|
| New homes in the streets of the capital. |
The inhabitants of the land the Britons once referred to as "Thul-Al" are proud of their Viking heritage. Ancient records indicate that the gods showed Ingolfur Arnarson, one of the first settlers on Iceland, the way to construct his house in Reykjavik. Impressed by the hot springs and geysers in the region, Arnarson named it Reykjavik, which means "Steamy Gulf".
Wild and Harsh
Situated between Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Iceland is still the harsh wilderness that greeted its first settlers. Carved by glaciers, the country's rural areas are covered with volcanic plateaus covered in ash and lava. The Mid-Atlantic plate passing under the island is the main source of Iceland's constant volcanic and seismic activity. There are deep fjords and steep cliffs on the western side of the Europe's second largest and westernmost island. This side is uninhabited save for arctic fox, seals, reindeer, ducks and polar bears, which hitch rides on ice floes from Greenland. There are massive cliffs stretching 30 kilometers long and 400 meters high at Latrajarg.
A lunar landscape
NASA chose central Iceland as a training ground in the early 1960s for its moon-bound astronauts due to its lava fields, boiling sulphuric water and glaciers.
|
| A typical Icelandic farm |
Dance of fire and ice
Though fire and ice have caused countless disasters on the island, they also present the locals with inexpensive energy. With plenty of springs, heated pools are everywhere. Water melted by volcanoes provides the country with unlimited hydroelectric power. Greenland's ice shelf can be seen from the north part of the island during the summer. Iceland's main glacier, Vatnajokull, covers 3200 square miles, larger than all the glaciers in Europe.
Ideal for trekking
Wide, tranquil spaces filled with sheep, wild ponies and birds, expansive meadows, basalt deserts and tundra make this an ideal spot for trekking. You can also do some canoeing here as well. Participate in the Arctic Open, held under the "midnight sun". Reykjavik is home to museums, theaters, an opera house, a symphony orchestra, as well as a hot nightlife scene. Though some of Iceland may look hellish, it is closer to heaven when it comes to entertainment.
|
| Seljalandfoss Waterfalls |
Island Guide
How to get there
There are no direct flights to Iceland. The easiest way to reach the island is via England. Turkish Airlines and British Airways offer daily flights to London from Istanbul.
Where to stay
City Hotel: Ranagata 4 15-101. Tel: 511 11 55. Grand Hotel Reykjavik: Sigtun 38 1S-105. Tel: 568 90 00. E-mail: uppl@grand.is www.grand.is Hotel Island: Armuli 9 IS 108. Tel: 568 89 99. E-mail: reservation@hotel-islandia.is Hotel Old: Njalgata 65 101 Reykjavik. Tel: 552 62 99. Radisson SAS Island. Hagatorg Reykjavik IS 107. Tel: 525 99 00. www.radisson.com
Where to dine
Laekjarbrekka: Seafood. Bankastraeti 2. Tel: 551 44 30. Einar Ben: Seafood and meat dishes. Veltusundi 1. Tel: 511 50 90. 3. Frakkar: Try the whale meat. Baldursgata 14. Tel: 552 39 39. Argentina: Charbroiled seafood and steak. Baransstig 11. Tel: 551 95 55. www.argentina.is Pasta Basta: Klopparstigur 38. Tel: 561 31 31. www.pasta-basta.is
| Helpful Hints... |
|
* The international code for Iceland is 354 and Reykjavik's is 1. If you are calling from Turkey, dial 00354 + 1 + your number. * Visit Iceland before the end of August as the country goes into hibernation starting in September. * Mean temp. in Reykjavik is 10.6° C in July and 0° C in Jan * Monetary unit is the Icelandic krona. $1 = 85 Kr. |
|
|
