Iceland

Iceland is a Nordic island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America, just south of the Arctic Circle. Its ecology is shaped by volcanic and glacial forces, with lava fields, glaciers, geysers, and waterfalls, and relatively limited native vegetation, mainly mosses, grasses, and low shrubs, alongside rich marine ecosystems. 

Settled in the late 9th century by Norse Vikings, Iceland developed one of the world’s oldest parliaments, the Althing, and later came under Norwegian and Danish rule before becoming fully independent in 1944. 

The population is small and largely of Norse descent, with a strong cultural identity rooted in literature, language, and social equality. Iceland’s economy is advanced and diversified, relying on fisheries, renewable energy (especially geothermal and hydropower), tourism, and high-tech industries. 

Climate change is already affecting the country through rapidly melting glaciers, changing ocean conditions that impact fisheries, and shifting weather patterns, even as Iceland benefits from abundant renewable energy that supports climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

In 2010, Gerold and Klaudia spent 14 days on Iceland for a vacation. We used the time that the country is reasonably affordable for us. We made a bus tour from Reykjavik via Höfn, Akureyri and Keflavik. They saw the glaciers, whales, geysers and many lava fields. A nice country, very varied in landscape and colours - just the land of contrasts.