperity has been accompanied by increased economic and social security and equity.Icelanders almost always refer to each other by their first names only. Accordingly, all telephone and other directories contain names in alphabetical order. The reason is that very few people in Iceland have surnames. In children, the patronymic is given by the name of the father with the ending -son (son) for boys and -dóttir (daughter) for girls. Thus, father and son can have the same patronymic if the father and grandfather had the same name.
Icelanders have a strong interest in genealogy. Sagas and ancient documents can trace the genealogy of many residents up to the time of the initial settlement of the country, as well as establish complex family ties.
Labor movement. Trade unions play an important role in Iceland's economic life. The first trade union was organized in 1887, and the Association of Trade Unions in 1916. Radical parties received a lot of support from union members. The Employers' Association was formed in 1934.
Cooperative movement. In Iceland, as well as in other Scandinavian countries, the cooperative movement is highly developed, dating back to 1882. Cooperatives were created in all communities, which covered 1/5 of the population. However, due to economic difficulties, the cooperative movement began to decline and in the 1990s, in essence, disintegrated.
Religion. In Iceland, the dominant Evangelical Lutheran Church is supported by the state. At the same time, freedom of religion is ensured. Iceland forms one major diocese with the seat of the bishop in Reykjavik, consisting of approximately 300 parishes.
Social Security. Iceland is a welfare state with widespread social programs. Insurance measures for sickness and disability were adopted at the end of the 19th century, and in 1936 an expanded program of social insurance for sickness and accidents, unemployment benefits, for the maintenance of children, the elderly and the disabled was approved. The program applies to all citizens of Iceland.
CULTURE
Iceland is distinguished by a high level of cultural development due to its long literary traditions, a high standard of education and a great interest of the entire population of the country in books and reading.Public education. The very first schools in Iceland were organized at the bishops' residences in Skulholt and Hoular. From Skulholt, the school was transferred to Reykjavik in 1784. In the Middle Ages, monasteries were also involved in educational activities, and later, priests during visits to houses and peasant farms. Presumably by 1800 all Icelanders could read and write.
Education in public schools is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. High school graduates are entitled to continue their four-year college or vocational education. The oldest college was established in Reykjavik in 1846.
After graduating from colleges and some schools, you can enter the Icelandic University, founded in 1911. However, even before that, there were separate faculties in Reykjavik - theological (from 1847), medical (from 1876) and law (from 1908). In addition to these specialties, at the university you can get education in the field of economics and management, in the humanities (linguistics, literary criticism, history and philosophy), polytechnic, in natural and social sciences. The term of study in most cases is from 3 to 5 years. A new university opened in Akureyri; in addition, there are several small colleges providing education at the university level.
In some specialties, Icelandic students have to continue their studies abroad, and the government allocates significant funds for this. The Icelandic University has 5,700 students; another 2.2 thousand are completing their education in other countries.
Vocational schools. In Iceland, there are a number of vocational schools, for example, pedagogical, trade, nautical (trains captains of the merchant fleet), arts and crafts, polytechnic and medical in Reykjavik. In other parts of the country, there is a developed network of technical, agricultural and music schools, as well as schools of home economics. All educational institutions receive subsidies from federal and municipal authorities; training is mostly free.
Libraries. The National Library in Reykjavik, the largest in the country, has a collection of around 340,000, in addition to 13,000 ancient Icelandic manuscripts. The library of the Icelandic University and the Municipal Library in Reykjavik also stand out in terms of funds. All other cities and towns have public libraries, and rural areas have small libraries and reading rooms. All libraries are generally subsidized by the government.
The science. Iceland has developed research in the humanities - history, linguistics and literary criticism. Among the historians of the 19th century. statesman Joun Sigurdsson (1811–1879) should be noted, then Björn M. Olsen (1850–1919) and many others. From literary scholars of the 20th century. Sigurdur Nordahl (1886-1974) and Joun Nelgason (1899-1986) stand out. Natural science observations have been carried out for many centuries, but research has developed widely only in the second half of the 20th century. Björn Gunnløgsson (1788–1876) compiled the first accurate geodetic maps of Iceland. In the second half of the 19th century. Thorvaldur Thoroddsen (1855–1921) studied and mapped the deserted interior regions of the country. Currently, the University of Iceland has several distinguished internationally recognized scientists.
Literature. Icelanders' vibrant literary traditions date back to the first centuries after the settlement of the country in the early Middle Ages. The initial stage was characterized by skald poetry, poetry was composed by Icelandic poets, many of whom were at the courts of the kings of Norway. At this time, the Elder (or Song) Edda (1222–1225), a collection of Old Norse mythological and heroic songs, was written. At the end of the 12th century. and during the 13th century. most of the Icelandic sagas were created. This was the golden age of Icelandic literature. The writings of Samund Sigfusson, nicknamed the Wise (1056-1133), in particular his Book of Icelanders, stimulated the activities of the famous Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241), the author of the Sagas of the Norwegian kings. He was also the compiler of the Younger (or Prose) Edda, which was a guide to skalds (i.e. a textbook of poetry) and a treatise on the pagan mythology of the Icelanders.
After 1300, ballad became the most popular literary genre, and the writing of narrative poems (rímur) continued to this day. Icelandic literature experienced a prolonged decline and then another upsurge, when hymns writer Hadlgrimur Pietursson (1614-1674) and naturalist poet Eggert Oulafsson (1726-1768) wrote. In the 19th century. she went through romantic and realistic periods. Among the romantics, the poets Bjarni Thorarensen (1786–1841), Jounas Hadlgrimsson (1807–1845) and Matthias Jochumsson (1835–1920) stand out, while among the realists who appeared in the second half of the century, Einar H. Kwaran (1850–1938) is best known.
Since the beginning of the 20th century. the number of recognized poets, playwrights and prose writers increased. Einar Benediktsson (1864–1940), Thorstein Erlingsson (1859–1914), and Hannes Hafstein (1861–1922) were the leading poets of the turn of the century and somewhat earlier. Later, David Stefaunsson (1895-1964) and Toumas Gudmundsson (1901-1983) appeared. Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889-1975), one of the most famous contemporary Icelandic writers, lived for many years in Denmark, and some of his best novels were written and first published in Danish. Similarly, another prominent writer, Christman Gudmundsson (1901–1983), lived for a long time in Norway and published a number of his works in Norwegian. Playwright Johan Sigurijousson (1880–1919) created his works not only in Icelandic, but also in Danish. One of the greatest Icelandic poets, Stefan G. Stefansson (1853–1927) spent most of his life in Canada, but wrote in Icelandic. His poems are considered unsurpassed masterpieces of Icelandic poetry.
From the writers of the 20th century. three deserve special mention. Gudmundur G. Hagalin (1898–1985) is a well-known author of novels and stories. Tourbergur Tourdarson (1889-1974) was a poet and essayist with a satirical gift. An outstanding place in modern Icelandic literature is occupied by Hadldour Kiljan Laxness (1902–1998), author of novels, short stories, essays and poems, winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Art. In medieval Iceland, the most common art forms were wood carving, making silver jewelry, and stone sculptures to decorate churches. Folk art was expressed in wood carvings, decorative fabrics and silver jewelry.
Painting. The first contemporary Icelandic painters were Sigurdur Gudmundsson (1833–1874) and Tourarin Torlauksson (1867–1924). Sigurdur Gudmundsson founded the National Museum in Reykjavik in 1863. The first outstanding and widely recognized Icelandic painter was Ausgrimur Jounsson (1876-1958), influenced by Impressionism. The best expressionist painter is Joun Stefaunsson (1881–1962), and Johannes S. Kjarval (1885–1972) also stands out. Other well-known painters include Gunnlaugur Scheving (1904–1972), Thorvaldur Skulason (1906–1984), and Swavar Goodnason (1909–1988).
Sculpture. Einar Jounsson (1874–1954) was the first Icelandic sculptor to gain international recognition. His works adorn the streets and squares of Reykjavik. The Einar Jounsson Museum has been created, with a collection of originals and copies of his works. Among the sculptors of the 20th century. well known are Ausmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982) and Sigurjoun Oulafsson (1908–1982). Ricardur Jounsson (1888–1972) became famous for his carved wood sculptures and portraits.
Architecture Is a relatively new art form in Iceland. Over the past decades of the 20th century. many modern structures were created, mainly of reinforced concrete. A significant part of the monumental buildings and churches in the capital and other localities were designed by the architect Guljoun Samuelsson (1887-1950).
Music. Folk music in Iceland has a long tradition, with tvísöngur song melodies dating back to 1000. Folk art has since been mainly manifested in church choral music. In the 19th century. the leading composer was Swainbjørn Swainbjørnsson (1847–1927), the author of the national anthem. Sigfus Einarsson (1877–1939) was one of the prominent figures in Icelandic musical culture in the early 20th century. Among the later composers, Paul Isolfsson (1897-1974) and especially Joun Leifs (1899-1968), who tried to create a special Icelandic national music based on ancient folk melodies, are very famous. In 1925 the Reykjavik Orchestra was organized. Operas appear from time to time in the repertoire of the National Theater, and a number of Icelandic opera singers enjoy great success abroad. The Icelandic Opera was created in 1980.
Theatre.The earliest theatrical performances in Iceland were performed by students of the Latin School in Reykjavik in the 18th century. In the 19th century. interest in theater was stimulated by Ingridi Einarsson (1851–1939), who wrote a number of plays. The Reykjavik Theater Society, founded in 1897, has been the center of dramatic arts in Iceland for many years. At the beginning of the 20th century. plays for the Icelandic theater were composed by two talented playwrights - Johan Sigurjounsson and Gudmundur Kamban (1888–1945), the latter's works were translated and staged on theatrical stages in other Scandinavian countries. Icelandic theater entered a new era of development in 1950 when the National Theater in Reykjavik was opened. New performances are staged on the stages of the National and City theaters every year. There are small theaters in Akureyri and some other cities.
Media. There are many publishing houses in Iceland, which publish approx. 400 books and magazines. The first magazines appeared at the end of the 18th century, and the first newspaper - in 1848. 35 newspapers are published in the country, most of them are published once or twice a week. Of the five daily newspapers, Morgunbladid, the organ of the Independence Party, has the largest circulation.
There is only one radio station in Iceland, in Reykjavik, and three relay stations. Radios are available in every home. Television broadcasting began in 1966. In addition to state television, a television station at the American military base in Keflavik also broadcasts.
Sport. The traditional sport is the glíma national wrestling. Each of the two belted wrestlers holds on to the opponent's belt and seeks to lift and knock down the other, while it is allowed to use intricate footpegs and other techniques. Swimming has always been a popular sport; a network of swimming pools has been created in the country, where water is supplied from thermal springs. Horseback riding competitions are often held. Football is very popular; competitions are regularly held from spring to autumn. Handball and basketball are very popular, orienteering and tourism have been developing recently. In winter, almost the entire population of the country is engaged in skiing and speed skating.
Bridge and chess deserve special mention. Icelandic players excel in these games in international competitions.
1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with a population of about 320 thousand people, and before the Second World War the population of the country was only 50 thousand.
2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when parting or divorcing, the couple always tries to maintain a good relationship. Cases when an ex-boyfriend does not communicate with an ex-girlfriend or ex-spouses do not talk to each other are extremely rare, because in any case, they have almost all friends and acquaintances in common.
3. Instead of surnames in Iceland, there are patronyms, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle "sleep" (that is, son) or "dottir" (if it is a daughter) is added to the father's name, it turns out, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Celia is the daughter of Palmars.
4. In the event that the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but by the mother's name.
5. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, the doors of houses are often left unlocked, car keys are thrown in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or shop.
6. In Reykjavik it is considered normal to go to the nearest grocery store in your pajamas.
7. Residents of Reykjavik almost always pay for purchases with bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash is not accepted here.
8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is bad for your health, so in winter everyone here sniffs, that is, sorry, suck snot into themselves.
9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent, even girls spit without any problems on the street and in public places.
10. In fact, Iceland in winter is not as cold as we used to think, the temperature here rarely drops below -6 degrees.
11. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, the dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets at 16.00. In summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which the white nights in St. Petersburg are simply not about anything, in June Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.
12. The lack of sunlight in winter is to some extent compensated by the northern lights, it can be observed constantly, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to it.
13.
Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all residents of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, take fish oil without fail, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.
14.
Almost all residents of Iceland have a Facebook profile, according to the latest data, Iceland is an active country on the social network.
15. Even if a resident of Iceland for some reason does not have a Facebook profile, it can still be easily found on the Internet. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the website www.ja.is, where they indicate their name and surname, telephone number, address and place on the map where their house is located.
16. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed towards you, he demonstrates this by touching you every now and then.
17. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local residents like to dye their hair in a darker shade.
18. In order to spend a night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required, most Icelandic women, as they say, are easy going, which is why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik so much.
19. Icelanders are very tolerant, in Reykjavik there is a regular gay parade, since 2010 homosexual marriages have been allowed here, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.
20 ... The most popular professions in Iceland are painter, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter tries to get an education in a creative specialty, and at the same time plays in some rock or folk group.
21. For the reason described above, no one uses the services of designers, for example, to come up with a design for an apartment or a wedding dress. The inhabitants of Iceland are sure that each of them is his own artist, therefore they prefer to come up with the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress on their own.
22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.
23. The Islanders are crazy about Eurovision, they take the competition for young performers very seriously, and during the live broadcast the whole country is watching what is happening on TV.
24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland; the latter closed in 2008 during the crisis.
25. The most popular names in Iceland are male - Yon and female - Guvrun. Also, ancient mythological names are still common, for example, aðalsteinn, which means "main stone".
26. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use in everyday life not full, but abbreviated versions of names, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dubby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppi, Yon - Nonnie, etc.
27. The language of Iceland has remained practically unchanged over the past 1000 years, so there are letters that have disappeared from English in it, plus the inhabitants of the country can read the old Viking sagas in the original without any problems.
28. The local population is generally very fond of reading; today, according to some sources, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.
29. The price of wine in Iceland is often influenced not by the year of its production or its quality, but by its strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost several times less than a 15-degree mumble.
30. Iceland has no armed forces, and the Coast Guard performs their functions to some extent.
31. Police officers in Iceland do not carry weapons, they are not given pistols.
32. For the most part, Reykjavik residents have a terrible parking lot, they can throw their car right across the street. Having tow trucks and parking fines in the wrong place is of little help.
33. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources, gas and petrol are used here only to refuel cars and boats, and that is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.
34. There is no need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes, it is still poured from the tap. This water comes from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely safe to drink.
35. But hot tap water in Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.
36. Hot thermal baths are a popular nightlife option in Reykjavik, and the cost of a visit with a subscription is about 5 euros.
37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a central heating system, which favorably distinguishes the country from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each activation of the heater.
38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic legislation for the inhabitants of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is due to the fact that in the past, Turkish pirates have often plundered Icelandic ships and coastal villages.
39. To this day, Icelandic legislation allows the inhabitants of the country to kill polar bears for food.
40. Licorice is very popular in Iceland, it is added to any dishes, plus they produce chocolates filled with licorice.
41. The national dish of Iceland is haukarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. If you do not chew and just swallow it is still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you will feel the "magic" taste of urea. The fact is that the greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot for three months underground or in the basement. The taste of this dish, among other things, was mocked by the creators of The Simpsons in one of the episodes of the animated series.
42. In Iceland, fish is mainly eaten, while all dishes are watered excessively with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of the fish may not be recognized.
43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, while Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and Coca-Cola is also very popular here.
44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which makes it difficult to build a house or road. Before starting construction, here they consult with the local "witches" on the subject of whether it is possible to move this or that stone, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to "offend" the elf and move the stone, Icelanders have to perform magical rites, for example, keep the stone in honey for some time.
45. 2,148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on the revival of Icelandic and Norse pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to the traditional registration of marriage.
46. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus in Iceland, there are 15 more Santa Claus of different types, by and large all of them are elves, in which the locals believe.
47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a playground.
48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa, a knitted lambswool sweater with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time.
49. Icelanders pride themselves on the fact that they have the oldest undisturbed parliament in the world, called Al иingi and was founded in 930.
50. Residents of Iceland are very trusting, when hiring they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous job, but simply take the newcomer's word for it.
Evgeny Melnik
Composes music, poetry, prose. He reads and writes a lot: about art, football, rock and nu-jazz. Crazy about Dada, Iceland and Mamleev's prose.
Iceland is one of the most mysterious places on earth. This is where elf rights are constitutionally legalized, and postmen and police play football better than guys who can spend 250,000 euros on champagne in one night.
Perhaps now you will want to learn more about the Land of Ice and Fire, or maybe you will even start saving your salary to visit this mysterious island someday. And you will have to postpone a lot, since the prices in the country of sheep and dumplings are among the highest in Europe.
Anthony Doudt / Flickr.com Products and prices
Iceland is known for its high food prices. A liter of milk here costs a little less than a euro, a kilogram of potatoes - 1 euro, bread - 2 euros. At the same time, the prices for meat are fantastic. For example, one kilogram of pork is sold for 14 euros, chicken for 17 euros. But this is not the worst thing.
If you want to chick with some blonde lady in a restaurant, then you should take a loan, because for a three-course meal you can easily shell out over a hundred euros! But there is also an alternative - go to a local fast food and gorge on "some" 15-20 euros.
/~helmar/Flickr.com But souls tormented by narzan should stay at home. Icelanders are known for their drunkenness. At the same time, in the morning they go to work as if nothing had happened. But your head may start to ache after you become familiar with the cost of "firewater" in Iceland.
For a bottle of ordinary wine, you will have to pay about 15-18 euros, beer - 2-4 euros. The stronger the drink, the more expensive it is. So a bottle of mumble may be worth more than a bottle of decent but light French wine.
When simplicity is better than stealing
Vegetables in Iceland are also very expensive, as they are grown in greenhouses. Vegetable shops are just on the street, only there are no sellers in them. Prices are written on the plates, and there are scales and money boxes nearby. Yes, yes, people themselves come, weigh, put money in a box, take change and move on. This is not easy to believe, so it is better to go to Iceland and see for yourself.
The doors in the houses are also not locked here, but this is not the most unusual thing. It is interesting that a complete stranger can go into a lonely house, lost in the mountains, and they will immediately give him drink, feed and put him to bed. At the same time, if you are a prominent man, and there is only one defenseless woman in the house, the alignment and attitude will not change in any way - it has been tested on our own experience.
Freedom of views
Freedom of views on certain taboo topics is legendary in Iceland.
For example, it is common knowledge that one of the prime ministers of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is known as the first person in history to rule the government in the status of an open bisexual. Such a free attitude towards orientation is not surprising, because it is absorbed with mother's milk.
How? There are many geothermal springs in the country, which are visited not only by tourists, but also by local residents. It is necessary to take a shower before visiting them.
Shriram Rajagopalan / Flickr.com There are showers in Iceland, although they are located in public places, while most of them do not have doors and walls. And the fact that it is customary for Icelanders to ask the name of a partner only after sex, and even then not always, is probably known to many.
A nation of multitankers
In Russia, the notion of a “multi-stationer” is usually associated with a person tortured by life, who works several jobs to feed his family. Oddly enough, but Icelanders also have something similar.
Here people do not order designers for themselves and do repairs exclusively by themselves. Every second Icelander considers himself a great artist, a creative person. For this reason, many things, which sometimes include sewing clothes, selection of furniture, home improvement, they do exclusively with their own hands.
But that's not all. In Iceland, a comedian musician can become a prominent politician, a hairdresser's son a president, and a bank CEO a fisherman. World famous commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson is not even a professional commentator, as his main place of work was the football club Reykjavik, where he held the position of assistant coach.
And the son of a hairdresser, President Oulawur Grimsson, has been in office for 20 years. At the end of the fourth term, he wanted to resign, but the citizens did not let him in.
Iceland and its music
Music in Iceland is not only self-sufficient, but also influential in the context of world culture.
In 1997, the now cult group Sigur Ros was founded here. Their music is called "magic", "heavenly", "divine". They play a mixture of ambient, post-rock and minimalism. Band leader Jonesi Birgisson is known for his unearthly falsetto, as well as being openly homosexual and playing the electric guitar with a bow. Moreover, of all the participants, only he has the appropriate education.
Icelanders' compositions are often used as soundtracks. If the titles of the films "Vanilla Sky", "Immortals: War of the Worlds", "Penelope", "Slumdog Millionaire" tell you something, then it's time to listen to the track Hoppipolla.
Iceland is a country of amazing ratios
Gary Lineker (legendary English footballer) marveled that Iceland has more volcanoes than professional footballers.
There are actually more volcanoes - 126 versus 120. There are indeed a lot of things "more than people", so it is not surprising that people master many different professions. For example, there are more sheep than homo sapiens - 420,000 versus 332,500.
But there are even more charming tupik birds in Iceland, of which there are as many as 4 million!
David Reid / Flickr.com On the other hand, there are absolutely no ants on the island, and scientists do not know why.
About conservatism
From the outside, Iceland may seem like an extremely liberal country. The doors in the houses are not closed here. Any person from the street is welcomed as a long-awaited guest. There is no army in the country, almost no police. Products are on the street without any vendors. A naked person in a public place is a common occurrence, and sexual orientation does not have conservative social markings. But in fact, Iceland is one of the most conservative countries in the world.
It is extremely difficult to obtain a residence permit here. Moreover, Icelanders are so meticulous that they even have a special language commission. For what? If a foreign word is introduced into the language, the commission is engaged in creating a local equivalent for it. For this reason, Icelandic is almost the only language that has almost no archaic forms, words with an emasculated meaning and other relict phenomena.
In what language the Skalds wrote the Elder Edda 1,000 years ago, it is read in the same language today. Iceland is very jealous of everything national, here literally everything is shrouded in traditions. Each encyclopedia says that the local parliament (Althingi) is considered the oldest in Europe - it is 1,000 years old. Icelanders also wanted to join the EU, but changed their minds.
In general, if you decide to splash in the geysers and admire the northern lights - fill your suitcases with Icelandic crowns and go on your journey! True, in this country it is better to use credit cards, since it is not customary to pay in cash here.
Interested in how waiters and other service staff live without tips? Yes, they live great! Leaving a tip in Iceland is considered an insult.
