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Where is
Iceland?
The easternmost point of the country is Gerpir (13°30’V),
the northernmost Hraunhafnartangi (66°32’N), the westernmost Bjargtangar
(24°32’V; also the westernmost part of Europe) and the southernmost,
Dyrholaey (63°24’N).
The total area is about 103.100 km². Lakes cover about 3% of the area,
deserts (incl. lava fields) about 63%, glaciers about 11% and 23% are
vegetated. |
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Iceland is different from most other
countries. It is mountainous and situated between Greenland and Norway. It
is the second largest island of Europe and its guardian in the west with
rather a sparse population. About 20% of its area are populated. The central
highlands and parts of the northwest are uninhabited. |
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People have to be prepared for the rapid
changes in the weather and change clothes accordingly. It is better to be
familiar with the road system, both the roads and streets in the inhabited
areas and the tracks in the central highlands, if a trip is planned in the
interior. Rules and regulations concerning off road driving, the sensitive
vegetation at this latitude and lava formations have to be taken into
account as well. Nature in this country is raw, and there are more dangers
to be taken into account than the weather (snowstorms, hurricane force
winds), such as unbridged rivers, crevassed glaciers, volcanoes, geothermal
areas and merciless seas. |
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Without the Gulf
Stream, the whole country would be covered with a shield of ice. The average
temperature of the warmest month is about 12°C (54°F) and of the coldest
month about 0°C (32°F). Usually it is considerably colder in the mountains.
Warm, wind-, and waterproof clothes are highly recommended and lighter
clothes for nice weather as well.
The Icelanders are friendly and polite people overall. They are very
helpful, well educated, and often fluent in foreign languages. They are less
dependant on external services when it comes to inviting people to lunch or
dinner than people elsewhere in Europe. An invitation to a meal usually
means homemade food and an evening at home. The character of the Icelander
probably was best described in this sentence: "The average Icelander is
somewhat shy, but proud and is not familiar with any class distinction, and
therefore behaves like an aristodemocrate". |
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visitors since 26. Juli 2009
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