Iceland

Overview

The fact that moon exploration craft have had terrain tests on this European island should suggest to the visitor the type of landscape they will encounter. Sculpted by the elements, particularly volcanoes and glaciers, the natural world should be amongst the top of the visitor's things to experience. This can be active by snowmobiling around a glacier or cycling around the island or passive by joining a tour to take a more sedate look at the amazing formations.

As the tourist board quickly points out, despite its name, the island is not as cold and forbidding a everyone has been led to believe, although plenty of cold weather clothing should be brought. (This name game is not true for Tierra del Fuego which is simply not as hot as its name suggests.)

The population is concentrated around Reykavik, the capital and its environs. The city is generally safe and has all the amenities a visitor could wish for in a European capital. Those interested in the cultural side of life will find a great deal with theatres, the opera (there is not language problem), art gallery exhibiting local and international work and museums such as the Arbaer Open Air and Arnus Magnusson Institute.

The natural world, is inescapable throughout the island and really does allow the adventurous visitor to tire themselves in all manner of ways. There is the opportunity for kayaking, river rafting, geo thermal pool swimming and fishing amongst others. Possibly seeing the jets at Geysir or the waterfalls at Gullfoss...more

History

Iceland was settled in the late 9th and early 10th centuries principally by people of Norse origin. In 930 A.D. the ruling chiefs established a republican constitution and an assembly called the Althingi --the oldest parliament in the world. Iceland remained independent until 1262 when Iceland entered into a treaty which established a union with the Norwegian monarchy. It passed to Denmark in the late 14th century when Norway and Denmark were united under the Danish crown.

In the early 19th century national consciousness revived in Iceland. The Althingi had been abolished in 1800 but was reestablished in 1843 as a consultative assembly. In 1874 Denmark granted Iceland home rule in 1874 which again was extended in 1904. The constitution written in 1874 was revised in 1903 and a minister for Icelandic affairs residing in Reykjavik was made responsible to the Althingi . The Act of Union a 1918 agreement with Denmark recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state united with Denmark under a common king. Iceland established its own flag and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defense interests.

German occupation of Denmark in 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark. In May 1940 Iceland was occupied by British military forces. In July 1941 responsibility for Iceland's defense passed to the United States under a U.S. - Icelandic defense agreement. Following a plebiscite Iceland formally became an independent republic on June 17 1944.

In October 1946 the Icelandic and U.S. Governments agreed to terminate U.S. responsibility...more