Portal:Iceland

Iceland
*Ísland*
Iceland Ísland
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ISO 3166 code	IS

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Iceland is a Nordic island country between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the region's westernmost and most sparsely populated country. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which is home to about 36% of the country's roughly 390,000 residents (excluding nearby towns/suburbs, which are separate municipalities). The official language of the country is Icelandic. Iceland is on a rift between tectonic plates, and its geologic activity includes geysers and frequent volcanic eruptions. The interior consists of a volcanic plateau with sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite being at a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle. Its latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate.

According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD, when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the island's first permanent settler. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, immigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin. The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. After a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. In 1397, Iceland followed Norway's integration into the Kalmar Union along with the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, coming under de facto Danish rule upon its dissolution in 1523. The Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism by force in 1550, and the Treaty of Kiel formally ceded Iceland to Denmark in 1814.

Influenced by ideals of nationalism after the French Revolution, Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union in 1918, with the establishment of the Kingdom of Iceland, sharing through a personal union the incumbent monarch of Denmark. During the occupation of Denmark in World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly to become a republic in 1944, ending the remaining formal ties to Denmark. Although the Althing was suspended from 1799 to 1845, Iceland nevertheless has a claim to sustaining one of the world's longest-running parliaments. Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid after World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations. In 1950, Iceland joined the Council of Europe. In 1994 it became a part of the European Economic Area, further diversifying its economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing. (Full article...)

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Iceland accepted the convention on 19 December 1995, making its natural and cultural sites eligible for inclusion on the list.

As of 2020^[update], Iceland has three sites inscribed on the list. The first site added to the list was the Þingvellir National Park, in 2004. Two further sites were added later, Surtsey in 2008 and Vatnajökull National Park in 2019. Þingvellir is a cultural site while the other two are natural sites. (Full article...)

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Credit: Andreas Tille

The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse that has lived in Iceland since the mid-800s, brought to the island by Viking settlers. It originated from pony breeds taken from Scandinavian and European countries to Iceland during the original and subsequent settlements but has now been bred for centuries without the addition of outside bloodstock.

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News

8 February 2022 Skateboarder Josh Neuman dies in a plane crash in Thingvellir National Park (Guardian)
28 November 2021 Right-left wing coalition continues after an election (Reuters)
9 September 2021: Laugardalshöll in Iceland chosen as the venue for the world tournament in League of Legends (esports)
22 March 2021: Fagradalsfjall (pictured) on the Reykjanes peninsula erupts in a fissure (BBC)

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Jörmundur Ingi Hansen being sworn in as allsherjargoði in 1994

Jörmundur Ingi Hansen (born 14 August 1940) is an Icelandic neopagan leader, designer, businessman and clothing retailer. Trained as a sculptor and known as a prominent member of Reykjavík's hippie scene, he co-founded the Icelandic neopagan organization Ásatrúarfélagið in 1972, co-creating its rituals, liturgy and clothing. From 1994 to 2002, he led the organization, holding the title allsherjargoði; during his time in office, Ásatrúarfélagið experienced significant membership growth, acquired a building in Reykjavík and constructed a pagan burial ground designed by Jörmundur. An internal conflict led to his removal from the position, and in 2004 he left and became the leader of a small splinter group.

In his professional life, Jörmundur has worked making architectural drawings, as a salesman and as a designer. He is interested in men's fashion and sells vintage clothes in Reykjavík. (Full article...)

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Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Björk Arnaldur Indriðason Davíð Oddsson Erik the Red Geir Haarde Halldór Laxness Olaf the Peacock Bolli Bollason Icelanders Stefán Kristjánsson Leif Erikson

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... that Iceland's entry for Eurovision in 2025 brought out a line of Ash Wednesday costumes?
... that in Icelandic folklore, the Yule cat eats people who do not receive new clothing for Christmas?
... that Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir scored two goals for the Iceland women's national football team the day before she graduated from university?
... that Paul Oscar, Iceland's participant at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, was the contest's first openly LGBT artist to compete?
... that the Félag hljómplötuframleiðenda tried to close the file-sharing website Istorrent in 2007–2008, but the Supreme Court of Iceland dismissed the case?
... that the scholar Mathias Nordvig argues that Norse mythology contains many implicit references to Icelandic volcanoes?

...that the Vatnajökull glacier covers more than 8% of Iceland?
...that Sveinn Einarsson was the stage director of more than 70 productions, operas, classics and modern plays?
...that the first bar mitzvah by Icelandic Jews took place in 1941 on the Shabbat of Passover?

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Iceland, though it lies so far to the north that it is partly within the Arctic Circle, is, like Norway, Scotland, and Ireland, affected by the Gulf Stream, so that considerable portions of it are quite habitable.

— Harry Johnston

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General images

The following are images from various Iceland-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Prime Minister of Iceland Davíð Oddsson with United States President George W. Bush in 2004. (from History of Iceland)
Image 2Norsemen landing in Iceland. Painting by Oscar Wergeland (1909). (from History of Iceland)
Image 3Þingvellir, seat of the Alþingi. (from History of Iceland)
Image 4Iceland on the carta marina by Olaus Magnus. (from History of Iceland)
Image 5Jón Sigurðsson. (from History of Iceland)
Image 610th-century Eyrarland Statue of Thor, found in Iceland. (from History of Iceland)
Image 7Nineteenth century depiction of a session of the Alþingi. (from History of Iceland)
Image 8HMS Berwick led the British invasion of Iceland. (from History of Iceland)
Image 9United States F-15 fighter jets at Keflavík Air Base. (from History of Iceland)
Image 10A typical Þorramatur assortment. (from Culture of Iceland)
Image 11The flag of Iceland being raised and the flag of the United States being lowered as the U.S. hands over the Keflavík Air Base to the Government of Iceland. (from History of Iceland)
Image 12Sveinn Björnsson, the first President of Iceland. (from History of Iceland)
Image 13US Army training in Iceland in June 1943. (from History of Iceland)
Image 14Icelandic Coast Guard and Royal Navy vessels clash in the North Atlantic. (from History of Iceland)
Image 15Ingólfur Arnarson commands his high seat pillars to be erected in this painting by Peter Raadsig. (from History of Iceland)
Image 16Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the world's first openly homosexual head of government of the modern era. (from History of Iceland)
Image 17For a long period, stockfish trade made up the bulk of Iceland's exports. (from History of Iceland)
Image 18Hannes Hafstein, first Prime Minister of Iceland and the first Icelander to be appointed to the Danish Cabinet as the Minister for Iceland (from History of Iceland)
Image 19Fisherman's hut in Iceland (from History of Iceland)
Image 20Mid-Atlantic Ridge and adjacent plates. Volcanoes indicated in red. (from History of Iceland)
Image 21Christian III of Denmark (from History of Iceland)
Image 22Harald Fairhair receives the kingdom of Norway from his father, Halfdan the Black.

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Credit: Kilmer

Mývatn is a shallow eutrophic lake situated in an area of active volcanism in the north of Iceland, not far from Krafla volcano.

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Requests: List of surnames of Iceland • Þykkvabær • More...
Stubs: Constitution of Iceland • Danish–Icelandic Act of Union • Ingólfr Arnarson • Valdís Óskarsdóttir • Tourism in Iceland • Elections in Iceland • Bessastaðir • Þorramatur • Islam in Iceland • Perlan • Southern Region • More...
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