Iceland: The Icy Country (By: Carys)

Have you been to Iceland? It's a Nordic island located between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically associated with Europe and is the region’s westernmost and sparsely populated country. Its capital, Reykjavik, houses 36% of Iceland's roughly 380,000 residents. Icelandic is the official language. Situated on a tectonic rift, Iceland features geysers, volcanic eruptions, sand and lava fields, mountains, glaciers, and glacier rivers flowing to the sea. Despite its latitude just south of the Arctic Circle, the Gulf Stream warms Iceland to a temperate climate. Iceland has a market economy with lower taxes compared to other OECD countries and high trade union membership. It also offers comprehensive healthcare and tertiary education through a Nordic social welfare system. Iceland ranks highly in quality of life, education, civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. As the only NATO member without a standing army, Iceland maintains a lightly armed coast guard.

                                       

Icelandic culture is known for its literary heritage, weaving, silversmithing, and wood carving. Reykjavik hosts professional theatres, art galleries, bookstores, cinemas, museums, and four folk dances. Iceland boasts the highest literacy rate globally. Traditional architecture includes grass-covered houses influenced by the lack of native trees, modeled after Viking longhouses. Icelandic sagas like Njals saga, Grænlendinga saga, Eiriks saga, Egils saga, Laxdæla saga, Grettis saga, Gisla saga, and Gunnlaugs saga ormstungu document the country's history. Notable Icelandic authors include Halldór Laxness, Guðmundur Kamban, Tómas Guðmundsson, Davíð Stefánsson, Jón Thoroddsen, Steinn Steinarr, Guðmundur G. Hagalín, Þórbergur Þórðarson, and Jóhannes úr Kötlum. British-American poet W.H. Auden and Irish poet Louis MacNeice chronicled their travels in "Letters From Iceland" in 1937. Famous Icelandic artists include 19th-century painter Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, 20th-century sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson, and expressionist painter Einar Hákonarson. Hákonarson, known as “The crusader of painting,” was instrumental in establishing the Icelandic Printmaking Association.

Icelandic cuisine features traditional dishes such as Þorramatur, consumed during January and February, including hrútspungar (pickled ram’s testicles), fermented shark, singed sheep heads, black pudding, liver sausage, and dried fish. Other local foods include gravlax (marinated salmon), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), slatur (sheep entrail sausages), skyr (cultured skim milk), and Brennivin (potato and caraway liquor).

Tourist attractions include the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa near Keflavik International Airport and the Westfjords, known for dramatic fjords, flat-topped mountains, untouched nature, fishing villages, arctic foxes, whales, and seals. The Westfjords are accessible mainly in summer.