Iceland area. Iceland

"Ice country" Iceland is located on north atlantic ocean.

On the detailed map Iceland is shown that the state consists of the island of the same name with an area of ​​103 sq. km. and a number of small islands.

The main feature of the country is its nature and volcanic origin. Bizarre landscapes, fjords, waterfalls and glaciers make an indelible impression on travelers.

Iceland on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Iceland is located in Northern Europe, northwest of Great Britain. To the west is the island of Greenland. It is separated from Iceland by the Denmark Strait. In the east, the country borders on Norway and is washed by the Norwegian Sea. The length of the coastline is about 5 thousand km.

The physical map of Iceland in Russian shows the relief, hydrography, reserves, minerals located on the territory of the state.

The island is located on the crest of the North Atlantic tectonic seam and consists of lava layers. Due to the divergence of plates, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. The most famous Hekla volcanoes and Lucky.

Relief

The relief of the country is a volcanic plateau with rocky shores and thousands of narrow bays. The central part of Iceland is occupied active volcanoes, geysers, lava fields, so it is not suitable for habitation. Life has focused on coastal areas.

Iceland got its name not by chance: 1/10 of the island is covered with glaciers. largest Vatnajökull glacier has an area of ​​8300 sq. km. It is located in the southeast of the island. Its integrity is violated by the presence of eight active and "sleeping" volcanoes.

Volcanic activity provoked the appearance of many thermal springs in Iceland. Great Geysir of them the most famous.

Hydrography

The rivers and lakes of Iceland are fed by snow and glacier waters. Navigation on the rivers is impossible due to the large number of waterfalls and rapids. The largest river Tjoursau originates from the Hofsjokull glacier, its length is 230 km.

Tourisvatn Lake is located in the south of the island. This is the largest reservoir in Iceland: its area is 88 sq. km, depth - 109 m.

The country of contrasts, Iceland, occupies a small area on the world map, and it's amazing how many natural attractions fit in it.

Climate

The island is under the constant action of cyclones. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate. In summer, the temperature on the coast is about 20 0 C, in winter, despite the proximity to the North Pole, it rarely drops below zero. The central part is distinguished by a continental climate: in winter the temperature drops to -20 0 C, and in summer it rarely rises above +20 0 C.

Flora and fauna

Vegetation in Iceland is sparse: most of the territory is devoid of vegetation. Moss and grass cover the soil. Trees occupy only 1% of the area: birches and conifers are the main tree species. Mammals in the nature of the island are represented by only one animal - the arctic fox. The most common bird is the Atlantic puffin.

Map of Iceland with cities. Administrative division of the country

There are different systems of territorial division in the republic. Iceland is divided:

• for six constituencies for parliamentary elections;
• into eight statistical regions:
  1. Westfirder;
  2. Nordurland-Vastra;
  3. Westurland;
  4. Nordurland-Eistra;
  5. Sudurland;
  6. Eysturland;
  7. Sudyrnes;
  8. Hövydborgarsvaidid;
• into 23 districts (sysls) and 14 city districts;
• into 75 self-governing communities.

Sisly and urban districts are part of the regions and are divided into cities and communities. Sisly do not have self-government bodies.

In the capitals of urban districts, a civil government and a civil council are in power.

City boards and councils are elected in cities. They represent the government: they are in charge of tax collection, police, civil registration. Communities represent the second level of administrative division. They are responsible for education and transportation.

The idea of ​​​​administrative division will be supplemented by a map of Iceland with cities in Russian.

Reykjavik

The name of the city means "smoking bay". The capital is located on the Seltjadnarnes peninsula. The Edlidau River is the water artery of the city. It is not suitable for navigation, but it is quite suitable for fishing. This is The largest city and the capital of Iceland.

In the administrative division system, it belongs to the Hövydborgarsvaidid region and has the status of a community. The population is 118,814 inhabitants.

Proximity to the Arctic Circle affects the length of daylight hours. In winter it lasts only 4 hours, and in summer white nights come. The climate is quite favorable: winters are mild, without frost, and summers are cool. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below 10 0 C, in summer it is at + 10 / + 13 0 C. The water in the bay never freezes.

Kopavogur

The second largest city in Iceland. Located south of Reykjavik and is a satellite city of the capital. It has the status of a community with a population of 33,045 people.

The climate is subarctic, but softened by the proximity of warm currents. Summer is overcast, short, but not rainy. On a sunny day, the temperature can reach +23 0 C. There are no severe frosts in winter: the night temperature is kept at -5 0 C, the daytime temperature is +2 0 C.

hafnarfjordur

Hafnarfjordur is located 10 km from the capital. The city is located in the south west coast. Population - 28 085 inhabitants. The city owes its name to the beautiful ice-free harbor in which the city is located. Literally translated, Hafnarfjordur means "fjord harbor".

In winter, the temperature is rarely below -10 0 С, in summer it stays at +10 0 С. A sharp change in weather conditions is a common phenomenon here, so snow in May does not surprise anyone. Nearby are volcanoes, geysers, lakes with warm water, attracting tourists. There are small earthquakes.

Useful data for tourists about Iceland, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Iceland, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions in Iceland.

Geography of Iceland

The Republic of Iceland is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean (northwest of Great Britain). The territory of the state consists of the island of Iceland and small islands around it.

There are more than 120 glaciers, a large number of lakes and rivers on the island. Iceland is also distinguished by a large number of volcanoes, craters and hot springs. Of the more than 100 volcanoes, 25 have erupted in the last thousand years. The most famous among them are Hekla (1491 m) and Laki, which have about 100 craters.

State

State structure

Iceland is a republic with a presidential form of government. The executive power in the country is in the hands of the President and the government. Legislative power is vested in the President and a unicameral parliament, the Althingi.

Language

Official language: Icelandic

English is spoken almost everywhere.

Religion

The state religion is Lutheranism (96% of believers), Catholics and other Christian communities make up about 3%. The influence of old pagan traditions is strong.

Currency

International name: ISK

The Icelandic krone is equal to 100 auras. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5000, 1000, 500 and 100 crowns, coins of 50, 10, 5 and 1 crown, as well as 50 and 10 aurars.

You can exchange cash currency freely at banks, offices of "The Change Group" and hotels. Traveler's checks are accepted everywhere. Credit cards of the world's leading payment systems are accepted everywhere. ATMs are located in all banks, large stores, hotels and on most central streets, and work with all types of credit cards.

Iceland map

Popular Attractions

Iceland Tourism

Popular hotels

Tours and attractions in Iceland

Iceland is an island state washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The main attraction of the country is its unique nature. Here you can see waterfalls of unimaginable beauty, geysers, bizarre volcanic landscapes, fjords, glaciers and much more. Iceland is perfect for lovers active rest and wildlife.

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland northern capital peace. It is quite a young and modern city. There is not a single industrial facility here, and the houses are heated by hot water from thermal springs, so the city is famous for its truly clean and fresh air. Among the sights of Reykjavik, the most interesting are the Althing (Parliament House), the Government building, Cathedral Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Reykjavik Free Church, National Museum Iceland, National Gallery Iceland, Museum of Art, Perlan, Hövdi and the Arni Magnusson Institute. The city also has many restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discos, as well as a very vibrant nightlife. Not far from Reykjavik is Iceland's famous spa complex - the Blue Lagoon. The unique composition of the geothermal spring water (with a year-round temperature of +38-+39 °C) and its healing properties make the resort very popular.

Geyser fields are considered one of the visiting cards of the country. There are over 250 separate groups of geysers in Iceland (approximately 7,000 hot springs). The most interesting is the Haukadalur valley, which is part of the popular Golden Ring tourist route. In the valley there are two of the most famous Icelandic geysers - Strokkur (eruption height up to 20 m) and Geysir or Great Geysir (eruption height up to 60 m), as well as the famous Gullfoss waterfall - one of the most scenic spots Iceland. The same route includes the famous national park Thingvellir (included in the UNESCO heritage list). Here is the so-called Silfra fissure (fault) - the only such place in the world where fans of extreme diving have the opportunity to swim between the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Iceland is famous for its huge number of waterfalls. In addition to Gullfoss, the most beautiful waterfalls include the “waterfall of God” Goudafoss, the most powerful in Europe Dettifoss, the black Svartifoss waterfall, the lava waterfalls of Hroynfossar, Seljalandsfoss, as well as the waterfalls Joksaraurfoss, Glymur, Hauifoss and Tjoufafoss. There are also many volcanoes on the territory of Iceland, the most famous of them is Hekla, which is considered the most active volcano in the country and the largest in Europe.

One of the most famous attractions is the Vatnajökull National Park, which combines the Skaftafell and Jokulsargluvur parks. It is located at the foot of the eponymous glacier - the largest in Europe. The unique natural landscapes of the park create an indelible impression. There are mountains and plains, giant glaciers and volcanoes, active geysers and lava fields, as well as stunning ice caves with hot springs and amazing waterfalls.

Every year Iceland becomes more and more popular and attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world.

Icelandic Cuisine

A feature of Icelandic cuisine is a variety of ways of processing products. The meat is smoked, salted and marinated. By tradition, almost all animal parts are used. Lots of fish and seafood dishes. Fish, like meat, is often dried, cured or smoked. One of the national fish dishes is hakarl - shark meat, stored in the ground for 2 months, which is served in small pieces and washed down with Icelandic schnapps. Dairy products are also very common.

Tips

Current time in Reykjavik:
(UTC 0)

At the same time, due to the remoteness and high cost of holidays in Iceland, there is no full house of tourists, you can drive hundreds of kilometers and not meet oncoming cars, and this is even when traveling along popular routes.

How to get there

Prices start at 300 euros for a bed in a shared cabin (divided into women's and men's) and end at a price of 1500 euros for a private cabin (the cost varies significantly depending on the season). On the official website there is an option for a separate order of food, this, of course, is not included in the above price.

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Story

King Harald the First played an important role in the settlement of Iceland. It happened in the ninth century after the unification of Norway. Due to the conflict with the king, many residents had to look for a new place of residence.

After the settlement of Iceland, a state system began to form. Each region had its own collection, which resembled the ancient Russian veche. Such a meeting was called a ting. At such meetings, the circumstances of litigation were usually discussed. Several representatives of all regions traveled at the very beginning of the summer period to the so-called Althing, that is, the general meeting. They tried to solve especially important issues. Such a meeting was governed by an organ called Logretta, which consisted of priests. Thus, democracy arose in Iceland at the time when the first Althing was assembled and held. To be more precise, it happened in 930.

An important event in the historical development of Iceland is the signing of the "Old Treaty" in 1262. The Icelanders were simply forced to sign it with Norway. According to this treaty, Iceland had to recognize the supreme authority of the kings of Norway. In return, the Icelanders received ships each year with grain, timber, and many other necessary goods.

The exact date is known when the uprising against Danish rule took place. February 23, 1551 entered the history of Iceland, as the death penalty of the Icelandic Catholic Bishop, along with his sons. All the Danes who were in the country at that moment were killed by the indignant Icelanders. The uprising was able to suppress the Danish king named Christian III, and it was not difficult for him. Starting in 1567, Icelandic residents were forbidden to have weapons. There was nothing left for them to do but to accept the rule of foreigners.

The parliament, which was formed in 1845, was called by the Icelanders in Old Norse "Althing". It took about a hundred years of struggle for sovereignty, with the result that Iceland became an independent kingdom. But all the same, there was a connection with Denmark, which was severed only during the Second World War. After the presence of military contingents of Great Britain and the United States in the country, in 1944 Iceland became an independent republic.

Weather in Iceland

Despite the icy name and the presence of glaciers, Iceland is not an arctic country at all. The climate in this state is maritime, respectively with strong winds, moderately cool, humid and changeable. That is, not to say that this is a paradise for tourists, but this is not what people come here for. The weather in Iceland is affected by two sea currents, one is the East Greenland (cold) and the other is the North Atlantic (warm), which is a continuation of the Gulf Stream. In addition, arctic drift ice, accumulating on the northern and eastern coasts of Iceland, also makes its own adjustments to the country's climate.

The warmest months in Iceland are July and August, at this time in the capital, Reykjavik, the air warms up to +20 °C. At the same time, the average annual temperature on the southwestern coast (namely, where Reykjavik is located) is approximately 5 ° C, the average temperature in January is at around -1 ° C, and in July it is already +11 ° C. The corresponding figures in Akureyri (this is already the northern coast) are +3 °C, -2 °C and +11 °C. The general average annual temperature in the country does not fall below +4 °C. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1300 to 2000 millimeters on the south coast, and from 500 to 750 millimeters on the northern coast, and also exceeds 3800 millimeters per year on the slopes of the Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjokull glaciers exposed to the south.

Due to the latitudes in which the country lies, there are “white nights” throughout the summer in Iceland: on June 21, sunrise begins at 02:54, and sunset at 00:02 the next day. At the same time, there is no polar night in Iceland, but in winter (from about mid-November to the end of January), the height of the Sun at its highest point does not exceed a few degrees. So in winter, for example in December, daylight hours last only 5 hours.

It is better for tourists to come here in the summer, until the end of August, because from September many hotels begin to close for the winter, and the number of flights is also reduced. public transport. In addition, nature itself is not conducive to freedom of movement. In a word, not the season.

Again, contrary to the name of the country, there is no accumulation of ice in the coastal waters throughout the year. Except for situations when there is a removal of polar ice in the north and east of Iceland. However, this happens less and less often, since due to the significant improvement in the climate since the early twenties of the twentieth century, the removal of polar ice to the coast of Iceland occurred only once - it happened in 1965.

The weather in Iceland changes dramatically, often within a day, depending on the passage of cyclones from west to east across the Atlantic Ocean. A local saying goes: "If you don't like the weather, then wait five minutes and it will get worse!".

Weather in Iceland by months

Reviews by month

February 1

April 12 May 11 June 8

July 72 August 14 September 10

October 3

Photos of Iceland

Cities and regions

In total, Iceland is divided into 8 regions, the country is also divided into 23 sisles and 24 urban districts in them, as well as 76 communities (municipalities). In addition, traditionally the country is divided by cardinal points into four quarters. The 8 statistical regions of Iceland are described below.

Main cities of Iceland

Landmarks of Iceland

For tourists, Iceland is attractive for a huge number of natural attractions - waterfalls, lava fields, geysers, thermal springs, fjords, glaciers and volcanoes. It's amazing how it all fits in such a relatively small area. In light of such natural diversity, the almost complete absence of significant man-made attractions is not very disappointing.

Below you will find lists with categories interesting places countries, the links will provide more detailed information on each attraction of Iceland - a general description, location on the map, ways to get there, photos, opening hours, ticket prices and much more.

Where to go in Iceland

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Wellness vacation

Private guides in Iceland

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Iceland in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Movement around the country

The main modes of transport in Iceland are buses, cars, boats and planes. Railways no. Main Freeway - Road No. 1 runs around the island through the main settlements Iceland - the cities of Reykjavik, Borgarnes, Blönduous, Akureyri, Egilsstadir, Höfn and Selfoss. The total length of roads is 13,058 km.

The most popular and convenient way to travel is by car. If you have rights, you can rent it without any problems. If you have planned a trip outside the city, which happens most often, then it is recommended to rent a jeep - despite the excellent quality of roads in the country, they are not everywhere, and where they are not, you can’t drive on anything other than a seriously prepared jeep .

International and intercity transportation is carried out by air and sea transport. The main air carrier is Iceland Air, which operates both domestic and international flights to the United States, Canada, European countries and Russia. The cities of Reykjavik and Keflavik have two international airports. In total, there are 99 airfields in the country, but most of them are unsuitable for landing large aircraft.

Most of all, Icelandic cuisine can remind us of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and, in some places, Baltic cuisines. As a rule, it is customary to use products that are able to withstand winter storage for a long period.

In its traditional form, Icelandic cuisine is based on seafood. One of the main components of the menu of most Icelanders is fish, which can be cooked in a wide variety of ways - herring, salmon and cod. Very often on the tables of Icelanders you can find: gravlax - marinated salmon; sild - pickled herring; hardfiskur - fried or dried fish generously flavored with spices; hakarl - in fact, obviously rotten fish, which is a great exotic for many tourists who first get acquainted with this dish; different types of sandwiches with fish, in all its forms, cannot be counted; the meat of many marine mammals.

When preparing meat dishes, Icelanders mainly use lamb. Very popular on the Icelandic table is svid - a whole pickled sheep's head, blakya - which is not just well-done meat, but literally burned to coals. It is also worth mentioning the smoked lamb meat - hangikyot. Another national dish of the Icelanders is haukarl, which is a somewhat rotten shark meat - the Giant or Polar Greenland shark. In fresh form, the meat of only the caught Polar shark is highly poisonous due to the high content of ammonia in it. The skinned shark carcass is cut into pieces and placed in specially prepared containers filled with gravel, in which the meat lies and gradually rots for 5-8 weeks or even more, depending on the season. Then the rather rotten shark meat is taken out and hung on special hooks, where it continues to “ripen” in the air for another 3-4 months. Pieces of meat during this time are covered with a crust on top, which then will need to be cut so that only the inner yellowish part of the piece remains, which is served on the table. Traditionally, in many Icelandic cities, Torrablot is held in January - a gastronomic festival where it is customary to cook and then taste the food of the ancient Vikings.

Skyr is a widespread, traditional dairy product in Icelandic cuisine. Skyr is a cross between curd mass and sour cream, has a sour taste and thick texture. Skyr is usually eaten with a spoon. Skyr is also used to prepare another Icelandic dish - hræringur ("mixed"), consisting of approximately equal parts of skyr and some kind of porridge. Jam or fruit is often added to the resulting dish and served for dessert, skyr can be served with fish for dinner, and cereal for breakfast.

The most popular drink is coffee. If we talk about stronger drinks, then the traditional Icelandic drink is brennyvin, something between whiskey and regular vodka. The Icelandic word "Brennyvin" can be translated as "burning wine". Brennivine is obtained by distillation of fermentation products based on caraway seeds and potatoes. The fermentation process is spontaneous, pre-prepared wort is usually fermented for 2-3 months. When the mash is ready, it is subjected to double distillation in copper stills. The alcohol content of the resulting drink is about 37.5 percent. People often call this drink "black death". According to Icelandic legend, Brennivin got his somewhat ominous nickname during the alcohol prohibition period in Iceland (1915-1922). But, this prohibiting law was somewhat softer than in the USA. In those years, the logo was created - a skull with crossbones. Very quickly, hard liquor drinkers got used to asking "black death" in liquor stores. According to tradition, "Brennyvin" is usually eaten with haukarl.

Nowhere else, except Iceland, you will not be offered to try "volcanic bread" - this is bread that is baked on an active volcano, in its upper layers.

Purchases

Iceland is an expensive country, but terribly unique in everything, including in terms of its products - from products made from volcanic lava to rotten shark meat, which is considered a delicacy - Iceland surprises at every turn. In our article about shopping in Iceland you will learn everything about souvenirs worth bringing from this country, where to buy them, study examples of prices for basic products and goods, get acquainted with the VAT refund system and become mentally prepared for shopping in this harsh but hospitable country.

The subject of our review today will be Iceland. country description, Interesting Facts, attractions - all this in the material below.

general information

Iceland is an island and a state. is 103 thousand square meters. km, where about 322 thousand people live. The capital is the city of Reykjavik, where one third of the total population of the country is concentrated, and with the suburbs - more than half. The official language is Icelandic, and the currency is the Icelandic krone, which in 2016 was 122 kroons per 1 USD. Iceland is a parliamentary republic headed by a president elected for 4 years. To enter the country, Russian citizens need a passport and a Schengen visa.

Location

Iceland - the country of ice - is located at the northern tip of the Atlantic Ocean, there are no more large areas of land up to the North Pole. Its northern part is located near the Arctic Circle.

The island is remote from the rest of Europe: from the nearest Faroe Islands at 420 km, from the island of Great Britain at 860 km, and from the nearest point on the continental coast of Norway at 970 km. An interesting fact is that, despite this, Iceland belongs to European countries, although it is much closer to the North American island of Greenland - 287 km.

Iceland: interesting facts about the country

The discovery of Iceland dates back to the end of the 8th century by Irish monks, and after them the Normans Nadod and Floki got here. Following these events, at the end of the 9th century, the island began to be actively settled by the Vikings - immigrants from Norway, who for half a century managed to master almost all the lands suitable for habitation and economic development.

In 1264, Iceland was annexed to Norway, and in 1381, it became part of Denmark. The country gained its independence only in 1944.

The inhabitants of the island are a courageous and proud people, respecting their historical past and cultural traditions. In particular, to the old Icelandic legends - sagas, telling about tribal strife, exciting events, about elves, gnomes and other mysterious characters, in whose existence some residents still believe.

Iceland is that there is practically no crime here - there is only one prison, and no more than a dozen people are kept in it. The police here go without weapons, but there is no army at all.

The basis of the modern economy is made up of only two industries - aluminum processing and fishing. By the way, it will be said that the islanders are second only to Norway in the annual volume of catch from European countries.

Iceland is one of the wealthiest countries. Thus, the average per capita annual income here is $39,000 (according to our ruble standards, every resident here, including a baby, is a millionaire).

Nature

The country of Iceland, for all its modest size, is the world's largest island of volcanic origin. The relief of the island is predominantly mountainous, the peaks are the vents of extinct and active volcanoes. The highest of them is the Hvannadalshnukur peak (2110 m), located on the southwestern coast. The lowest point is not far away - this is the glacial lake lagoon (0 meters above sea level).

Many of the active volcanoes from time to time declare themselves with powerful eruptions. The largest volcano of the island is considered to be the famous Hekla (1488 meters), located not far from the “Great Reykjavik” and frightened the locals with its eruption in 2000.

The longest river of the island is the Tjoursau (237 km). Of other water bodies, glaciers and glacial lakes abound, occurring everywhere and in innumerable numbers.

Iceland is unique in its diversity of natural landscapes. In addition to glaciers, the surface of the country in many places is covered with lava fields. Geysers and hot springs are often found in these areas. Rocky placers covered with dense mosses and lichens, islands of birch forests and meadows of grassy herbs are widespread throughout the island. Waterfalls give special picturesqueness to the area in various parts of the island. On the west coast, numerous fjords amaze with their beauty. National parks have been created to protect the stunning nature in the country.

Climate and typical weather

Iceland is a northern country that doesn't quite live up to its icy name. Washing it, especially from the south, the Gulf Stream, do not allow it to become a cold, harsh desert.

Winters here are relatively warm, with an average monthly temperature of -1 °C, which can be the envy of many more southerly located territories of Russia. However, during some periods of this season, cold winds are frequent, which, together with accumulations of drifting Arctic ice, especially in the southeast, cause sharp drops in temperature to -30 ° C. Daylight hours are no more than five hours.

Summer is not hot here. Average temperatures in July are only +12 °C. It is warmest on the south coast - up to +20 °C, with highs up to + 30 °C. In summer, the entire island is illuminated by the sun around the clock, and there are white nights characteristic of the polar latitudes.

Precipitation is unevenly distributed across the island. For example, on the west coast, their number ranges from 1300 to 2000 mm per year, on the northeast their norm is up to 750 mm, and in the mountainous part of the southern regions they can have values ​​up to 4000 mm.

The weather here is very changeable, and without exaggeration we can say that it can change in just a few minutes. It had just been warm and sunny, when suddenly the sky was overcast, and a cold, dank wind blew. Residents of the country jokingly tell their visiting guests and tourists: “If suddenly you didn’t like something in the weather, then don’t despair, wait half an hour and it will change.”

Attractions Reykjavik

Reykjavik - main city, the capital of Iceland. What country can not boast of a huge number of attractions? So Iceland has something to show tourists. In particular, its main city houses historical and architectural monuments, museums and modern institutions. Among them, the attention of tourists is attracted by:

• Temple of Hallgrimskirkja is a cult Lutheran building of the mid-20th century, in the form of a volcanic eruption. Inside is a large organ. In front of the church is a statue of the Happy.
• The Cathedral, which is the main temple, built at the end of the XVIII century.
• The building of the Althingi (Parliament) in the style of classicism, erected in the 19th century.
• Perlan, or pearl, looks like a camomile with a blue dome. It is located on a high hill and has a rotating platform for viewing the panorama of the city. Inside the building are the Saga Museum, a winter garden, an artificial geyser, shopping pavilions and restaurants.
• Kaffi Reykjavik - this bar is unusual in that it consists of solid blocks of ice, and drinks are always served in ice glasses.
• Concert Hall "Kharpa" Its façades are made up of multicolored glass cells, which, with the help of built-in LEDs, impress visitors with a play of colors.

Blue Lagoon

The lagoon is a geothermal spring and resort with all the proper infrastructure. This is perhaps the most famous and visited place for hundreds of thousands of tourists. A lagoon is an artificially created body of water with a constant temperature of 40 °C. This is the only place of its kind on the planet that is filled with visitors all year round. It has been found that bathing in the mineral-rich waters of the lake helps to heal skin diseases.

Valley of Geysers

It arose in the XIII century after a strong earthquake. The main source, called the Great Geysir, throws out a jet of water of very high temperature to a height of up to 70 meters from a depth of more than two thousand meters. The contemplation of this majestic spectacle leaves a strong impression. There are also places for bathing in less hot springs. Residents use the natural heat of geysers to heat their homes.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

The waterfall is located in the south of the island and is very popular with tourists. Water falls from a height of 60 meters. She runs down the rocks that used to be coastline, but now a picturesque valley has formed on this place. The beauty of the waterfall (combined with the surrounding landscape) has no equal. That is why his photographs are placed on calendars and postcards.

colored mountains

During the warm season in national park Landmannalaugar you can see a striking sight - colorful mountains. The slopes of the mountains shine with unusual stripes - brown, yellow, pink, blue, purple, green, white and black. The reason for this phenomenon is associated with the volcanic origin of rocks. The location of the park near the Hekla volcano makes it one of the most popular tourist centers countries.

Vatnajökull National Park

What else can you tell about Iceland? Facts about the country, all its sights simply cannot be listed in one article. But still I would like to mention this park. It was created in 2008. It covers almost 12% of Iceland and is the largest in Europe. The main highlight of the park is the eponymous glacier with an area of ​​​​up to 8100 square meters. km and ice thickness up to 500 meters. Under its shell, there are beautiful ice caves, as well as seven active volcanoes.

As an entertainment, Vatnajökull tourists can take walks along beautiful places, engage in winter sports, but bathing in hot springs located inside ice caves is in special demand.

Undoubtedly, this is only a small part of the natural attractions of the country of Iceland; many more interesting and mysterious things await tourists in its open spaces.

Landafraæði Íslands 65° N sh. 18°W d. HGIOL

In the north, the island is washed by the Greenland Sea, in the east - by the Norwegian Sea; to the west, the 280 km wide Denmark Strait separates it from Greenland.

The total area of ​​Iceland is about 103 thousand km² (18th place in the world among the islands). Of these, 11.8 thousand km² are covered with glaciers. Lakes and glaciers occupy 14.3% of the territory; only 23% is covered with vegetation. Most large lakes: Torisvatn (reservoir) (83-88 km²) and Thingvallavatn (82 km²). The central part of the island is a desert region of volcanoes, sand and lava fields, uplands and glaciers. Plateaus from 500 to 1000 m high prevail. Only 1/4 of the territory is suitable for habitation - coastal lowlands and valleys.

geological formation

Fault in the earth's crust formed by the divergence of the North American and Eurasian plates

Iceland Island is located on the crest of the North Atlantic global tectonic suture, along which the North American and Eurasian lithospheric plates diverge.

The island is composed of thick layers of basalts and other lavas, which gradually erupted from the Lower Miocene to the present day, that is, over 20 million years. The lava layers are up to 7 km thick.

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Volcanoes

Iceland is one of the most active regions of volcanic activity on Earth. Eruptions occur here on average once every five years [ ] . On the territory of the island there are active volcanoes (Hekla, Lucky), geysers, hot springs. Due to the constant divergence of plates on the island, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes periodically occur.

Volcano Hekla

Ash-covered glacier after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Hekla is the most popular volcano in Iceland. Its ideally correct gentle cone is clearly visible from Reykjavik, and for the Icelanders this mountain is the same national symbol as for the Japanese Fujiyama. And just like in Japan, thousands of tourists strive every year to climb its peak and look into the dark depths of the crater.

However, classical volcanoes of the central type are not very characteristic of Iceland. Here is another - fissure - type of volcanism. A striking example is the Lucky volcano - it's not even a volcano, but a giant crack in the earth's crust filled with solidified lava.

Extinct centuries ago, the Esja volcano is visible from everywhere in Reykjavik as a long mountain, almost a whole range, with a flat top. Popular rumor claims that Esya is a petrified giantess. Geologists believe that the mountain was formed from numerous solidified lava flows, which were layered one on top of the other for many centuries.

Glaciers

The area of ​​the island is 103 thousand km², of which 11.8 thousand km² is covered by glaciers. The largest sheet glacier (the largest in terms of volume not only in Iceland, but throughout Europe) - Vatnajökull - is located in the southeast of the island. Its area is 8300 km². This is a vast ice plateau, pierced in eight places by the tips of extinct and active volcanoes. Other large ice caps are Hofsjokull and Laungjokull in the interior of the island and Mýrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull in the south (covered by active volcanoes). The Icelandic glaciers are the largest area of ​​modern glaciation in Europe.