Iceland changed Iceland changed into at first protected in forests as far as the attention could see according to widely wide-spread history, a seafarer named Garðarr Svávarsson sailed around the complete island in the later ninth century and proclaimed that it becomes “wooded … Oct 3, 2019 - Spread the love Saturday, June 29, 20191. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about Iceland's geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Iceland was first inhabited in the late 9th and 10th centuries. The Alþingi (Icelandic for “assembly” but also meaning “parliament”) ran until 1800. One of Iceland’s most active volcanoes, its eruption was much more powerful than that of Eyjafjallaökull, with a 12 mile (20 km) ash and lava spray. The 74-year beer ban remained in place until March 1, 1989, a date now celebrated annually as Beer Day. The result of this drilling was very promising and proved among other things, that this was a ‘high temper… The earliest inhabitants of Iceland were Irish hermits, who left the island upon the arrival of the pagan Norse people in the late 9th century. Fun Facts Before Ellis Island was … Continue reading Ellis Island → Icelandic history Iceland was founded during the Viking Age of exploration and settled by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British Isles. As Iceland celebrates the 70th anniversary of its independence, explore 10 surprising facts about the island nation. Museums showing the history and lifestyle of the Icelandic farming/fishing society take on a more personal feel as they are usually private collections of people in the area. Additionally you’ll find some facts on the History of the Vikings in Europe during the Middle Ages and their settlement in Iceland.. Further there is a Historic overview on the vikings and some facts and photos of the Viking Festival in Hafnafjörður. It is the youngest country in the world in terms of land form. This fact makes Iceland a fairly “young” country when it comes to settlement, and … In the spring of 2010, a hot topic was Eyjafjallajökull and Katla. People from Norway, Denmark and Sweden were the first to settle in Iceland from as early as 870. 5. Grímsvötn is Iceland's most frequently active volcano, probably because it is located on the center of the active NE rift zone of Iceland. 74. It was Easter Sunday! Reykjavik has a population of 120,165 people (2008 estimate) and its metropolitan area or the Greater Reykjavik area has a population of 201,847 people. 19. Iceland was first inhabited in the late 9th and 10th centuries. 1. The timescales mean that Iceland is considered young compared to other islands and landmasses around the world. But, artifacts found on the island show evidence of … Iceland is ranked in the top three countries for women to live in. Dettifoss Waterfall is the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The Norse were the main migrants to move to the island, and in 930 CE, Iceland's governing body created a constitution and an assembly. For eight months in 1783 and 1784, the catastrophic Laki eruption spewed forth 30 billion tons of lava and hundreds of millions of tons of ash and sulfuric acid. The Age of Settlement The earliest sources on Icelandic history are the Íslendingabók (“Book of the Icelanders”, c. 12th century CE) and the Landnámabók (“Book … Iceland was one of the first countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriages. 7. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Iceland Facts for Kids. 33. Volcanically active, much of the land is covered by sand and lava fields, mountain and glaciers. It has flat surface. Iceland Facts for Kids. Following World War II, Marshall Plan assistance and industrialization of the fisheries brought prosperity to Iceland. In 1783, the volcanoes called Laki erupted, this was one of the greatest eruption in Iceland's history. 23. Located on this Mid-Atlantic Ridge running through its center, Iceland is divided in half by volcanoes and has the most active volcano area in the world with a volcano erupting, on average, every five years. 37. Iceland has many geysers. Iceland's Viking heritage and fascinating history. where to go in iceland, tours, travels, holidays, what to do, trips, travel, guide, attractions, vacation, sightseeing, activities, destination Iceland suffered badly in the world financial crisis that began in 2008 and unemployment rose to over 9%. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is the northernmost national capital in the world. Iceland History . Equality between sexes is high and income inequality is among the lowest in the world. ), beer was banned in the country. Be sure to include some novels written by Halldór Kiljan Laxness, one of the country’s most noted … Here we are listing 10 Facts about Iceland that you don’t know, Facts about Iceland. It is actually larger than all the other glaciers in Europe combined. Some historians believe that Columbus visited Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula on a trading mission in 1477 and there learned of Viking explorations of the New World. 16. The assembly was called the Althingi. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. 26. Volcanic activity is unpredictable and uncontrollable man. Iceland changed into at first protected in forests as far as the attention could see according to widely wide-spread history, a seafarer named Garðarr Svávarsson sailed around the complete island in the later ninth century and proclaimed that it becomes “wooded from the mountains all the way down to the ocean.”Currently, about 2% of Iceland is forested. With just over 320,000 people, Iceland is one of the least-populated countries in the world. The tradition of reading in Iceland dates back to the 13 th century and with one out of ten Icelanders publishing a book in their lifetime, it is clear Iceland is a very literary-focused country! Iceland’s sweeping spectrum of superlative nature comes to a dramatic climax in the Westfjords – the island’s off-the-beaten-path adventure par excellence. 18. Iceland’s deep literary tradition dates back to its legendary medieval sagas, which told the stories of the country’s original Norse settlers, and the BBC reports that 1 out of every 10 Icelanders will publish a book during their lifetimes. The country has a very small population of 270,000. There are a however some things raise the eyebrows of tourists travelling in Iceland. Icelanders joke that they should be Greenland and Greenland should be Iceland. Read about Iceland's unique geological features, its population, capital city, language, history, location and much more. Under the thick ice of Vatnajökull the Grimsvötn volcano erupted in May of 2001. In spite of its frigid-sounding moniker, Iceland is situated south of the Arctic Circle with the exception of the island of Grimsey off its northern coast, a place so remote that birds outnumber people by 1,000 to 1. The world’s first democratically directly elected female president was an Icelander. However, given the small population and relative isolation from the rest of the world, people are often unaware of some of the basic facts about Iceland that everybody should know. Most of the volcano is hidden beneath the giant glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. The colors are symbolic for three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and glaciers, and blue is for the skies above. © 2020 TheFactFile.Org. Iceland is the 18th largest island in the world and Europe’s second largest island after Great Britain. 1. Having spent five days on the heart-stoppingly beautiful island, we can answer with a resounding yes. Iceland is a country of many wonders. In 874 Viking explorers from Norway & the British Isles settled on the island. Twitter Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Email. The Icelandic government has banned prostitution in 2009and banned strip clubs in 2010. An estimated 9% (32.000) of the population is of foreign-born nationality. Iceland was the birthplace of Leif Eriksson, who is believed by many to have led the first European voyage to North America. Except for a brief interruption from 1799-1844, Iceland’s independent commonwealth has been governed by the Althingi parliament since 930, the world’s oldest extant parliamentary institution. People from Norway, Denmark and Sweden were the first to settle in Iceland from as early as 870. Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic. Today Geysir doesn’t erupt often, but nearby Strokkur erupts every eight to ten minutes. Located at Learn some interesting information about Iceland while enjoying a range of fun facts and trivia that's perfect for kids! In a pre-emptive strike codenamed “Operation Fork,” hundreds of British troops landed in the capital city of Reykjavik on the morning of May 10, 1940, and then arrested German citizens and spread inland without resistance. It changed from the poorest country in Europe to one of the richest country in the world in only a 50 years! Iceland’s rich democratic tradition dates back more than a millennium to the institution of a national assembly, the Althingi, to govern the island in 930. 2. Iceland is the oldest democracy in the world. Iceland was settled by Vikings from Norway sometime in the 800s. Dating all the way back to the year 930, the first national parliament was founded in Thingvellir, which is now a national park. Iceland is also the land of light and darkness. Iceland celebrates Beer Day (Bjórdagurinn) each year on March 1. Learn about Iceland's history and its people. Read about Iceland's unique geological features, its population, capital city, language, history, location and much more. 9. Iceland has an enormous amount of clean water. It also offers lots of information on the history of phalluses and how they work (not as straightforward as you might think!) But, artifacts found on the island show evidence of Irish Monks prior to the appearance of Norwegians. 20. Also a complete list of current and old (extinct) Rhode Island counties. History . The Phallological Museum is one of the nation’s most unusual attractions. As facts about Iceland go, this one’s pretty awesome. Iceland - Iceland - History: Iceland apparently has no prehistory. But Iceland boasts one of the oldest known parliaments in human history. History of Iceland Coat of arms. Why don’t you read the below post for details about Robben Island: Facts about Robben Island 1: the African history. Iceland was ranked as the 13th most developed country in the world in 2013 by the U.N.’s Human Development Index. Maybe it's a wild anecdote that seems too crazy to be true. Not only are the Easter Island statues magnificent to observe, their intriguing history also makes them one of humanity’s enduring travel mysteries. The 1915 ban was much like Prohibition in the United States, and banned all alcohol in Iceland. East Iceland has the country’s largest forest, lush farmlands, and many natural harbors with fishing villages. Norwegians fled from Norway to Iceland due to an unfavorable King at that time. 1. A timeline of Iceland. A history of discovery. Facts About the History of Iceland: 1. The South coast is home to some of the nation’s most visited tourist attractions, including the Golden Circle. 34. According to stories written down some 250 years after the event, the country was discovered and settled by Norse people in the Viking Age. 28. This is a summary of the history of Iceland in chronological order. And therefore became the Kingdom of Iceland, in union with the Danish Kingdom. The nation’s official language, both spoken and written, is Icelandic, descended from Old Norse. The island’s earliest inhabitants were Native Americans who traveled to Jekyll Island to hunt, fish, and gather shellfish. It seems that nearly everyone I talk to has either been or wants to desperately visit this small island in the North Atlantic. They’ve been replaced and repositioned over the years. 3. Iceland is one of two places in the world where you can see tectonic plates separate above sea level. Discover information on all 5 counties in the State of Rhode Island. During the holidays in Iceland, there is a custom to make sure the house is clean and to leave food for the elves on Christmas Eve so that they can feast and dance while the humans are at … No-one knows how the statues were moved The people of Iceland have a seriously strong work ethic, working some of the longest hours of any industrialized country in the world. While any student of history has learned about the likes of Abraham Lincoln and World War II, how many of us know that Lincoln was a champion wrestler or that Franklin Roosevelt okayed a plan to bomb the Imperial Japanese Army with bombs attached to bats? Iceland is a truly fascinating country. I’m not the only person who has a bad case of the Iceland bug. 32. Median age is … In later centuries it was under Denmark’s rule. Here we delve into one of the happiest countries in the world. The occupation force eventually grew to 25,000 British and Canadian troops before the United States took over the occupation on July 7, 1941, five months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Irish monk Dicuil noted in 825 that Iceland saw little winter sun but nights so bright in the summer that “whatever task a man wishes to perform, even picking lice from his shirt, he can manage as well as in clear daylight.” By 874, the Vikings had arrived in Iceland and began permanent settlement of the island they initially called “Snow Land.”. Iceland is a small island nation that is Europe's westernmost country and home to the world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik. North Iceland has dramatic lava fields and hills carved out by rivers with turbulent waterfalls. During the final quarter of the 18th century approximately 20 to 25 percent of the population of Iceland emigrated to the United States and Canada because of famine in the country. The half of the population of the country lives in capital Reykjavik and its nearby areas. Not all of them were allowed to enter the country though. 31. Wherever you go in the countryside, there will be some museum or gallery celebrating the culture of the area. Basic Facts About Iceland. Iceland was founded by the Vikings. General Facts about Iceland. The shape of Robben Island is oval. Find out what's unique about Icelandic traditions and customs and discover extensive culture and nightlife guides. The assembly was called the Althingi. Iceland may seem idyllic in many ways, but the country does have a dark history. A brief history lesson. Iceland was the birthplace of Leif Eriksson, who is believed by many to have led the first European voyage to North America. After a few minutes of skittishness and slight embarrassment, we found ourselves totally enjoying it. In 874 Viking explorers from Norway & the British Isles settled on the island. The whole idea might sound pointless, or even repulsive, but it was actually surprisingly interesting. HISTORY OF ICELAND including Vikings in the North Atlantic, The first family of Iceland, The Icelandic Commonwealth, Millennial conversion, A Christian commonwealth, Norwegian and Danish fief Here is a list of twenty top strange and awesome facts about Iceland. 72. Iceland - Iceland - History: Iceland apparently has no prehistory. Joining the European Economic Area in 1994 further diversified the nation’s economy into manufacturing, finance and biotechnology and continued its prosperity. The resulting “Haze Famine” killed 9,000 people—a fifth of the country’s population—and led the Danish government to briefly consider evacuating the island’s remaining residents to Denmark. For two weeks every summer, chieftains from across Iceland convened in an outdoor assembly on the plains of Thingvellir, a rift valley east of Reykjavik where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. Vatnajökull glacier is the largest ice cap in Europe. 1. The early settlement, made up primarily of Norwegian seafarers and adventurers, fostered further excursions to Greenland and the coast of … The oldest source, Íslendingabók (The Book of the Icelanders), written about 1130, sets the period of settlement at about 870–930 ce. The volcanic zone in central Iceland is a “constructive junction” between the western part of Iceland belonging to the North American tectonic plate and the eastern part on the Eurasian plate. Many winter in ice-choked Arctic waters, but some come south to the Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast. Below are some general info such as total population, land area, biggest lake, highest mountain and other general facts about Iceland that might be interesting to know. The ash clouds were a major disruption to air travel across Europe. It is illegal to own a pet lizard, snake or turtle in Iceland. Settled by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British isles settled in the 9 th and 10 th centuries, Icelandic history has always been shaped by events on the larger politicla stage of the Nordic Countries. Day Tours; Golden Circle; Bus Excursions; Northern Lights; All Activities. 24. A constitution drawn up c. 930 created a form of democracy and provided for an Althing, the world's oldest practicing legislative assembly. The settlement of Iceland began in the year 874 AD when a Viking chieftain from Norway, Ingólfr Arnarson, became the island’s first permanent settler. Milestones in Icelandic History Discovery and Settlement. Whatever the case, it's the little, surprising bits of history are perhaps the most fun bits of history—the type of info that's so wacky and out there it could never be repeated even if someone wanted to. When French explorers first arrived in the area in 1562, tens… Iceland changed Iceland changed into at first protected in forests as far as the attention could see according to widely wide-spread history, a seafarer named Garðarr Svávarsson sailed around the complete island in the later ninth century and proclaimed that it becomes “wooded … Aug 25, 2019 - Spread the love Saturday, June 29, 20191. 3. It took two decades for Iceland’s population to recover. Icelandic is the official and national language of Iceland. History of Iceland . The island’s location makes it geologically very young and active. 10. However, Iceland soon recovered and unemployment fell. 330 BC: An island, Thule, or Ultima Thule, in the farthest north is mentioned in a geography by the Greek navigator Pytheas; located six days' sailing north of Britannia and one day and night from “the end of the world”. The noxious gas clouds blotted out the sun across Europe and caused freak weather events, such as acid rain and floods. As facts about Iceland go, this one’s pretty awesome. There are no reptiles or amphibians there. The English word geyser is derived from Iceland’s famous Geysir. The history of economy development in Iceland the last century is like a fairy-tale. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes follow each other. Iceland is the oldest democracy in the world. Iceland History . This was the beginning of Icelandair. West Iceland is one of the island’s most geologically diverse regions with one of the greatest concentration of geysers in the world as well as the famous Snæfellsjökull glacier. There are between 30 and 40 active volcanoes today. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. History of Madeira Island When the Infante Dom Henrique, better known in English as Prince Henry the Navigator, gathered together the finest cartographers and navigators of Portugal at the beginning of the 15th century, his plan was to extend the knowledge of the coast of West Africa. In 2020 the population of Iceland was 364,000. The population of the country reached 300,000 in 2006. Infoplease has everything you need to know about Iceland. Ellis Island sits in New York Harbor and was one of the busiest immigration processing centers from 1892 to 1954. Robben Island plays an important role in the African history. During this time, more than 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island in search of a better life. Home / Articles on Iceland / History / Short History / Share on Facebook; Tweet; All Tours. In Iceland there are multitudes of refreshing hot springs. 27. Laki’s eruption in 1783-84 caused a famine that killed almost one fourth of the island’s population. Iceland Gulls breed on narrow cliff ledges in the Arctic and forage gracefully over the water, often plucking fish from the surface without landing. They value independence and self-sufficiency. Icelandair is a member of: IATA (International Air Transport Association) since 1950 38. From January 1, 1915 to March 1, 1989 (that's 74 years! Iceland is hardly icy at all; on the other hand, Greenland has plenty of ice and isn’t very green. Despite its name, Iceland’s surface is only ten percent iceand it has surprisingly mild winters due to the warming effect of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream warms Iceland’s climate, resulting in average winter temperatures comparable to those of New York City. Most executive power rests with the Government, which is elected separately … The president is elected by direct popular vote for a term of four years, with no term limit. Learn some interesting information about Iceland while enjoying a range of fun facts and trivia that's perfect for kids! Below, you will find an infographic listing 11 Basic Facts … Relying on subsistence agriculture and fishing, the country was among one of the poorest in Europe. Widely known as “The Land of Fire and Ice” Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes. 11. It has an area of 103,000 square km. 35. Commercial whaling is practiced as well as scientific whale hunts, but Iceland makes more money from whale watching tours than the whaling industry. 12. Maybe it's a surprising fact that makes you rethink conventional wisdom. Due to the ancient erosion event, Robben Island sits only a few metres above the sea elevation. Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour (1875) Our Ellis Island? After eight decades of operation, our history reflects the spirit of the Icelandic nation, its resourcefulness and innovation. 15. Celts (mainly Scottish and Irish people) as well as Vikings who already had settled in the British isles also moved to … Many of the early settlers were Vikings or Celts. ; The moai are truly huge. 25. The small fishing town of Húsavík is the whale watching capital of Europe. Except for a brief interruption from 1799-1844, Iceland’s independent commonwealth has been governed by the Althingi parliament since 930, the world’s oldest extant parliamentary institution. 71. 36. Welcome to the website of Iceland Eyjafjallajökull volcano and Katla volcano. That was when Jacob Roggeveen first found the island, naming it after the date he landed on the shore. Government: Iceland is a parliamentary constitutional republic. 29. According to stories written down some 250 years after the event, the country was discovered and settled by Norse people in the Viking Age. Population: 355,000 (2018). In 1969 the town council of Grindavik decided to explore the area near Svartsengi for the possibility of geothermal heat, which could be harnessed for domestic heating in Grindavik. Its population is surpassed by countries such as Luxembourg, Fiji and Brunei and more than 50 American cities, including New Orleans, Tulsa and the California home of Disneyland. This is to celebrate that fact that beer is once again legal in Iceland. Iceland, like the United States, enacted a prohibition on alcoholic beverages in the early 1900s. Vigdis Finbogadóttir was elected in 1980. Their plumage is variable, especially the adults’ wingtips, which can range from pure white in the east to black in the west. It also did not broadcast during the vacation month of July until 1983. Rural Iceland has its own form of art and culture. The Westfjords in the uninhabited northwest corner of the country are preserved as a relatively unspoiled wilderness area with a variety of geological features of their own. Iceland is responsible for more than a third of all the fresh lava on earth in the last six hundred years. Ellis Island is a historical site that opened in 1892 as an immigration station, a purpose it served for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954. Here are our top facts about the history of our wonderful country: Iceland is a product of a series of underwater volcanoes. Iceland is a country of extreme geological contrasts. Following the creation of its constitution, Iceland was independent until 1262. Fleeing political upheaval and later Viking raids, Irish monks are believed to have been the first to arrive in Iceland as temporary settlers, sometime between the seventh and ninth centuries. Danish and English are compulsory subjects in school. Iceland began forming about 24 million years ago from volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Facts About the History of Iceland: 1. 30. 21. 4. Iceland is an alluring and beautiful country, with a rich history and plenty of fascinating facts about it that most people don't know! Celts (mainly Scottish and Irish people) as well as Vikings who already had settled in the British isles also moved to … It has changed so little that today’s students can read books written hundreds of years ago. Jóhanna Sigurŏardóttir became Iceland’s first female Prime Minister in 2009, and also the first openly lesbian head of government in the world. A new epoch in the history of Iceland had begun. The Norse were the main migrants to move to the island, and in 930 CE, Iceland's governing body created a constitution and an assembly. More than half of the country’s livestock died. History of Iceland . ~ 700: Evidence of Irish monks living in Iceland. It became one of the most developed and wealthiest nations in the world and remains so today. 4. 73. Just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is considered to be part of Europe for political, historical, cultural and practical reasons. All free and law-abiding citizens could attend as the assembly passed laws and administered justice. History. Iceland has a rich and exciting history, from its start with the Vikings up until it gained home rule. The famous Blue Lagoon are found here. The oldest source, Íslendingabók (The Book of the Icelanders), written about 1130, sets the period of settlement at about 870–930 ce. In late 2017, Iceland made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Greenland should be Iceland three inhabitants per square kilometer or even repulsive, but nearby Strokkur erupts eight... And decimated its crops about history were never taught to you s climate, resulting in average winter temperatures to. 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