Icelandic Ramblings

For the last, um, almost 2 weeks I have been researching Iceland for a research paper that is due tomorrow. My paper is done (let us pray that the teachers like it!!) but I wanted to share some interesting facts that I learned. So here we go, enjoy:

• Iceland is the western most European country, 650 miles west of Norway, 200 miles east of Greenland and 1100 miles northeast of the UK.
• Iceland was settled by people from Norway, Scotland, Ireland and England during the late 9th and early 10th centuries.
• The official name of Iceland in Icelandic is Lydveldid Island (Republic of Iceland)
• Iceland boasts the worlds oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930.
• Iceland was an independent country until 1262, when Norway gained control. Denmark ruled Iceland from 1380 on. Iceland did not gain her independence until 1944.
• Reykjavik is the capital and largest city. Folklore warns that if Reykjavik and its two neighbors ever physically joined, an earthquake would follow. Icelanders take their folklore seriously and will likely preserve the physical distinction between the towns.
• Iceland is slightly smaller than the state of Kentucky.
• Iceland is sometimes called the Land of Fire and Ice because of the close relation of glaciers, hot springs, geysers and volcanoes.
• Another name for Iceland is the Land of the Midnight Sun because it is light for almost 24 hours at a time in June and dark for that same time in December.
• Fishing is the main industry in Iceland
• Most goods, cars, appliances, grain, have to be imported, and because of this the cost of living is high.
• Iceland was named by an early explorer who was mad at seeing coastal waters choked by ice after a long and cold winter.
• Most Icelanders live in coastal towns and make their living from the sea.
• Almost all Icelandic exports are fish or fish products.
• Iceland is a republic, the people elect the president and Althing members.
• Most Icelanders speck Icelandic, although there is no official language.
• Icelanders use a patronymic or matronymic naming system by law, which means adding -son or -dottir to your fathers, or occasionally your mothers, last name. So if your father's name was John then you would be Liam Johnson or Leah Johndottir.
• Women do not change their last name when they get married.
• Because so many people have the same names, telephone books also list a person's occupation to help you find who you are looking for.
• Icelanders eat more lamb and fish than any other people. Hot dogs are even made of lamb meat.
• Iceland's education system is different than America's, but I won't go into all the details right now.
• There is very little land that can be used for growing crops in Iceland. 0.07% to be exact.
• Icelanders enjoy many outdoor activities. Snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, white river rafting, dog sledding, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, just to name a few.

Well, there you go, some random facts about Iceland and her people. I hope you enjoyed reading and learned something that you did not know before.

'becca