Volcano Report

What would be the signs of a Katla eruption? Historical accounts detail a series of earthquakes or tremors which are distinctively felt in the inhabited areas to the west, south and east of the Katla Volcano. These tremors are felt during the last hours before the eruption starts.

Is Katla a threat? Katla is a volcano situated to the east of the glacier Eyjafjallajokull, erupting on average every 40–80 years. Katla last erupted in 1918, and following the recent eruptions it has been closely monitored. Although Katla is expected to erupt sometime in the future, scientists have established that at present there are no signs of a Katla eruption. Although eruptions in Eyjafjallajokull and Katla have often been connected, they are in fact two seperate volcanoes with seperate magma chambers .

What’s Here

Þingvellir

Animals

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Geology of Iceland

Traditions in Iceland

General Information

Iceland is a North Atlantic island, the westernmost country in Europe. It lies about 800 km northwest of Scotland and 970 km west of Norway, and its northern coast is just below the Arctic Circle. From London, Reykjavík is the same distance as Athens.

At 103.000 km2, Iceland is about one-third larger than Scotland or Ireland. The majority of its 280.000 population live in and around the capital, Reykjavík, although the conurbation covers a much larger area than in most European cities with a similar population. The centre of Iceland is ruggedly mountainous and uninhabited.

Iceland is a modern European economy with strong economic foundations in fisheries, natural renewable energy sources and human capital that will allow Iceland to overcome the economic difficulties it is going through, like so many other countries around the world.

Iceland’s population is around 313.000 of which the vast majority or around 2/3 lives in the capital, Reykjavik, and surrounding areas.

Iceland is a republic, has a written constitution and a parliamentary form of government. The president is elected by direct popular vote for a term of four years, with no term limit. Most executive power rests with the Government, which is elected separately from the presidential elections every four years.

Be aware that Icelandic currency is not widely available or accepted outside the country. Be sure to exchange any last kronur at the Cruise Liner Visitor Centre, the central tourist office or a bank before you leave. Changing currency at hotels or private exchanges is not a good idea. Rates are poor and the commissions are high.

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Iceland was the last European country to be settled, mostly by Norsemen in the 9th and 10th centuries. They came mainly from Norway and elsewhere in Scandinavia, and from the Norse settlements in the British Isles, from where a Celtic element was also introduced. The language and culture of Iceland were predominantly Scandinavian from the outset, but there are traces of Celtic influence in some of the ancient poetry, in some personal names and in the apperance of present-day Icelanders.

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Inspired by Iceland

In environmental terms, Iceland is unique. Iceland is a large country (103,000 km2, about the same surface area as Ireland or the State of Virginia), but is sparsely populated, with only 3 persons per km2 living mostly along the coast. The interior of the country contains stunning contrasts. It is largely an arctic desert, punctuated with mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline.

In environmental terms, Iceland is unique. Iceland is a large country (103,000 km2, about the same surface area as Ireland or the State of Virginia), but is sparsely populated, with only 3 persons per km2 living mostly along the coast. The interior of the country contains stunning contrasts. It is largely an arctic desert, punctuated with mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline.

Iceland has very mild, coastal weather. Iceland has a pure, pollution-free environment. Industry is operated almost exclusively with clean hydroelectric and geothermal power.

“Iceland has long been a pipe dream for those traveling on a budget – until last fall, when economic meltdown left the nation with $200,000 worth of debt for every citizen. Take advantage of Iceland’s half-off sale at the Hotel Reykjavik Centrum, within walking distance of the city’s bustling bars and harbor, complete with glass-enclosed ninth century Viking archeological site.” Men’s Journal, October, 2009

Iceland is a European island in the North Atlantic (3 hours’ flight from London, 5–1/2 hours from New York).

The first people believed to have settled in Iceland were Irish monks who came in the eighth century AD. They left, however, upon the arrival of pagan Norsemen, who came in 874 to seek freedom from Norway's oppressive king Harald Fairhair. In 930 the Icelanders founded the Althing, their supreme general assembly - the oldest parliament in the world. Christianity was adopted in the year 1000. In 1262, Iceland became subject to Norwegian control and in 1380 came under Danish control, along with Norway. After the granting of a constitution (1874) and with an improving economy, Iceland, in 1918, finally became an independent sovereign state under a common king with Denmark. The Republic of Iceland was formally declared on June 17, 1944.

Religion:

The official religion of Iceland is Lutheran.

Population

Iceland was settled by a mixed stock of Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British Isles. The ruling class was Nordic, so that both the language and culture of Iceland were purely Scandinavian from the outset, but there are traces of Celtic influence in some of the Eddaic poems, in names and in the appearance of present day Icelanders who have a higher percentage of the dark-haired type than the other Nordic nations.

The early blending of Nordic and Celtic blood may partly account for the fact that the Icelanders, alone of all the Nordic peoples, produced great literature in the Middle Ages. Immigration of foreign elements has been minimal since the first settlement, and there are no Inuits (Eskimos) in Iceland, contrary to common belief.

Around the year 1100 the population, then entirely rural, is estimated to have been about 70-80,000. Three times during the eighteenth century it declined below 40,000 but by the year 1900 it had reached 78,000. In 1925 it had passed the 100,000 mark, in 1967 it reached 200,000 and is now around 285.000. The average life expectancy for men is 74 years and for women 80 years - one of the world's highest averages.

In 1880 there were only three towns in Iceland, where 5% of the population resided. By 1920 about 43% of the population lived in towns and villages with more than 200 inhabitants. By 1984 there were 23 towns and 42 villages where 89.2% of the population lived, while only 10.8% lived in rural districts. In the future it is estimated that most Icelanders will live in the greater Reykjavik area.

Huge Iceland Map

Contrasting forces of ice and fire exist side by side in Iceland. Some 11% of the countrys surface is covered with glaciers and about 30% is lava fields. On average, a volcano erupts every five years, but fortunately only rarely where anyone lives. Vatnajökull glacier, measuring 8,400 km2, is the largest ice cap in Europe, in fact it is larger than all the other glaciers in Europe combined.

Þingvellir (thing-vell-eer)

link up to indexAlþingi, which is the oldest parliament in Europe, was established in 930 AD at Þingvellir (parliamentary plains). It was located next to Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland, but was susequently moved to Reykjavík.

The significance of Þingvellir is the visible rift zones between the North American and European plates on which the two continents are attached. The rift we saw looked like two jagged walls of earth.

Animals

Contrary to what many people think, there are no polar bears in Iceland! The Arctic fox is the only native mammal. Reindeer live in the wild in east Iceland, but were actually imported in to the country in the 18th century. Mink have also adapted to the wild, the descendants of animals which escaped from fur farms in the 1930s.

Mammals

link up to indexIn Iceland there are only seven species of wild mammals: foxes, reindeer, mink, brown rats, black rats, field mice and house mice. Reindeer were introduced from Norway in the 18th century and now live wild in herds in the northeast of the country. The Icelandic horse is special because of how small yet imposing it is. It is also special because of its five gaits. There is an indigenous breed of sheep dog, with much hair and renowned for its good nature. The sheep are a hardy breed that grazes freely in mountain pastures during the summer. The cattle are rather small, with a wide range of colours. About twelve hundred types of insects are found in Iceland, but are seldom seen. About the only ones that might bother humans are bees, hornets and mosquitos, but they are relatively rare. There are no reptiles.

Birds

Iceland is paradise for bird-watchers. About 78 species nest in the country, of which the Eider Duck, the Swan, the rare Falcon, the Ptarmigan, Arctic Tern, Snow Bunting and the imposing Gannet are typical birds of Iceland. But there are few that can match the Puffin in terms of appeal or population size: 5–6 million birds, which is larger than that of any other Icelandic species. The rarest species is the Osprey, whose population numbers only about 100. At the coast there are great colonies of sea birds: Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Cormorants, Gannets, gulls and Puffins in their thousands. Inland there are fifteen species of duck, two species of geese and many waders, such as the Redshank and Whimbrel. The Plover is one of Iceland’s most common birds. The Red-throated and Great Northern Divers are found on the lakes. Iceland is the only country in Europe where the Harlequin Duck and Barrow’s Goldeneye are found. Other species include the Horned Grebe, the Red-Necked Phalarope, Grey Phalarope and the ill-tempered Great Skua.

All counted, 241 kinds of birds are known to have visited Iceland at one time or another. Of these 72 nest regularly, 6 are common passage migrants, about 30 are regular drift migrants or winter visitors, and the rest end up here accidentally. Sea birds, waterfowl, and waders are the most common indigenous birds.

Iceland is one of the major breeding grounds of waterfowls in Europe, and Lake M?vatn is renowned for its abundance of waterfowl. There are no fewer than 16 species of ducks known to nest in Iceland, including two American species; Barrow's goldeneye and the harlequin duck. The geese are represented by two nesting species and three passage migrants. Iceland is one of few places where the whooper swan is still a common breeding bird. It is most numerous on lakes lying on the borders of the central highlands.

On the towering bird cliffs along the coast of Iceland, the most important sea birds are the common guillemot, Brunnich's guillemot, the razorbill, the puffin, the kittiwake, the fulmar, and the gannet.

The Icelandic Dog

The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland’s only native dog, and one of the world’s oldest dogbreeds. It’s forefathers were brought over to Iceland (mostly from Norway, Finnmark, Norbotten and other parts of northern Scandinavia) by the original viking settlers who first arrived in the year 874 A.D. They soon became common all over the country, evolving seperately from other breeds of dogs on this isolated island (in a similar way as the Icelandic horse, cow and sheep). The Icelandic Dog is a rare breed, with only about 3.300 registered dogs around the world.

The Icelandic Horse

The Icelandic horse is a special breed of horse that has been exported worldwide and is bred in many countries. It is small but powerfully built with a long, thick tail. It can tolerate all kinds of weather. An Icelandic horse can stay outdoors even in severe winters. Hair growth varies with the season, the coat being long and shaggy in winter but short in summer. The Icelandic horse is tough, strong, and equipped with an instinctive ability to find its bearings and negotiate the often rugged terrain of Iceland. A distinctive feature of the Icelandic horse is that it has five different kinds of gaits, when most breeds of horses have just three. Depending on the nature of the terrain, it can walk, trot, canter, pace and tölt, a typically Icelandic gait which is extremely comfortable for the rider; the footfalls are those for walking, but the speed is roughly the same as trotting. Icelander consider tölt to be the major pride of the Icelandic horse. It is the only breed that can do all five gaits:

link up to indexArcheological finds in Norway, where the Icelandic horse is decended from, in graves from the Viking Age, show that the Icelandic horse belongs to an ancient race. It died out in other parts in Europe but survived in Iceland for 1,100 years without crossbreeding. It has gradually developed into several strains. The most important of these are the Svadastaðir strain and the Hornafjörður strain. Horses from Svadastaðir are considered to have a more attractive gait and to be more dainty and frisky; those from Hornafjörður are larger, and have greater endurance and courage.

The Icelandic horse is thus a thoroughbred that has evolved through the centuries without any interference to take on the characteristics that it now possesses. The breed is marked by beauty and well-proportioned limbs, great sturdiness and endurance, adaptability and, last but not least, a variety of walks. The breed is known especially for tolt, a slow trot in which the horse only touches one hoof on the ground at a time. The slow trot is particularly comfortable for the rider. Though the Icelandic horse is a rather small one specialists do not consider it a pony - its average height to the shoulder being 138 cm.

One of the characteristics of the Icelandic horse is the great variety in colouring. The breed is not linked to any particular colours - attested to by the fact that the Icelandic language has hundreds of words to describe the colour of a horse. Only one farm is dedicated to breeding horses of a specific colour: Kirkjubaer in southern-Iceland, where all the horses are a hue of red.

It is thought that in Iceland there are now some 70-75 thousand horses. Most farmers still keep horses and some breed horses exclusively, often keeping hundreds at a time. Most horse farms breed horses for riding, though there is a great deal of meat produced as well. Horse meat is eaten in Iceland and much is exported to Belgium and other European countries. Japan also imports a considerable amount of Icelandic horse meat each year. Furthermore, some farmers have recently based their income on the sale of blood drained from fillies. The blood is used in the production of hormone-based drugs.

Species of fresh water fish

link up to indexFive species of fish living partly or wholly in fresh water are native to Iceland: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Brown trout and char each have two forms, one group of which, the brown trout and char, live out their life span in fresh water, while the other, the sea trout and sea char, migrate to the sea to feed.

Salt water fish

The sea around Iceland is relatively shallow and currents from different sources meet there, which makes it a good environment for fishing. There are about three hundred indigenous species of fish off the shores of Iceland, and many more that come there by chance. Of these, there are about twenty species (not including lobster and shrimp) that form the bulk of the catches that are the basis of the country’s economy. It is interesting to note that 19 species of shark and 15 species of skate inhabit the seas around Iceland. Buried shark is a national speciality. It has a very strong smell and the flavour is probably not to everyone’s taste but shark liver oil is rich in vitamins and Omega 3. Monkfish, dab, plaice and halibut are expensive gourmet fish.

Salmon

Salmon is not caught in Icelandic marine waters but only in rivers, and almost exclusively by anglers. On the other hand, salmon are farmed in sea pens and on fish farms – with hundreds of tons put on the market each year.

Sea mammals

Sea mammals are common off the shores of Iceland. There are thousands Grey Seals, 40 – 50 thousand Common or Harbour Seals and at least 15 species of whale. Life on the seabed off Iceland is diverse and colorful. The sea is usually crystal clear. Probably the most unusual life forms are found at sites where submarine geothermal activity occurs. Hot water and various substances spout from cracks in the rock or from tube-like formations, and feed organisms that can survive in temperatures of up to 130°C and do not need oxygen.

Links

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Try the SeaBaron on the harbour for the best lobster soup in the world, and Laekjarbrekka for your more expensive meal. Try Icelandic lobster. Try it a lot … you probably have not tasted lobster like this outside of Iceland, and it is awesome.

From September to April, the Northern Lights become more visible. These dancing lights are a one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. From the clear, dark northern skies of Iceland, nothing will impede you from nature’s greatest dance.

Geology of Iceland

link up to indexIceland lies astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is an integral part of the global mid-oceanic ridge system. It is the largest supramarine part of the mid-oceanic ridge system. Iceland has developed on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge as a landmass between the submarine Reykjanes Ridge to the southwest and the Kolbeinsey Ridge to the north, and has been active during the last 20–25 million years, broadly coinciding with the time-span of active volcanism in Iceland.

Being a hot spot above a mantle plume, Iceland has been piled up through voluminous emissions of volcanic material with a much higher production rate per time unit than in any region in the world. It has grown by rifting and crust accretion through volcanism along the axial rift zone, the volcanic zones, which in terms of the plate tectonic framework marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates. Accordingly the western part of Iceland, west of the volcanic zones, belongs to the North American plate and the eastern part to the Eurasian plate, with the oldest rocks outcropping in northwest and in eastern Iceland. To complicate the picture there are also rocks of similar age in Western Iceland and in the centre of northern Iceland, due to movements of the hot spot and the volcanic zones. The rate of spreading is calculated as 1 cm in each direction per year.

Volcanoes

Iceland sits astride the middle of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is an integral part of the global mid-oceanic ridge system. This ridge is a 10,000-mile crack in the ocean floor caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge has made Iceland into a landmass between the submarine Reykjanes Ridge to the southwest and the Kolbeinsey Ridge to the north, and has been active during the last 20–25 million years, broadly coinciding with the time-span of active volcanism in Iceland.

Accordingly, the western part of Iceland, to the west of the volcanic zones, belongs to the North American plate and the eastern part to the Eurasian plate. Where plates meet, they can rub against each other as they slide in opposite directions; they can collide head-on in a stalemate, pushing each other up or down like two fighting rams; or one might win out and push the other one beneath it. Sometimes, they only move away from each other, releasing pressure and exposing the lava sea between them. This allows the lava to stream to the surface, where it cools down and forms new land. When this happens, the area of separation is called a “constructive junction,” and this is precisely what is happening in Iceland.

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic countries in the world. There are about 200 post-glacial volcanoes, at least 30 of which have erupted since the country was settled in the 9th century A.D. On average there is an eruption every fifth year. Nearly every type of volcanic activity found in the world is represented in Iceland, the most common being fissure eruptions. One of these, the 30 km-long row of craters, Lakag?gar, with about 100 separate craters, erupted in 1783. The lava flow from this eruption is the largest recorded in the world, covering 565 square km. The gases and ash from this eruption poisoned the grasslands, causing tremendous havoc to the countryside. The resulting damage to the farmland brought widespread famine to Iceland resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands through starvation.

The volcano Katla, hidden beneath the ice of the M?rdalsj?kull, has erupted at least 13 times since the settlement of Iceland, last in 1918. The eruptions of sub-glacial volcanoes cause massive floods which in the case of Katla, may exceed the Amazon river in volume of water. Askja in the northeastern highlands last erupted in 1961, but its eruption in 1875 was the last to cause great damage in the country. This earlier eruption formed ?skjuvatn (Lake Askja), the deepest lake in Iceland (220 m deep).

Geology and Geological History

Iceland is built almost exclusively of volcanic rocks, predominantly basalts. Silicic and intermediate rocks – rhyolites, dacites and andesites – constitute about 10% and sediments another 10% of it.

Glaciers

Among the most distinctive features of Iceland are its glaciers, which cover over 11,600 km2 (4,500 square miles) or 11.5% of the total area of the country. During the past decades, however, they have markedly thinned and retreated owing to a milder climate, and some of the smaller ones have all but vanished.

Glaciers in Iceland cover an area of 11,600 km2, 11,5% of the total area of the country. Nearly all types of glaciers, from small cirque glaciers to extensive plateau ice-caps, are represented. The largest of these ice-caps, Vatnajökull, 8,300 km2, is equal in area to all the glaciers on the European continent together, its maximum thickness reaching 1,000 m. One of its southern outlets, Breiðamerkurjökull, reaches more than 160 m beneath sea level. Other large ice-caps are Langjökull (950 km2) and Hofsjökull (923 sq. km) in the Central Highlands, Myrdalsjökull (700 km2) in the south and Drangajökull (160 km2) in the northwest. The altitude of the glaciation limit is lowest, about 600 m, in the northwest, and highest, over 1,700 m, in the highlands north of Vatnajökull. On the southern side of Vatnajökull, it ranges about 1,100 m. Since about 1890, and particularly since 1920, the glaciers have greatly thinned and retreated; some of the smaller ones have almost disappeared. During the 1960s the retreat began to slow down, and some of the glaciers are now advancing again.

By far the largest of the glacier caps is Vatnajökull in south-east Iceland with an area of 8,400 km2 (3,240 square miles), equal in size to all the glaciers on the European mainland put together. It feeds the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier which descends to sea level.

Among the most distinctive features of Iceland are its glaciers, which cover about 11,260 square km (4328 sq. miles) or 10,9 % of the total area of the country. Almost all types of glaciers are found in Iceland, ranging from the small cirque glaciers to extensive glacier caps reminding one of the inland ice of Greenland. The latter are drained by broad lobe-shaped outlets or by valley glaciers of the alpine type. By far the largest of the glacier caps is Vatnaj?kull in Southeast Iceland with an area of 8,300 square km, equal in size to all the glaciers on the European mainland put together. It reaches a thickness of 1,000 m. One of its southern outlets, Brei?amerkurj?kull, descends to sea level.

Hot Springs – Geothermal Heat

Iceland is richer in hot springs and high-temperature activity than any other country in the world. High-temperature activity is limited certain fields. They are characterized by steam vents, mud pools, and precipitation of sulfur.

High-temperature Areas

The main high-temperature areas are the Torfajökull glacier east of Hekla and the Grímsvötn lakes in the Vatnajökull glacier. Next in order of size are Hengill (near Reykjavik), which is now being exploited to provide hot water for space heating in the capital, the Kerlingarfjöll mountains, Námafjall, the Kverkfjöll mountains and the Krísuvík area. The total power output of the Torfajökull glacier area, which is the largest, is estimated to be equivalent to 1,500 megawatts. Some of the high-temperature areas have workable sulfur deposits.

Hot Springs

Hot springs are found all over Iceland, but they are rare in the eastern basalt area. There are about 250 low-temperature geothermal areas with a total of about 800 hot springs. The average temperature of their water is 75° Celsius (167° F). The largest hot spring in Iceland, Deildartunguhver, has a flow of 150 liters (40 gallons) of boiling water per second. Some of the hot springs are spouting springs or geysers, the most famous being Geysir in Haukadalur in south Iceland, from which the international word geyser is derived. It ejects a water column to a height of about 180 feet, but has had limited activity in recent years, although after a long period of dormancy it began spouting again following earthquakes in the vicinity in summer of 2000. Another renowned geyser in the same field as Geysir is Strokkur, which spouts every few minutes. Springs charged with carbon dioxide are to be found in some districts, mainly in Snaefellsnes, but have not yet been utilized. Since the last Hekla eruption, springs rising from under the new lava have also been found to be charged with carbon dioxide.

Rivers

Because of the heavy rainfall, Icelandic has plenty of rivers and they are relatively large. Þjórsá, the longest, has a length of 237 km and an average discharge of 380 m3/s, while Ölfusáá has the greatest flow rate at 440 m3/s. The second-longest river, Jökulsá á Fjöllum, is 206 km in length. Other big rivers include Skjálfandafljót, Jökulsá á Brú, Lagarfljót, Skeiðará and Kuðafljót.

The rivers consist mainly of three types. The debris-laden glacial rivers (jökulár) usually divide into a great number of interlinked tributaries that constantly change course and pendulate over the outwash plains (sandur) which lie in front of the glaciers. Skeiðará is a typical example. The maximum discharge in the glacial rivers usually occurs in July or early August. Direct run-off rivers (dragár) drain the old basalt areas and have their maximum discharge in summer and autumn, while spring-fed rivers (lindár), which drain the regions covered by Postglacial lava fields and young Pleistocene rocks, normally have a very constant discharge and temperature. The swift current of the rivers and their tendency to spread out over the lowlands make Icelandic rivers for the most part unnavigable.

Clear-water rivers are of two kinds. One drains the old basalt areas and has a variable discharge with maximum flow in late spring. The other kind drains regions covered with post-glacial lava and usually has small variations in discharge, which makes them ideally suited for hydro-electric power production.

A wealth of waterfalls is typical of the young landscape: the largest in terms of volume, Dettifoss (44 m), is in Jökulsá á Fjöllum. Other well-known waterfalls are Gullfoss (32 m) in Hvítá, Goðafoss in Skjálfandafljót, and Skógafoss (60 m).

Lakes

Iceland possesses numerous lakes. Some of them are chiefly of tectonic origin, e.g. the two biggest, Þingvallavatn (84 km2M, 114 m deep) and Þórisvatn (70 km2 when not dammed). Others have resulted from the deepening of valleys by glacial erosion (Lögurinn, Skorradalsvatn) or damming by lava flows (Mývatn), glacial deposits and rockslides. Small crater lakes are common in explosion craters, especially in the Landmannalaugar-Veiðivötn area. The Lake öskjuvatn caldera is the deepest in Iceland (217 m deep, 11 km2). Lakes dammed by ice constitute a special category (Grænalón in Skeiðarárjökull). These lakes are occasionally emptied beneath the damming ice and cause jökulhlaups. On the sandy shores lagoon lakes prove common, the biggest being Hóp (30 km2).

Rainfall in Iceland is nearly 2,000 millimetres per annum on average (2 metres). Much of this water is kept in lakes or glaciers. Some of it filters down through the earth to become ground water and some flows directly to the sea. There are many clear rivers in Iceland, mostly with their sources in springs. They are usually found in areas where the lava is young. There are also rivers that channel rainwater directly to the sea. They are found in areas where the bedrock is old and impermeable.

Jökulsárlón (The Jökulsár Lagoon)

Breiðamerkurjökull glacier retreated very quickly from 1920 to 1965 leaving this breathtaking lagoon, which is up to 190 meters deep. Icebergs float in the lagoon all year and you can watch as chucks of ice crash into the lagoon.

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

The Northern Lights ("Aurora Borealis") stem from when large numbers of electrons stream in towards the Earth along its magnetic field and collide with air particles. The air then lights up rather like what happens in a fluorescent light tube. The resulting colors of the Northern Lights reflect gases we find up there. The charged particles originate from the sun, and the weather conditions on the sun decide whether or not we will see the aurora.

Norway and Iceland are famous for having "the best seats" for viewing the Aurora Borealis. We associate the Aurora Borealis with dark winter nights, although this natural phenomenon happens all the time (it's just harder to see in lighter conditions). Best are September through April. The aurora can be viewed best during early evening and at night when it's not overcast.

Aurora Borealis forms at around 60 miles high (around 100 km) which makes the lights visible hundreds of kilometers away. The cause for this phenomenon is electrons hitting air particles, causing them to light up.

Traditions in Iceland

Names and Greetings

link up to indexEveryone, both friends and strangers, uses first names and the Icelandic telephone book lists people by their first names. People sometimes greet with a kiss on the cheek. Only two people in Iceland are addressed formally: the President of Iceland and the Bishop of Iceland.

Most Icelanders (especially those from their teenage years through their fifties) speak fluent English. In fact, they welcome the opportunity – so never be shy about approaching an Icelander.

Icelandic Names

Most Icelanders follow the ancient tradition of deriving their last name from the first name of their father (patronymic system). If a man is called Leifur Eiriksson, his proper or given name is Leifur, and his patronymic is Eiriksson (the son of a man named Eirikur). A woman called Margret Jonsdottir has the proper name Margret and her patronymic is Jonsdottir, i.e., the daughter of Jon. Women do not change their name after marriage. In a family of four, a couple with a boy and a girl, all four will therefore usually have different last names. A small percentage of the population uses family names, but new family names cannot legally be adopted.

Icelanders address each other by their first name. The last name (patronymic) is never used alone. Icelanders say for example, “the President of Iceland, ólafur Ragnar Grímsson,” but never “President Grímsson.”

Will my mobile phone work in Iceland?

Most European cell phones work on Iceland’s GSM network; North American ones use a different standard. But you can rent cell phones in Iceland. iceland now has the highest rate of cell phones use in the world. Mobiles work in towns and on virtually all main travel routes.

Visiting

It is more common in Iceland than in many places abroad to invite guests to one´s home instead of to a restaurant. Many Icelanders customarily remove their shoes in the hallway before entering a home.

Dress and Seating

Dress is usually casual except at formal affairs, in which case the invitation specifies formal dress. Formal occasions end around 23:30, but this can vary. At formal affairs, guests are seated according to international customs. The place of honor is beside the hostess on her right, if it is a man. If the guest of honor is a woman, she is seated on the right of the host.

Gifts

A common courtesy when invited for the first time to an Icelandic home is to bring along a bouquet of flowers or some other small gift, or send flowers the day after with a card. If invited to a birthday party, it is customary to bring a gift. Gifts are brought to wedding parties, and at christenings a gift is given to the child.

Tipping

As a rule, there is no tipping in Iceland (including taxi, hotel and restaurant services). Some exceptions are made, such as for fishing guides.

Dining

Cuisine in the larger hotels and restaurants is similar to European cooking. Raw materials are excellent. There are many species of freshwater and saltwater fish. The most common meats are lamb, pork, beef, poultry and game birds such as ptarmigan, goose and sea birds. Considerable quantities of vegetables are raised in greenhouses warmed with geothermally-heated water. There are a number of traditional Icelandic foods, smoked lamb, singed sheeps heads and meat soup with vegetables. Dried-fish or cured shark meat are sometimes served as appetizers. Skyr (similar to yogurt) with sugar, cream and sometimes blueberries is a popular dessert. Beer and soft drinks are produced in Iceland, but wine is mostly imported.

General Information

Bird-watching

link up to indexSome places in Iceland are a paradise for bird-watchers. Látrabjarg in the West Fjords is the largest birdcliff known in the world. A great variety of cliff-nesting species can be found there, including the largest razorbill colony in the world. The Westman Islands are known for many kinds of seabirds, and are home to Iceland’s largest puffin population. Lake Mývatn in the north has more species of breeding ducks than any other place in Europe. The Great Skua colony on the sands in south Iceland is the largest in the world. Seabirds such as puffins can be seen in many places, as well as eiders, Arctic terns, waders and passerine birds. Some tour operators organize tours for bird-watchers in early summer.

Currency

The Icelandic monetary unit is the “krona” (ISK) Coins are in denominations of 100 kr., 50 kr., 10kr., 5 kr. and 1 kr. Bank notes are in denominations of 5,000 kr., 2,000 kr.,1,000 kr., and 500 kr. All Icelandic banks provide foreign exchange and are generally open on weekdays from 09:15 to 16:00. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency which may be brought into Iceland.

Cash and Credit

Travellers’ cheques are widely accepted in Iceland. Most stores accept debit cards. Cash can be obtained against these cards in all banks and ATMs. All major credit cards are widely used in Iceland and accepted by most establishments, including hotels, restaurants, car rentals and shops.

Shopping

Shopping hours are Monday to Friday 9 am - 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to between 2 and 5 pm (depending on the shop). The Kringlan shopping center is open Monday through Thursday 10 am - 6:30 pm, Friday 10 am - 7 pm, Saturday 10 am - 4 pm and Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm.
Some shops stay close Saturdays in summer although many supermarkets remain open until 11 pm, seven days a week. Banking hours are Mon–Fri 09:15–16:00. Office hours are generally 09:00–17:00 but some offices change to 08:00–16:00 during the summer.

Laugavegur is the shopping street in the downtown area. In this popular shopping area of Reykjavik visitors find a large number of shops and craft studios, but it's not exactly the cheapest area to go shopping in Reykjavik. Instead, Skólavödustígur (the street leading from Laugavegur to the Hallgrímskirkj church) has turned into a very hot shopping area. Several shops can be found selling outdoor wear and equipment, such as Skátabúdin at Snorrabraut 60.

The Kringlan shopping mall in the new city center of Reykjavik, is a shopping hub of social activity. Get some souvenirs from Íslandia, the popular store with Icelandic souvenirs. Fur apparel is found at Eggert at Skólavördustígur 38. The famous lopapeysa (Icelandic jumper) are also great to bring home - they can be bought in every bigger store in Reykjavik.

You can save up to 20% while shopping anywhere in Reykjavik by using the Iceland Travel Discount Card.

VAT Refunds for Iceland Visitors

VAT (Value Added Tax) on most goods in Iceland is 25.5% (books are 14%). A VAT refund when you leave allows you to recover taxes you originally paid when shopping. To qualify, a minimum purchase of IKr 4,000 (includes VAT) must be made in a store displaying a "Tax Free" shopping or "Global Refund Tax" sign or flag, and you must ask for a refund check when paying. For refunds of over IKr 5,000, the goods will have to be shown at the airport to get the refund.

The Voyager Card

A travel discount card that pays for itself quickly - up to 20% off restaurants, sights, hotels, car rentals, clothing, music, books in Iceland. Price of the Norden Voyager Card: EUR 12 for the winter season, EUR 16 for the summer season!

I like the idea of travel discount cards very much, as long as the cards aren't too expensive to be worth buying one. This card for Iceland is actually very cheap (e.g. just EUR 16 in summer) and when I used it, paid for itself within one afternoon of sightseeing in Reykjavik. There are lots of discounts and related benefits for travelers that come with this card. The Voyager Card adds new membership benefits on a regular basis. Well, well...who knew that Iceland was full of discounts? If you use this card, just make sure to show it whenever you can for maximum savings - it's good for traveler discounts at restaurants, shops in Reykjavik, car rentals, accommodation, beauty salons, book and music purchases, and lots of other places in Iceland.

Mobile telephones

GSM: There are three GSM operators in Iceland: Iceland Telecom, Islandssimi and TAL. Together they cover most of Iceland including all towns and villages with over 200inhabitants. These three telephone companies all sell pre-paid GSM phone cards and offer GSM/GPRS services. Pre-paid cards are available at petrol stations around the country. GSM phones may be rented from Iceland Telecom, ármúli 27, Reykjavík.
NMT: Iceland Telecom’s NMT long-range mobile service covers most of Iceland, including theinterior highlands, and is suitable for those who travel much in rural areas. NMTtelephones can be rented from Iceland Telecom, ármúli 27, Reykjavík.

Time

Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) throughout the year, and does not go on daylight saving time. When it is noon in Reykjavík during the summer, the time is 08:00 in New York City, 13:00 in London, 14:00 in Copenhagen, Paris and Rome and 21:00 in Tokyo.

Water

Water is safe to drink throughout Iceland and is very good quality.

Language

Icelandic is a Germanic language of the Nordic group. It has changed little from the original tongue spoken by the Norse settlers in the 9th Century. English and Danish are widely spoken and understood. German and French are taught in grammar school and other upper secondary level schools, so many can speak these languages. Icelandic has two distinctive letters: Þ/þ pronounced like th in “thing” and Ð/ð pronounced like th in “them.” Other non-English letters are the following: á, É, Í, ó, ú, Ý, æ, ö.

The Icelandic alphabet

An entire page on the impossible Icelandic language, with helpful traveler’s phrases.

As in so many other countries, Latin script followed in the wake of the adoption of Christianity in Iceland. This took place in the year 1000 AD, by an act of Althingi. (Although the oldest Icelandic manuscripts preserved are from the second half of the 12th century, it is likely that the first attempts at adapting the Latin script to the Icelandic language were begun not long after the conversion). Today, the alphabet of the Icelandic language is the same as that of English, with the following exceptions:

Wine and spirits

Apart from most hotels, restaurants and bars, alcohol is sold in state liquor stores throughout Iceland. It is not available in supermarkets.

Tipping

Service and VAT (value-added tax) are invariably included in prices in Iceland.

Public transportation

link up to indexThere is an efficient bus system in Reykjavík that operates from 07:00-24:00 on weekdays (10:00-24:00 on weekends). Bus stops are marked SVR. Tickets may be purchased from the driver or from the main terminal at Hlemmur. There is no train system.

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