Portal:Iceland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
 |
 |
|
Iceland was one of the last large islands uninhabited by humans until it was discovered and settled by immigrants from Scandinavia and Ireland during the 9th and 10th centuries.
Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small island of Grímsey off Iceland's northern coast, but not through mainland Iceland. Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part of Europe, not of North America. Due to cultural, economic and linguistic similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included in Scandinavia.
Approximately 10 per cent of the island is glaciated. Iceland is located on both a geological hot spot, thought to be caused by a mantle plume, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This combined location means that the island is extremely geologically active. (More about Iceland...)
Reykjavík is located in southwest Iceland at the shores of Faxaflói bay. The Reykjavík area coastline is characterized by peninsulas, coves, straits and islands. The population of Reykjavík in 2005 was 114,800, the combined population of the Greater Reykjavík Area being about 190,000.
The first permanent settlement in Iceland by Nordic people is believed to have been established in Reykjavík by Ingólfur Arnarson around AD 870; this is described in Landnámabók, or the Book of Settlement. Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional viking method; by dumping his high seat pillars, Öndvegissúlur, in the ocean when he saw the coastline and then settled where the pillars came to shore. Steam from hot springs in the region is supposed to have inspired Reykjavík's name, as Reykjavík translates to "Bay of Smokes". (continued...)
In 1999, Björk was asked to write and produce the musical score for the film Dancer in the Dark, a genre-bending musical via drama about an immigrant named Selma who is struggling to pay for an operation to prevent her son from going blind. Director Lars von Trier eventually asked her to consider playing the role of Selma, a proposal she initially turned down. He then threatened to stop the project, which would have made all the musical work she had already done useless. Eventually, she accepted. Filming began in early 1999, and the film debuted in 2000 at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival. Björk received the best actress award for her role, and yet she described the shoot as so physically and emotionally trying that she has sworn off acting ever again. (continued...)
- October 22: Icelandic whalers kill a Fin Whale (pictured), stating that the International Whaling Commission ban on commercial whaling does not apply.
- October 18: Iceland announces that it will resume commercial whale hunting, becoming the second country after Norway to do so after a globan ban on whaling.
- ...that the Althing, founded in Þingvellir in the year 930, is the oldest parliament in Europe?
- ...that Reykjavík is the northernmost capital city in the world?
- ...that the Vatnajökull glacier covers more than 8% of Iceland?
- ...that in 1995 an avalanche destroyed 29 homes and killed 20 people in the town of Flateyri?
- ...that the Dettifoss waterfall is the most powerful waterfall in Europe?
Lava island in Lake Mývatn.
- Wikipedia:Icelandic Wikipedians' notice board
- Requests: Kjósarsýsla, Gullbringusýsla, Vesturland (de), Borgarfjarðarsýsla, Dalasýsla, Mýrasýsla, Snæfellsnes- og Hnappadalssýsla, Norður-Ísafjarðarsýsla, Strandasýsla, Vestur-Ísafjarðarsýsla, Norðurland vestra (de), Austur-Húnavatnssýsla, Skagafjarðarsýsla, Vestur-Húnavatnssýsla, Norðurland eystra (de), Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla, Austur-Skaftafellssýsla, Norður-Múlasýsla, Suðurland (de), Rangárvallasýsla
- Stubs: Sjónvarpið, Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project, Morgunblaðið, Icelandic Police, Atli Heimir Sveinsson, Bang Gang, Constitution of Iceland, Valdís Óskarsdóttir, Þorramatur, Islam in Iceland, Perlan, Left-Green Movement, Jet Black Joe, see all stubs
- Verify:
- Update:
- NPOV:
- Copyedit:
- Wikify:
- Merge:
- Cleanup:
- Style:
- Expand:
