Interesting things about the city of Iceland. Who can live well in Iceland? About weather and nature

For most of us, Iceland is associated with the singer Björk, who was born in this distant country, as well as with Vikings and snow. But in Iceland, it turns out, there is amazing nature with geysers, volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls. Iceland's nature is a source of inspiration for many photographers and artists. Regardless of when you visit Iceland (summer or winter), the Icelanders will always welcome you very hospitably.

Geography of Iceland

Iceland is located northwest of Great Britain in the North Atlantic Ocean, where it meets the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is an island. The total territory of Iceland, together with all the islands, is 103,000 sq. km.

14.3% of Iceland's territory is occupied by lakes and glaciers. Only 23% of Iceland has vegetation that matches geographical location of this state. The most big lakes in Iceland - Þingvallavatn, Lagarfljót and Mývatn.

Iceland has several volcanoes, some of which are active. Now the most famous Icelandic volcano is Eyjafjallajokull, whose eruption in 2010 paralyzed air traffic throughout Europe.

The most high peak Iceland - Hvannadalshnukur peak, whose height reaches 2109 meters.

Capital

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik, which is now home to more than 125 thousand people. Historians believe that human settlement in the territory of modern Reykjavik already existed in the 9th century.

Official language

In Iceland official language Icelandic is one of the Scandinavian languages.

Religion

More than 77% of Icelanders are Lutherans (Protestants), belonging to the Church of Iceland. Another 10% of Icelandic residents are Catholics.

State structure

According to the constitution, Iceland is a parliamentary republic, the head of which is the President, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 4-year term.

Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Parliament, the Althing, consisting of 63 deputies.

The main political parties in Iceland are the Social Democratic Alliance, the Independence Party, the Left-Green Movement and the Progressive Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Iceland is subarctic maritime, the same as, for example, in Alaska. The warm Gulf Stream has a decisive influence on the Icelandic climate. On south coast Iceland's climate is noticeably milder than on the northern coast. Average annual temperature air temperature in Iceland is +5C, and the average annual precipitation is 779 mm.

The tallest average temperature The air temperature in Iceland is +14C in July and August.

Average air temperature in Reykjavik:

• January – 0С
• February – +0.5C
• March – +1.5C
• April - +4C
• May - +7C
• June - +10C
• July - +11.5C
• August - +11C
• September - +8C
• October - +5C
• November – +2C
• December – 0C

Sea in Iceland

In the north, Iceland is washed by the Greenland Sea, in the northwest the Denmark Strait separates this country from Greenland, and in the east is the Norwegian Sea.

Rivers and lakes

About 14.3% of Iceland's territory is occupied by glaciers and lakes. The largest lakes are Þingvallavatn, Lagarfljót and Mývatn.

Iceland has many rivers, most of them originate in glaciers. The longest Icelandic rivers include Tjoursau (230 km) in the south of the country and Jökulsau á Fjödlum in the northeast.

There are a lot of salmon in Icelandic rivers, and trout in the lakes.

Story

Iceland was settled by Norwegian Vikings in the 9th century. The first settlement on the site of modern Reykjavik was founded in 874 by Ingolf Arnason.

In 1262, Iceland came under Norwegian rule. Around the middle of the 16th century, Lutheranism began to spread in Iceland. Subsequently, this country became completely Lutheran.

In 1814, Spain became part of Denmark. In the middle of the 19th century, a movement developed in Iceland that fought for the independence of this country (peacefully). As a result, in 1918 Denmark recognized the independence of Iceland. Thus, the Kingdom of Iceland was proclaimed, having a union with Denmark. In June 1944, Iceland was recognized as an independent republic.

In 1946, Iceland was admitted to the UN, and in 1949 it became a member of the NATO military bloc.

Icelandic culture

The origins of Icelandic culture go back to Norwegian traditions. This is due to the fact that it was the Norwegian Vikings who first settled Iceland.

Iceland still has some Viking traditions. So, at the end of January, Icelanders celebrate Men's Day (Bóndadagur). On this day, Icelandic men used to jump around their house while singing songs loudly. In this way they tried to appease the harsh January weather. Nowadays, few Icelanders jump around their houses on Men's Day, but on this day women give them various gifts and flowers.

At the end of February, Iceland celebrates Women's Day (Konudagur). On this day, Icelandic men bring their women coffee in bed in the morning and give them flowers.

Icelandic cuisine

The main products of Icelandic cuisine are fish, meat, vegetables, dairy products, and cheese. We advise tourists to try the following traditional local dishes in Iceland:

• Hangikjöt – smoked lamb;
• Harðfiskur – dried fish;
• Saltkjöt – salted lamb;
• Bjúgu – smoked sausage;
• Þorramatur – marinated meat or fish (including shark meat);
• Lax is a salmon dish.

The traditional Icelandic soft drink is Skyr, which is made from sour milk, similar to yoghurt.

When it comes to alcoholic drinks in Iceland, residents of this country prefer beer and local potato vodka with cumin, Brennivín.

Sights of Iceland

Even though Iceland is a very small country, it has many interesting places for tourists. In our opinion, the top ten best Icelandic attractions include the following:

Cities and resorts

The largest Icelandic cities are Hafnarfjordur, Akureyri, Kopavogur, and, of course, Reykjavik.

Iceland has a lot of geysers and lakes that have healing properties. It is therefore not surprising that this country has several geothermal resorts. The most famous of them is located on the lake " Blue Lagoon».

Souvenirs/shopping

Useful information for tourists about Iceland, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Iceland, cuisine, features 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: -3 hours (summer), - 2 hours (winter).
• A visa is required to enter

Geography of Iceland

Republic of Iceland - Island state, 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 more than 120 glaciers, a large number of lakes and rivers. Iceland is different too big amount volcanoes, craters and hot springs. Of the 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

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 belongs to the President and the unicameral parliament - the Althing.

Language

Official 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 krona is equal to 100 aurars. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5000, 1000, 500 and 100 crowns, coins in 50, 10, 5 and 1 crown, as well as 50 and 10 aurar.

You can exchange cash currency freely in banks, The Change Group offices and hotels. Traveler's checks are accepted everywhere. Credit cards The world's leading payment systems are accepted everywhere. ATMs are located in all banks, large shops, hotels and most high streets, and work with all types of credit cards.

Iceland map

Popular attractions

Tourism in Iceland

Popular hotels

Excursions 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 unimaginably beautiful waterfalls, geysers, bizarre volcanic landscapes, fjords, glaciers and much more. Iceland is ideal for lovers active rest And wildlife.

The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, is the most... northern capital peace. It's quite young and modern city. There is not a single industrial facility here, and houses are heated using hot water thermal springs, so the city is famous for its truly clean and fresh air. Among the attractions of Reykjavik, the most interesting are the Althing (Parliament House), the Government building, Cathedral Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Free Church of Reykjavik, National Museum Iceland, National Gallery of Iceland, Museum of Art, Perlan, Hövdi and the Arni Magnusson Institute. The city also has many restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discos, as well as a very vibrant nightlife. Not far from Reykjavik there is the famous spa complex of Iceland - the Blue Lagoon. The unique composition of the geothermal spring water (with a year-round temperature of +38-+39 °C) and its healing properties make the resort very popular.

One of business cards countries are considered Geyser fields. There are over 250 individual geyser groups (approximately 7,000 hot springs) in Iceland. The most interesting is the Haukadalur valley, which is included in the popular tourist route " Golden ring" The valley contains the two 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 scenic spots Iceland. This route also includes the famous National Park Thingvellir (included in the UNESCO heritage list). Here is the so-called Silfra fissure (fault) - the only such place in the world where extreme diving enthusiasts 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. Apart from Gullfoss the most beautiful waterfalls include the “waterfall of God” Goudafoss, the most powerful in Europe Dettifoss, the black waterfall Svartifoss, the lava waterfalls Hroinfossar, Seljalandsfoss, as well as the waterfalls Joksaraurfoss, Glymur, Howifoss and Tjoufafoss. Iceland is also home to many volcanoes, the most famous of which is Hekla, which is considered the most active volcano country and the largest in Europe.

One of the most famous attractions is Vatnajökull National Park, which combines the parks Skaftafell and Jökulsárgluvur. 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 indelible impressions. There are mountains and plains, giant glaciers and volcanoes, active geysers and lava fields, as well as stunning beauty ice caves with hot springs and amazing waterfalls.

Every year Iceland becomes more and more popular and attracts great amount tourists from all over the world.

Icelandic cuisine

A special feature of Icelandic cuisine is the variety of food processing methods. The meat is smoked, salted and marinated. Traditionally, almost all parts of animals are used. A lot of fish and seafood dishes. Fish, like meat, is often dried, dried or smoked. One of the national fish dishes is hakarl - shark meat, stored in the ground for 2 months, which is served in small pieces and washed down with Icelandic schnapps. Dairy products are also very common.

Tips

Tipping is not accepted; usually it is given only to doormen in restaurants and hotels. In all other cases, a tip for service is included in the bill. In fashionable hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, wardrobe is paid.

Visa

Office hours

Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09:15 to 16:00.

Shops are usually open from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays - from 10:00 to 14:00-16:00. Some large department stores are open until 22:00 on Fridays. On Sunday, and in the summer - on Saturdays, all shops are closed.

Safety

Particular caution should be exercised when moving independently through unfamiliar terrain, especially in mountainous areas, because volcanic activity here it is quite high even outside the volcanic fields. Therefore, it is quite possible to “run into” a sudden eruption of a geyser or end up in a mud pit.

Iceland is called the "ice country" or "land of ice". It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean on the island of Iceland and a group of small islands.

Iceland consists of 8 regions: Hövüdborgarsvaidid, Vesturland, Suðurnäs, Vestfyrdir, Nordurland-Eystra, Nordurland-Vastra, Sydurland, Eysturland.

Reykjavik, the capital of the country with a population of 180 thousand people, is the cultural, business and financial center of the country. It is also the seat of government and parliament. In addition to Reykjavik, major cities are Hafnarfjordur (19 thousand people), Kopavogur (21 thousand people), Akureyri (17 thousand people), Seydisfjordur, Husavik, Akranes.

The country is headed by a president, elected for a 4-year term through direct general elections. The Icelandic government consists of a prime minister and ministers who are members of the Progressive Party and the Independence Party.

The legislative body - the Parliament (Althing) - consists of one chamber and has existed since 930. The Icelandic Constitution was adopted in 1920.

Until recently, Iceland's main source of income was fishing and fish processing. In 2001, they accounted for 32% of the industry. But in the last decade there has been an active diversification of industrial production, which became possible thanks to the use of renewable, cheap energy.

Aluminum smelters are currently being actively built. Other promising industries for Iceland include banking, tourism, biotechnology, and information technology. Iceland belongs to the industrialized countries.

In 2007, Iceland was recognized by the UN as the best country to live in the world.

	Reykjavik
Population	317,630 people
Population density
	Icelandic
Religion	Lutheranism
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	Icelandic krona
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

On the southwest coast, where Reykjavik is located, the average temperature in winter is -1 ºС, in summer - +11 ºС. The waters surrounding the island of Iceland never freeze.

Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the climate of the western and southern coasts of Iceland is quite mild in winter. At the same time, a large amount of precipitation falls in the form of rain. On average, January in Reykjavik has only 3 sunny days, and July has even fewer - 1. The warmest period of the year is from July to August. The east and north of Iceland tend to be sunnier and warmer. The most sun is in the central part of the north of the island - in the area Akureiri and lakes Miwati. It is warmest, as a rule, in the eastern part, in the area Egilsstdoir. But even in these relatively favorable areas, unpleasant cold winds blow. On the coasts of the island the weather is often worse than in the central parts. But on the interior of the island, powerful winds and storms can interfere with your vacation. They lift large masses of sand into the air and create the so-called “sulu”.

Nature

The geological age of Iceland is small: the island was formed approximately 60 million years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. The most ancient areas are in the north, west and east.

In the west, in the area Snæfellsnes, there are many volcanoes, 20 of which were active when Iceland was already inhabited. In 1783, the Laki volcano, located southwest of Vatnajökull, erupted. The lava that flowed out as a result of the eruption covered an area of ​​570 square meters. km. The Hekla volcano erupted in 1947 and 1970. In 1963, the island of Surtsey was formed as a result of an underwater eruption.

There are many hot springs throughout the island. There are about 250 of them in total. The most famous gushing spring is the Big Geyser. 85% of homes in Iceland are heated by energy generated by hot springs. Their warm water is also used in swimming pools and greenhouses.

Northern, eastern and northwestern coastline cut by many fjords and bays.

Glaciers and ice caps cover an area of ​​11,900 km2. The largest ice cap is Vatnajökull- is located in the southeast of the country and covers 8,300 sq. km. The highest point of Iceland is located in the same area - Hvannadalskhnukur, reaching a height of 2,119 meters.

There are quite a lot in the country large rivers, but they are all unnavigable. Rivers often fork and change direction, which impedes traffic flow. The largest Icelandic islands are Touriswati And Tingvadlavati.

Iceland is home to more than 80 species of birds. Several species of whales and two species of seals are found in coastal waters. Fish species such as sea bass, halibut, cod, and haddock are of great importance for Iceland.

Attractions

In 2000, Reykjavik (meaning "Smoky Bay") was declared cultural capital peace. The central part of the city - Old Reykjavik - is a huge space with a lot of lakes and lawns, which give way to old traditional buildings. In this place today there are stables and sheepfolds. Of course, they no longer contain livestock. Most of them have turned into cafes and shops. Reykjavik's most notable ancient buildings are the 18th-century government building and the Parliament House, built in 1881. Of the museums in Reykjavik, it is worth visiting the National Museum, National Gallery Iceland and Urban Art Museum Reykjavik. A luxurious botanical garden is open to visitors in Reykjavik.

Iceland has a large number of waterfalls. The most famous of them are Gullfoss, or Golden Falls, Goudafoss, or Waterfall of the Gods, Skógarfoss And Dehtifoss, or Falling Waterfall.

The northern capital of Iceland is considered to be Akureyri, which is on the shore Eyjafjord. There is a lake nearby Miwati, or Mosquito Lake, which never freezes.

Iceland is one of the centers extreme tourism and sport fishing. Here you can go rock climbing or go hiking. Such a popular entertainment as safari is widespread here. You can go on horseback riding, salmon and trout fishing in streams and lakes. Diving enthusiasts can dive into the depths of mineral waters.

Nutrition

Icelandic cuisine cannot be called varied and rich. The reason for this is the monotonous animal and vegetable world and harsh climate. National Spanish dishes are always extremely simple, but very tasty. The most popular dishes in Iceland are lamb roast and Icelandic stew.

The original national Icelandic dishes are hrutspungur, hakarl and svid. Hrutspungur is a pickled lamb testicle that is pressed into cookies. Hakarl- This is rotten shark meat, placed in the ground for six months to bring it to the necessary stage of decomposition. Sweed- a whole sheep's head, which is cut into two halves, brought to a boil and consumed almost raw.

Less exotic dishes - Blakeya(charred meat) Luindi And hardfiskur(haddock). You can also be served seal meat, whale steak and whale meat. Traditional dairy product in Iceland - skyr— prepared from bacterial cultures and milk cream.

While meat dishes in Iceland are not particularly sophisticated, fish dishes here are surprisingly varied. The most famous local dishes are prepared from halibut, salmon, cod, scallops, shrimp and shark.

Coffee is a very popular drink. Wine, beer and other spirits are very expensive here. Classic drink in Iceland - Brennivin— made from potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds.

Iceland has a very high level of development of restaurant culture: throughout the country there are a huge number of restaurants that compete fiercely with each other and provide visitors with excellent service.

Beer was banned from being produced and consumed in Iceland for 75 years, until the ban was lifted in 1989. A large glass of beer will cost you $8, a small glass will cost you $4.7. In coffee shops you only have to pay for one cup of coffee; the rest will be brought to you for free.

Accommodation

The safest way is to book accommodation before arriving in Iceland, but if this option is not possible, you will have to act on the spot. For the first few days you can always find a hostel, tourist center or hotel. The most affordable prices are at the Salvation Army House in Reykjavik and at the Tourist Base, which is also located in the capital. The minimum cost of a room for one night is 33 €.

Since the real estate market in Iceland is extensive and the purchase of apartments and houses accounts for 75-85% of the housing stock, the rental market is quite narrow. In Reykjavik, renting a house will cost you the most.

When renting housing, a month's rent and a security deposit are paid in advance. It's best to ask your landlord to provide you with a written lease agreement.

Every person over 18 years of age who rents housing under a contract for more than six months can receive monetary compensation. You can write such a statement to the social service office.

The average rent per month for a room with kitchen and bathroom is ISK 40,000 per month. For a modest apartment you will have to pay 70,000-80,000 crowns per month. In suburban areas, the average cost of one square meter is 1200 crowns, in the capital - 1500.

Entertainment and relaxation

The most important holiday for Icelanders is Independence Day. This holiday takes place on June 17th. At this time, colorful open-air theatrical performances and costume parades are organized throughout the country.

In the first week of June you can go to the holiday Syomannadagurini, dedicated to sailors. On this day, tug-of-war, water rescue and swimming tournaments are held. June 24th is the summer solstice, Midsummer. On the third Thursday of April, Sumardagurini Fürsti takes place - a carnival holiday dedicated to the first day of summer. In August you can attend another one local holiday entitled Pjodhatio Vestmannaeyar. On this day, Icelanders sing songs, light large bonfires, and hold folk festivals and dances. In some areas of Iceland there is a holiday Verslunarmannahelgi. It is held in August. On this day, it is customary to go on overnight hikes with the family and barbecue.

There are a large number of excursions in Iceland. The most entertaining of them take place in the following places:

• East Iceland
• East Fjords
• Westman Islands
• Valley of Geysers
• Thingvellir National Park
• Kaldidalur
• Glaciers
• Snaefell
• Lake Myuvati
• Northern Iceland
• fjords of West Iceland
• Central Iceland.

Iceland - perfect place for organizing hiking, often extreme, hikes. The most notable places for pedestrians tourist routes are found in Latrabjarg, Landmanialaugar and Horistrandir. Well-equipped ski resorts are located in Akureiri, Reykjavik, Hitarfjall and Blafjoll. On Mount Langjökull you can go sledding, in the Hallmundarhraun caves you can try your hand at sports caving, plunge into geothermal springs and ride horses. Iceland also hosts the Arctic Open golf tournament (in Akureiri). The competition takes place on one of the nights of the polar summer, which is why it is called the “Midnight Sun Tournament”.

Purchases

Standard opening hours for Icelandic shops are from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 14:00 (less often until 16:00) on Saturdays. Sometimes big shopping centers open on Friday until 22:00. During the summer, all shops are closed on weekends.

The bulk of goods in Iceland are imported, so prices for food, real estate and transport services are very high. Iceland ranks second after Japan in terms of cost of living. If you want to indulge yourself in nothing, you will have to spend at least $500 a day.

Transport

Iceland's largest airline, Air Iceland, is the only airline providing safe domestic passenger transport in winter time. Icelandic network highways is one of the most undeveloped in the European region, there are no railway lines at all.

At the same time, the company bus transportation Bifritastod Islands excels at transporting passengers in very harsh conditions. The largest Icelandic ports are connected by ferries.

In Iceland there are several state-owned companies that provide taxi services 24 hours a day. For 1 kilometer a fee of approximately 100 CZK is charged; on holidays and at night the price rises by 10-15%. Taxis can be found at special parking lots, stopped on the street, or called for free by phone.

Connection

There are still few places where you can find Wi-Fi in Iceland. But everywhere you can use the services of Internet cafes.

Cellular communication standards in Iceland are GSM 900/1800.

Telephone communications are very well developed in Iceland. Telephone booths are located on every corner. You can call them using coins in denominations of 10, 50 and 100 kroons, or use a calling card worth 500 kroons. Telephone cards can be purchased at a telephone exchange or post office. The cost of calls, both local and international, depends on the day of the week and time of day. Regular price you will pay on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00. On weekends and weekdays from 19:00 to 8:00 you will be given a 25% discount.

Safety

If you are walking in mountainous areas, be very careful and attentive as volcanic activity may occur in these areas. You risk falling into a mud pit or running into a geyser eruption. When walking, it is better not to deviate from the tourist path.

As for the crime rate, in this sense Iceland is one of the most safe countries in the world. Reykjavik has recently become an exception: cases of petty theft have become more frequent here, and information about more serious offenses appears in the news every now and then. Going to night club, be prepared to witness a fight. Don't interfere - just call the police.

Business climate

If you come to work temporarily or permanently in Iceland, you need to register with the National Register. You will be assigned an identification number and the State Tax Department will give you a tax card. You must also have a work permit. You can consult the Employment Committee or the Immigration Office about its availability.

In Iceland you can open a company of any form of ownership. If you are a self-employed person in Iceland, you will need to pay 38.58% of your profits to the treasury every month. Partnerships are taxed at 26% of profits. Companies and their affiliates pay 18% of profits to the Icelandic treasury. The most common choice when opening a company is the form of a closed limited liability company. This is due to the low tax rate and the ease of maintaining a company. The tax rate for such companies is 5%.

Real estate

The real estate market in Iceland is very broad. You can buy apartments in Iceland only if you have a residence permit. If you want to purchase an apartment, you need to consult the State Financial Fund for Housing or a local bank.

Reykjavik is one of the five cities in the world with the most expensive real estate. In the last decade, housing prices in Iceland have been rising.

There is plenty of real estate in Iceland that can be bought and sold. Every year the country is visited by a huge number of tourists, which stimulates the expansion of the real estate market. The important thing is that the influx of tourists to Iceland occurs throughout the year, which is also a prerequisite for the development of the housing market.

In Iceland, you drive on the right. In winter time car traffic made difficult by snow drifts on the roads and strong winds. Fines for drunk driving and other violations traffic very high. But you will never have problems with parking in Reykjavik: several multi-storey car parks and a large number of surface ones have been built here. Parking fees are charged hourly. In a regular parking lot you will pay 80-150 CZK, in a parking lot - 50-100. You must pay for parking from the machines at the entrance to the parking lot or from the parking attendant.

You are allowed to bring no more than three kilograms of food into Iceland. However, it is prohibited to transport meat, dairy products, and raw eggs. If you are over 20 years old, you can take with you up to 1 liter of spirits, 6 liters of beer and 1 liter of wine. Upon reaching the age of 18, passengers can also take with them up to 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco.

Icelanders don't have surnames. Residents of Iceland have only a first and patronymic name. The endings of patronymics “-son” are used by men, “-dottir” by women. You can often meet people with the same last names. Icelanders address each other only by name.

Alcohol can only be purchased in state-run specialty stores. Alcohol here is 5-7 times more expensive than in duty-free at airports.

Near the most popular natural monuments there are areas for setting up tents. For an overnight stay in such an area you will have to pay 2-3 dollars. In other places, you can pitch a tent only with permission from local authorities.

In Iceland, tips are only given to doormen in hotels and restaurants. In other situations, the tip is already included in the bill.

Visa information

Getting a visa to Iceland is not as difficult as it might seem. To do this, you will need to collect a standard package of documents, including: a valid international passport, tickets to the country and back, copies of the necessary passport pages, confirmation of a hotel room reservation.

The visa is provided within 8 working days. The consular fee is approximately 35 €.

The Embassy of Iceland is located at 121069, Moscow, Khlebny Lane, 28.
You can get detailed advice by calling the appropriate phone number (+7 495) 956-7604. The embassy is open throughout the working week from 09:00 to 17:00.

> Iceland

Iceland(Isl. Island) is an island state located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. The territory of the state consists of the island of Iceland and small islands around it. The name of the country literally means ice country . Northern point Iceland reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern one is 306 km away. from it, located at latitude 63 degrees 24 minutes north. 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). Population density – 2.6 people per 1 sq. km. The share of the urban population is 91%, rural – 9%.
Capital– Reykjavik city (118,427 people).
Official language– Icelandic.
State religion- Lutheranism.
Administrative division: consists of 8 villages: Austurland (administrative center - Iglstadur), Westfjordir (Isafjordur), Vesturland (Borgarnes), Nordurland Vastra (Stadur), Nordurland Øystra (Akyureyri), Sjudurland (Selfoss ), Sydurnes (Keflavik), Hofudborgarsvaedi (Reykjavik).
Currency: Icelandic krona
National holiday: The day of the proclamation of the republic is June 17.
Telephone code +354

Republic of Iceland, a state in Northern Europe. Located on island of the same name, the second largest in Europe. The northern point of Iceland reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern point, 306 km. from it, located at latitude 63 degrees 24 minutes north. The length of the island from west (13 degrees 28 minutes west) to east (24 degrees 32 minutes west) is 480 km. The area of ​​the country is 103 thousand square meters. km. Population 317,900 people (2010). The capital is Reykjavik (118,427 people).

NATURE

Terrain. Geologically, Iceland is a young country, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions over the past 60 million years (corresponding 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. These are mainly plateaus composed of ancient basaltic lavas. The plateau-like nature 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. A vast zone extends across the entire country from north to southwest, mainly composed of palagonite tuffs and breccias, which were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.

A large number of volcanoes are confined to this zone, as well as to the Snæfellsnes region in the west, of which 20 erupted after the settlement of the country. Iceland has almost every type of volcano found on Earth. The most characteristic are chains of craters formed 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 times was formed. It covered an area of ​​570 square meters. km. To the southwest of Vatnajökull 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, small island Surtsey. In 1973, during a volcanic eruption on the island of Heimaey, the population of the city of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated.

WITH volcanic activity Hot springs are closely connected, scattered throughout the country (there are more than 250 of them). Fields of sulfur fumaroles (solfatars) are confined to areas of young volcanism. Of the gushing springs, the most famous is the Great Geyser, the name of which has become a household name for all such formations. Iceland widely uses thermal energy. 85% of the population lives in houses heated by their waters. 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, the rocky shores are dissected by numerous bays, fjords and islands. The inner parts of many fjords are lined with hook-shaped pebble spits, which protect natural harbors from storms blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal cities and towns are often located on such spits. Southwestern and southern shores Iceland - sandy, level; There are no natural harbors there.

Ice caps and other glaciers cover an area of ​​11,900 square meters. km. The largest of the ice caps, Vatnajökull with an area of ​​8300 square meters. km, located in southeast Iceland. This is also where highest point of the country Hvannadalshnukur (2119), which is the raised edge of the caldera of the Éraivajökull volcano. Other major ice caps are Hofsjökull and Langjökull in the interior of the island, and Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull in the south (covering active volcanoes).

Thanks to the abundance of rainfall, Iceland has many fairly large rivers, but they are not navigable. South of Vatnajökull, the rivers branch into branches that often change their position. This is a serious obstacle to transport. During subglacial volcanic eruptions and when ice dams break on subglacial lakes, huge masses of meltwater cause violent floods on rivers. The largest lakes in Iceland are Thingvallavatn and Thorisvatn.

Climate. Despite its name and the presence of glaciers, Iceland is by no means an Arctic country. The warm waters of the North Atlantic Current (a continuation of the Gulf Stream), a branch of which runs along the southern and western coasts of the island, have a softening effect on its climate. The average annual temperature on the southwest coast in Reykjavik is 4° C, the average January temperature 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 throughout the year. The exception is situations related to take-out polar ice in the north and east. Due to significant climate improvements since the early 1920s, the removal of polar ice to the shores of Iceland occurred only once in 1965. The weather in this country changes dramatically, sometimes within a day, depending on the passage of cyclones in east direction through Atlantic Ocean. Average annual precipitation is 1300–2000 mm on the southern coast, 500–750 mm on the northern coast and over 3800 mm on the south-facing slopes of Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull.

Soils and flora. The soils of Iceland are partly mineral, loess type, partly marshy, enriched with 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 settled 1,100 years ago). The vast interior 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 mainly birch trees, which usually have twisted trunks due to strong winds. IN last years In some places, significant coniferous plantations have been created.

Animal world. The species composition of Iceland's fauna is poor. At the time the country was settled, there was only one species of land mammal - the arctic fox. At the end of the 18th century. reindeer were introduced. In addition, mice, rats and mink were accidentally introduced to the island. Breeds in Iceland approx. 80 species of birds. Mountain lakes and rivers are home to many swans, ducks and geese, and on the sea coast gulls, terns, etc. are common. Trout lives in the lakes, and salmon lives in the rivers. Two species of seals and some species of whales are found in coastal waters. Here are feeding and spawning areas for fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut and shrimp.

POPULATION

Demography. Iceland was settled 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. the majority of the population lived on isolated farms. In the history of the country, sharp declines in the number of inhabitants have repeatedly occurred due to epidemics, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and famine. In the 20th century There was a constant increase in population (by 1.5% per year) and migration of rural residents to cities. Currently, 95% of the population lives in cities and towns, with 40% concentrated in Reykjavik. In the northern part of the country, settlements are concentrated along the coast and in 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%. Birth rate - 14.13 per 1000; mortality rate - 6.95 per 1000; infant mortality is 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 self-employed 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 predominantly of Scandinavian origin, being mainly descendants of the Vikings who settled on the island in the early Middle Ages. Part of the population are descendants of Celts from Ireland and Scotland. The Icelandic language, which is essentially a dialect of Old Norse, has changed little in 1000 years, and modern Icelanders can easily read the ancient texts. Only 6% of the population are people of foreign origin.

Cities. The capital of the country is Reykjavik, the seat of parliament and government, the financial, cultural and business center of Iceland. Other big cities– Kopavogur (30,314 inhabitants), Hafnarfjörður (25,872 thousand), Akureyri (17,563 thousand).

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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, with all citizens of the country, men and women over 18 years of age, who have lived in Iceland for at least 5 years before the election, having the right to vote.

The President and the Government. The head of state is the president, elected for a four-year term by universal direct and secret suffrage. When there is only one candidate for president, there is no voting and the candidate automatically becomes president. The President of Iceland 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 has been Olafur Ragnar Grimsson. Born in 1943, he studied economics and political science in Manchester (UK), and worked as a professor of political science in Iceland from 1973 to 1991. In 1978 he was first elected as a member of parliament from the People's Union, and from 1987–1995 he was chairman of this party. In 1988–1991 he served as Minister of Finance; While holding 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, receiving more than 41% of the vote. In 2000, due to the lack of other candidates, the Icelandic parliament declared him president of the country 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 State Council.

Executive power belongs to the government headed by the Prime Minister. Ministers are responsible to Parliament. Prime Minister of Iceland since 1991 – David Oddson. Born in 1948, studied law and worked as a lawyer. From 1973 to 1975 he was a member of the Board of the youth organization of the Independence Party (IP), from 1974 he was a member of the Reykjavik City Council, and in 1982 he was elected mayor of the capital. Since 1989, Oddson has been deputy chairman, and since 1991, chairman of the People's Party, and in 1991 he was elected to parliament from it.

Parliament. Legislative power according to the constitution belongs to the president and parliament. The Parliament of Iceland, the Althing, is considered the oldest in the world. Elected by universal suffrage for a term of four years. Until 1991, the Althing consisted of two chambers: elected deputies elected 1/3 of their members to the Upper House, the rest formed the Lower House. Since 1991, the Althing has been unicameral. It currently consists of 63 deputies who are elected on the basis of proportional representation across national and local constituencies. The Althing approves the state budget, discusses and adopts laws, amends and amends 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 and has a great influence on foreign, trade and economic policy.

Political parties. The Independence Party (IP) is the country's largest political party. Founded in May 1929 as a result of the unification of the Conservative and Liberal parties. The PN dominates Icelandic political life and has taken part in most Icelandic governments. In the field of economics, the People's Republic has always advocated limiting the role of the state in economic matters and benefits 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, development of research, etc. According to the 2003 election manifesto, the PN seeks to reduce taxes and public debt, increase business 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 the disabled. Calls for increased competition in education and the development of private medicine.

In the area of ​​security, it places emphasis on strengthening the police. In foreign policy the party advocated joining NATO and maintaining American troops on Icelandic territory. She currently advocates strengthening cooperation with NATO and the United States, which she recognizes as the bloc's "leading power." 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 the 63 seats in the Althing. Party leader David Oddson has been Prime Minister since 1991.

The Progressive Party (PP) is centrist, founded in 1916 by the leaders of the cooperative movement and enjoys 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 within its ranks that sought greater foreign policy independence.

Until 1995, it most often acted as an opponent of the PN in the country's political arena. However, since 1995 it has been part of the coalition government as a junior partner of the PN. In the 2003 elections, the party collected 17.7% of the vote and received 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 its 2001 manifesto, the alliance advocates “a society that enables every individual to enjoy the full range of opportunities in life and at the same time learns to provide the same opportunities for others.” Seeks to expand 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 healthcare, education and other social services, to a decent life, regardless of their financial situation. In the foreign policy area, SDA is for turning Iceland into a “window open to the world”, for developing international cooperation and helping less developed countries.

The Left-Green Alliance (LGA) is an association of independent leftists, activists of public service unions, teachers, students, former members of Trotskyist and Maoist groups, participants in the environmental movement, various non-governmental organizations and civil initiatives. Created in the late 1990s. Opposes neoliberal government policies, against privatization and commercialization of social services, in defense 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. Is in opposition. The leader is Steingrimur Sigfusson.

The Liberal Party (LP) was formed in 1998 by former minister Sverrir Hermansson. He defends the free market system and rejects centralization and government intervention in the economy. Calls for the promotion 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 declares his condemnation of the neoliberal policies of the Icelandic government and his intention to continue helping the elderly, sick and disabled, resist the curtailment of medical programs, and invest in the development of education. He advocates maintaining 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 - Gudjon Kristjansson.

Local control. Iceland is divided into 23 districts (suslur) and 14 urban districts (køupstadir). Each of them is governed by a council of representatives from the parishes. Parishes have their own councils. All councils are elected by general vote.

Judicial system. There are 8 district courts in the country and Supreme Court, whose members are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice. In addition, there are special courts for maritime, labor and religious matters.

Armed forces. Iceland does not have its own armed forces, but the US Air Force is stationed on its territory (Keflavik base). The country has a police force and a coast guard.

Foreign policy. Iceland is a member of NATO, Northern Council, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Free Trade Association, the UN 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, its economy was based on fishing and agriculture. After World War II, the importance of fishing and the 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 suffered from the global economic recession, industrial growth was only 0.2%, and GDP fell by 0.6%. In 2003, economic growth resumed, inflation fell from 5% to 2%.

GDP in 2002 amounted to more than 8.4 billion US dollars (30,200 US dollars per capita). The unemployment rate in 2002 was 2.8%.

Agriculture. Cultivated land occupies less than 1% total area countries Only 5% of the amateur population is employed in agriculture. The country has approx. 6 thousand farms, 80% of which belong to private individuals. The main livestock industry is sheep breeding (450 thousand in 1996); Lamb is the main meat food in Iceland and is also an export item, along with wool and sheep skins. There are also significant numbers of cattle (73 thousand) and poultry (350 thousand), goats, pigs, black foxes, minks and ponies are bred.

The farms produce hay and grow potatoes, turnips, cabbage and other vegetables. Greenhouse farming (cucumbers, tomatoes, other vegetables, flowers, bananas, etc.) is being developed on the basis of geothermal sources. The government pays farmers significant subsidies.

Fishing and fish processing. This industry employs 12% of the population and accounts for 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 (at north coast from June to September), etc. Due to the decrease in catches of herring and cod and the reduction in fish resources of the North Atlantic, the importance of capelin and pollock has increased in recent years. The fish catch in 1996 was 2 thousand tons.

Widely used in fishing motor boats with trawls. Cod is processed primarily in Reykjavik; herring is salted and processed into fish oil and fishmeal in Siglúfjörður and other towns on the northern coast.

In 1989, under international pressure and the threat of a boycott of Icelandic goods, Iceland agreed to join a moratorium on whaling. In the mid-1990s, the government approved the resumption of whaling on a limited scale.

Manufacturing industry. Industry began to develop only after the Second World War. Currently, about a third of the population works there. There is virtually no mining industry (apart from small mining of brown coal, pumice and Iceland 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, production of fillets and fresh frozen fish. There are shipyards and ship repair enterprises serving the fishing fleet. They produce ready-made clothes, shoes, metal products, electrical equipment, furniture and building materials. There is a mineral fertilizer factory (near Reykjavik), cement factory(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 depended on the import of petroleum products and food products. This trend has now been reversed. In 2002, the value of exports reached $2.3 billion and imports reached $2.1 billion.

The main export product is fish and fish products (70%). Products are also exported Agriculture, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon. Main partners: Germany (18%), UK (17.5%), Netherlands (11%), USA (11%), Spain (5%), Denmark (5%), Portugal (4%), Norway (4 %).

Machinery and equipment, petroleum products, food products, textiles, etc. are imported into 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 hydroelectric power. 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 municipal and greenhouse farming. Over half of Iceland's energy needs were met by imported oil. Previously, oil came from the USSR, now mainly from Great Britain and Norway. Of the total reserves of technologically accessible resources, only 70% is advisable to exploit for financial reasons. Energy production in 1994 amounted to 5 billion kW, of which hydroelectric power accounted for 95%. At the end of the 20th century. Energy consumption in Iceland has increased by an average of 7% annually. Approximately 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 fishing fleet will remain the main consumer of imported oil.

Transport.

Motor transport. Not in Iceland railways, but there is an extensive network of roads total length 12,955 km. There are regular bus services 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 residents.

Sea transport. The total displacement of merchant ships is 192 thousand tons. There are three large companies operating in the country - Iceland Shipping Company, State Shipping Company and Cooperative Shipping Company. Steamships and motor vessels regularly travel between coastal cities and towns. Sea connections are maintained with the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and Norway.

Air Transport. It is typical for modern Iceland rapid development air traffic. There were two main airlines operating in the country. Flugfelag Islands served domestic flights and connected Iceland with Great Britain, the Scandinavian countries and mainland Europe. Loftleydir operated flights to the USA, Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and Luxembourg. In 1979, the two companies merged to form Flugleydir, or Icelander. There are two international airport– Reykjavik and Keflavik. The latter is used jointly by Iceland and the United States. There are 86 airfields in the country, c. incl. on 13 there are paved paths.

Banking and finance. The currency of Iceland is the krona, equal to 100 eurir. After the Second World War, there was a gradual devaluation of the crown, which was accompanied by a rapid increase in inflation. In 1967, after the devaluation of the British pound sterling, the exchange rate was set at 57 crowns to 1 US dollar. In 1979, the Icelandic krona fell sharply to 352 kroner to the dollar. In the late 1990s, it stabilized at 70 kroner to the dollar.

There are eight large commercial banks in Iceland - National, Central, Fisheries, Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial, Cooperative and People's. Their main offices are in Reykjavik, but there are numerous branches throughout the country. In addition, there are savings banks in all districts.

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, such as postal, telephone and telegraph communications, coastal shipping, as well as a number of monopolies (sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products). In addition to normal government spending, the Icelandic government spends on supporting artists and writers and subsidizing agriculture and various industries. Revenues in 2002 amounted to $3.5 billion, expenses - $3.3 billion. External debt in 1999 amounted to $2.6 billion.

Standard of living. After gaining independence, Iceland's economy strengthened significantly and the standard of living of the population increased. In this regard, Iceland was ahead of other Scandinavian countries and became one of the richest countries in the world. In 2001, the country had 197 thousand telephone lines, the number of mobile phones exceeded 248 thousand. In 2002, more than 220 thousand Icelanders used the Internet.

Housing construction. Modern Icelanders live in solid, spacious houses with well-functioning heating systems, which are considered to be among the best in the world. In ancient times, farm houses and some city houses were built from peat, but there are virtually none left. Until recently, the main building material was wood, but now it is usually stone and concrete. Due to rapid population growth, especially in the Reykjavík area, government housing programs became necessary and many new houses were built in and around the capital.

Healthcare. Iceland pays a lot of attention to healthcare. Indicators of the state's concern for the health of the population are long life expectancy (76 years for men and 81 years for women at the beginning of 1997) and very low infant mortality (about 5.3 per 1000 births). The country is divided into 50 medical districts. There are 25 hospitals that provide medical care, including operational, at the highest level. Tuberculosis was once a real scourge in Iceland, but it has now been practically eradicated. There are two sanatoriums and one superbly equipped rehabilitation center, which were previously intended for tuberculosis patients, and then were repurposed. There is a psychiatric clinic in Reykjavik.

SOCIETY

Structure of society. There are virtually no poor people in the country and class stratification is less pronounced than in many other countries. Increased prosperity was accompanied by increased economic and social security and equality.

Icelanders almost always refer to each other by their first names. Accordingly, all telephone and other directories contain names in alphabetical order. The reason is that very few people in Iceland have surnames. For children, the middle name is given by the father's name, with the ending -son (son) for boys and -dóttir (daughter) for girls. Thus, a father and son can have the same middle name if the father and grandfather had the same name.

Icelanders have a great interest in genealogy. Using sagas and ancient documents, it is possible to trace the ancestry of many inhabitants back 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 Trade Union Association in 1916. Radical parties received great support from trade union members. The Employers' Association was created in 1934.

Cooperative movement. In Iceland, as in other Scandinavian countries, the cooperative movement is highly developed, dating back to 1882. Cooperatives were created in all communities, covering 1/5 of the population. However, due to economic difficulties, the cooperative movement began to decline and essentially disintegrated in the 1990s.

Religion. In Iceland, the dominant Evangelical Lutheran Church is supported by the state. At the same time, freedom of religion is ensured. Iceland constitutes one large diocese, with the bishop's seat in Reykjavík, consisting of approximately 300 parishes.

Social Security. Iceland is a welfare state with extensive social programs. Measures for insurance against illness and disability were adopted at the end of the 19th century, and in 1936 an expanded program of social insurance for illness and accidents, unemployment benefits, child support, elderly people and the disabled was approved. The program applies to all Icelandic citizens.

CULTURE

Iceland has a high level of cultural development due to its long literary tradition, high standard of education and the great interest of the entire population in books and reading.

Public education. The very first schools in Iceland were organized at the residences of bishops in Skálholt and Howlar. From Skálholt the school was transferred to Reykjavik in 1784. In the Middle Ages, monasteries were also involved in educational activities, and in later times, 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 aged 6 to 15 years. Those who graduate from high school are eligible to continue their four-year education at a college or vocational school. The oldest college was established in Reykjavik in 1846.

After graduating from colleges and some schools, you can enter the University of Iceland, founded in 1911. However, even before that, separate faculties existed in Reykjavik - theology (since 1847), medicine (since 1876) and law (since 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 studies, history and philosophy), polytechnic, natural and social sciences. The duration of training in most cases is from 3 to 5 years. New university opened in Akureyri; in addition, there are several small colleges providing education at the university level.

In some fields, Icelandic students have to continue their studies abroad, and the government allocates significant funds for this. The University of Iceland has 5.7 thousand students; another 2.2 thousand complete their education in other countries.

Vocational schools. There are a number of vocational schools in Iceland, for example, pedagogical, commercial, maritime (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, music, and home economics schools. 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 approximately 340 thousand items, in addition to 13 thousand ancient Icelandic manuscripts. The library of the University of Iceland and the Municipal Library in Reykjavik also stand out in terms of collection size. All other cities and towns have public libraries, and rural areas– small libraries and reading rooms. All libraries are usually subsidized by the state.

The science. Iceland has developed research in the humanities - history, linguistics and literary criticism. Among historians of the 19th century. Of note are the statesman Jón Sigurdsson (1811–1879), then Björn M. Olsen (1850–1919) and many others. From literary scholars of the 20th century. Sigurdur Nordahl (1886–1974) and Jón Nelgason (1899–1986) stand out. Natural scientific observations have been carried out for many centuries, but research began to expand widely only in the second half of the 20th century. Björn Gunnlaugsson (1788–1876) compiled the first accurate geodetic maps of Iceland. In the second half of the 19th century. Thorvaldur Thoroddsen (1855–1921) explored and mapped the country's desert interior. The University of Iceland currently employs several outstanding scientists of international recognition.

Literature. Icelanders' vibrant literary tradition dates back to the first centuries after the country's settlement in the early Middle Ages. The initial stage was characterized by the poetry of the skalds; poetic works were composed by Icelandic poets, many of whom were at the courts of the kings of Norway. The Elder (or Song) Edda (1222–1225), a collection of Old Norse mythological and heroic songs, was written at this time. 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 Sæmund Sigfusson, nicknamed the Wise (1056–1133), in particular his Book of the Icelanders, served as a stimulus for the work of the famous Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson (1178–1241), author of the Sagas of the Norwegian Kings. He was also the compiler of the Prose (or Prose) Edda, which was a manual for skalds (i.e. a textbook of poetry) and a treatise on the pagan mythology of the Icelanders.

After 1300 the ballad became the most popular literary genre, and the writing of narrative poems (rímur) continued to the present day. Icelandic literature experienced a long decline and then another rise with the work of the hymn writer Hádlgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674) and the nature poet Eggert Olafsson (1726–1768). In the 19th century she went through romantic and realistic periods. Among the romantics, the poets Bjarni Thorarensen (1786–1841), Jonas Hadlgrímsson (1807–1845) and Matthias Jochumsson (1835–1920) stand out, and among the realists who appeared in the second half of the century, the most famous is Einar H. Kvaran (1850–1938).

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 early century and somewhat earlier. Later came David Stefaunsson (1895–1964) and Thomas Gudmundsson (1901–1983). Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975), one of the most famous modern Icelandic writers, lived for many years in Denmark, and a number of his best novels were written and first published in Danish. Similarly, another prominent writer, Kristman Gudmundsson (1901–1983), lived for a long time in Norway and published a number of his works in Norwegian. Playwright Johan Sigurijousson (1880–1919) wrote his works not only in Icelandic, but also in Danish. One of the greatest Icelandic poets, Stefan G. Stefansson (1853–1927), spent almost his entire life in Canada, but wrote in Icelandic. His poems are considered unsurpassed masterpieces of Icelandic poetry.

From writers of the 20th century. three deserve special mention. Gudmundur G. Hagalin (1898–1985) is a well-known author of novels and stories. Thorbergur Thordarson (1889–1974) was a poet and essayist with a gift for satire. An outstanding place in modern Icelandic literature is occupied by Halldór Kiljan Laxness (1902–1998), author of novels, stories, essays and poems, winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Art. In medieval Iceland, the most common arts were wood carving, silver jewelry, and stone sculptures to decorate churches. Folk art was expressed in wooden carvings, decorative fabrics and silver jewelry.

Painting. The first modern Icelandic artists were Sigurdur Gudmundsson (1833–1874) and Thorarín Thorlauksson (1867–1924). Sigurdur Gudmundsson founded the National Museum in Reykjavik in 1863. The first prominent and widely recognized Icelandic painter was Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876–1958), who was influenced by Impressionism. The best of the expressionist artists is Jón Stefaunsson (1881–1962), and Johannes S. Kjarval (1885–1972) also stands out. Other well-known painters include Gunnløgur Scheving (1904–1972), Thorvaldur Skulason (1906–1984) and Svavar Gudnason (1909–1988).

Sculpture. Einar Jónsson (1874–1954) was the first Icelandic sculptor to achieve international recognition. His works adorn the streets and squares of Reykjavik. The Einar Jonsson Museum has been established, housing a collection of originals and copies of his works. Among the sculptors of the 20th century. Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982) and Sigurjoun Olafsson (1908–1982) are well known. Rikardur Jonsson (1888–1972) became famous for his wood carved sculptures and portraits.

Architecture is a relatively new art form in Iceland. Over the last decades of the 20th century. Many modern structures were created, mainly from reinforced concrete. A significant part of the monumental buildings and churches in the capital and other areas was 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. Subsequently, folk art mainly manifested itself in church choral music. In the 19th century the leading composer was Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson (1847–1927), author of the national anthem. Sigfus Einarsson (1877–1939) was one of the prominent figures in Icelandic musical culture at the beginning of the 20th century. Among later composers, Paul Isolfsson (1897–1974) and especially Jon Leifs (1899–1968) are very famous, who tried to create a special Icelandic national music based on ancient folk melodies. The Reykjavik Orchestra was organized in 1925. Operas appear in the National Theater's repertoire from time to time, and a number of Icelandic opera singers enjoy great success abroad. Icelandic Opera was created in 1980.

Theater. 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 art in Iceland for many years. At the beginning of the 20th century. plays for the Icelandic theater were composed by two talented playwrights - Johan Sigurjonsson and Gudmundur Kamban (1888–1945), the latter's works were translated and staged on theater stages in other Scandinavian countries. Icelandic theater entered a new era of development in 1950 when it opened National Theater in Reykjavik. 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.

Mass media. There are many publishing houses in Iceland, producing 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.

Iceland has only one radio station, in Reykjavik, and three relay stations. There are radios in every home. Television broadcasting began in 1966. In addition to state television, programs are broadcast by a television station at the American military base in Keflavik.

Sport. The traditional sport is national wrestling glíma. Each of the two belted wrestlers holds on to the opponent's belt and seeks to lift and throw down the other, while it is allowed to use intricate trips and other techniques. Swimming has always been popular view sports, a network of swimming pools has been created in the country, where water is supplied from thermal springs. Horse riding competitions are often held. Football is very popular; competitions are regularly held from spring to autumn. Handball and basketball are very popular, and orienteering and tourism have recently developed. In winter, almost the entire population of the country engages in skiing and 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 about 320 thousand people living here, and before the Second World War the population of the country was only 50 thousand.

2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when a couple separates or divorces, they always try to maintain good relations. 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 of their friends and acquaintances in common.

3. Instead of surnames in Iceland there are patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “son” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if this is a daughter) is added to the father’s name, which results, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia 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 after the mother’s name.

5. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, house doors 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 store.

6. In Reykjavik, it is considered normal to go out 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 payments are not accepted here.

8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is harmful to health, so in winter everyone here sniffles, that is, sorry, they suck in the snot.

9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent; even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems.

10. In fact, in Iceland in winter it 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, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets at 16.00. In summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing; in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.

12. The lack of sunlight in winter is compensated to some extent 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, are required to take fish oil, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.
14. Almost all Icelandic residents have profiles on Facebook; 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, he can still be easily found online. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the website www.ja.is, where they indicate their first and last name, telephone number, address and place on the map where their home 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 women like to dye their hair a darker shade.

18. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required; most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, which is also why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik.

19. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay pride parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.

20 . The most popular professions in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter is trying to get an education in a creative profession, and at the same time plays in some rock or folk band.

21. For the reason described above, no one here uses the services of designers, for example, to come up with the design of an apartment or a wedding dress. Residents of Iceland are sure that each of them is their own artist, so they prefer to come up with both the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress themselves.

22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.

23. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, the competition for young performers is taken very seriously here, and during the live broadcast the whole country follows what is happening on TV.

24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland; the last one closed in 2008 during the crisis.

25. The most popular names in Iceland: male - Jon and female - Guvrun. Old mythological names are also still common, such as 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 Dabby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppie, Jon - Nonny, etc.

27. The language of Iceland has remained virtually unchanged over the past 1,000 years, so it contains letters that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read the ancient Viking sagas in the original without any problems.

28. The local population generally loves to read; today, according to some sources, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.

29. The cost of wine in Iceland is often influenced not by the year of its production or quality, but by strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost several times less than a 15-degree babble.

30. Not in Iceland armed forces, their functions are performed to some extent by the coast guard.

31. Police officers in Iceland do not carry weapons and are not issued pistols.

32. Residents of Reykjavik, for the most part, are terrible at parking, and can abandon their car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place are of little help.

33. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources; gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this 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 is water from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely suitable for drinking.

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. Taking a hot thermal bath is a popular evening activity in Reykjavik; the cost of visiting when purchasing a subscription is about 5 euros.

37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a central heating system, which distinguishes the country favorably from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each time you turn on the heater.

38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic legislation allowed residents of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is due to the fact that in the past, Turkish pirates often robbed Icelandic ships and coastal villages.

39. To this day, Icelandic legislation allows residents of the country to kill polar bears for food.

40. Liquorice is very popular in Iceland; it is added to any dish, plus they produce chocolates filled with licorice.

41. A national dish Iceland - hakarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. If you don’t chew it and just swallow it, it’s still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you’ll feel the “magical” 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 underground or in a basement for three months. The creators of The Simpsons mocked the taste of this dish in one of the episodes of the animated series.

42. In Iceland they eat mainly fish, and all dishes are topped with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of the fish may not be recognized.

43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, and Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and they also love Coca-Cola.

44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which makes it difficult to build a house or a road. Before starting construction, local “witches” are consulted to determine whether this or that stone can be moved, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, Icelanders have to perform magical rituals, for example, keeping 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 Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to traditional marriage registration.

46. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus, there are 15 more Santa Clauses in Iceland different types, by and large, they are all elves, in whom the locals believe.

47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a children's play area.

48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted sheep's wool jacket with a characteristic national pattern. You could say this is the same example national costume, which has not disappeared over time.

49. Icelanders are proud to have the oldest intact parliament in the world, called Alþingi, founded in 930.

50. Residents of Iceland are very trusting; when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous place of work, but simply take the newcomer’s word for it.

 

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