what do you know about Iceland?

[UllaCountryGal]

okey I'm very curious, what you all know about my country and nation and our habits, tell me.

the poll is just for fun

[Blue_Firefly]

I know what the flag looks like and I heard the nature is amazing there

[MiniShaniaTwain]

I know it's in Europe.

[UllaCountryGal]

I know what the flag looks like and I heard the nature is amazing there

hmmm.... :hmmm: nothing else?

[Blue_Firefly]

lol sorry, but yeah that's all I know. I havent been outside of Canada so to be honest, I don't pay much attention to other countries and where they are and such.

[FinnFreak]

hmm... gotta choose that last option... ;)

heh - Iceland, the home of Björk - originally from the band Sugarcubes...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/Bj%F6rklmb.jpg

You have no army of your own - the US has a military airbase in Keflavik, your main industry is fishing, but tourism & high tech is on a rise... because of your unique geothermal power & geysers, hot water & heating is cheap... you even grow your own bananas... :)

...didn't you use to have a female president too, called Vigdis Finnbogadottir..?

...just a few things picked up from school...


John - :)

[shania-little]

Well let's see... I know that it's a country in Europe, ;) that it has an amazing nature, the geysers like John mentioned!
I also know what the flag looks like ;). And of course, Björk! Talking about music: it also reminds me of the Eurovision songcontest attendees of Iceland. 2 years ago they had a nice song but I forgot the name of the song/singer :p ;)

[Annette]

I know it is in Europe
It has an amazing nature
I know the capital's name
I know flag

And we read Icelandic sagas in school.... I just can't remember them:uhh:

[UllaCountryGal]

you even grow your own bananas... :)
No actually we dont, we tryed, it didnt work out, we grow tomatos and cuecombers though

...didn't you use to have a female president too, called Vigdis Finnbogadottir We did indeed, well done. She was the first female in the world to be elected as a leader by the nation.

very well donet also reminds me of the Eurovision songcontest attendees of Iceland. 2 years ago they had a nice song but I forgot the name of the song/singer :p ;) That would probably if I remember correctly be Birgitta Haukdal singing a song called Open Your Heart

And we read Icelandic sagas in school.... I just can't remember them:uhh:
Dont worry I dont think anybody remembers them, I know I dont, I've read quite few, I cant remember much what happened in those books

[FinnFreak]

This is an interesting fact:

Women retain their names after marriage, since Icelanders generally don't use family names. Instead, children are named after their parents, usually the father but sometimes the mother: Jón, son of Halldór, would be Jón Halldórsson; Sigríður, daughter of Páll, would be Sigríður Pálsdóttir.

So, if Shania would've been from Iceland, her real name might have been:

Eilleen Sharonsdóttir


John - :p

[shania-little]

very well done That would probably if I remember correctly be Birgitta Haukdal singing a song called Open Your Heart



yep that was her!

[FinnFreak]

No actually we dont, we tryed, it didnt work out, we grow tomatos and cuecombers though

oh, I guess it was tried in the 80's - my facts need some updating... ;)

umm... I recently saw a documentary about hydrogen busses being used in Reykjavik - I have the understanding that it's been expanded to other areas as well...


John - :)

[Annette]

You also have those hot springs :up:

[matty]

Hmmm....Iceland is an island of 103.000 km2 (39,756 sq.miles), with an average height of 500 m above sea level. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, rises to 2.119 m and over 11 per cent of the country is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe.
Out of a population numbering more than 280.000, half live in the capital Reykjavík and its neighbouring towns in the southwest. Keflavík International Airport is located about 50 km from the capital. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most centres of population are situated on the coast.
Your language is based on the vikings and your economy is dependant on fishing.

I just did some reading, but i knew it was green and had nice scenery. ;) :uhh:

Or would you be talking about this iceland (http://www.iceland.co.uk/) :supwink: :p

[FinnFreak]

Or would you be talking about this iceland (http://www.iceland.co.uk/) :supwink: :p

:funny: - I didn't think of that..! - I've actually been to Iceland (in the UK)


John - :p

[ka-ching]

Björk... she wore such a weird swan dress a few years ago!
I know the capital: Reykjavic
And the thingy.. I dont know what its called in Englsih.. But its near a volcano I think, where hot water splashed up in the air?

;)

[Afonso]

I know it is in Europe
It has an amazing nature
I know the capital's name
I know flag

And we read Icelandic sagas in school.... I just can't remember them:uhh:


I agree, I know that , but iceland is a lonely country and isn't much divulged.
But should be a very cool and cooooold :D country

[Shaniabomber99]

All I know it's in Europe

Carley

[UllaCountryGal]

Or would you be talking about this iceland (http://www.iceland.co.uk/) :supwink: :p
I think the store is owned by icelandic people either that or Iceland sued the chain for using the name, I think both

[pep_sesse]

Don't know soo much, But I know their is a beautiful nature ;)

pep_sesse

[scotsman4shania]

Hae Hæ Ulla, hvað segir þú? Hvernig gengur? Hvernig er veðrið í dag? :D

Gaman að hitta þig! ég heiti Michael, og ég er frá Skotland .. :p

(Viltu leiðrétta Íslensku mína þegar ér er að tala?) :funny:

Ísland?.....við skulum sjá :really: landið er mjög fallegt ;) :angel:

Mig langar að fara til Reykjavik, og Ísland... :( :)

Farðu vel með þig, og sjáumst siðar. :cool:

OK.. has anyone ever spoken to you in Icelandic here before? :huh: :cool: :p hehe

Well, I know much more about Iceland than I did last year, thanks to my friend in Iceland.
Apart from all the obvious things mentioned before, such as the geography of the country, the thermal power, the way the people keep traditional family names like "dottir" or "son", I know also that :

Iceland is the most expensive country in Europe (apparently) :uhh:

Many roads there are just gravel roads, and the centre of the country is largely inhospitable with glaciers, volcanic activity etc

Some traditional Icelandic food includes rotten shark meat, ram's testicles, and dried fish :eek:

Many Icelanders believe in the existence of elves ,and the building of some roads etc have had to be re-routed because it might cross traditional "elf land" :] :D

Some "alternative facts" about Iceland there for you... :funny: ;)

[Annette]

:shocked: I can acutally understand most of what you wrote in Islandic.. didn't know it was so similiar to Danish lol!

[Charly]

a small european country with few population... home of Björk.. one of the biggest sellers of fish

[scotsman4shania]

:shocked: I can acutally understand most of what you wrote in Islandic.. didn't know it was so similiar to Danish lol!

Well, you are fellow Vikings after all, :D and Denmark used to "own" Iceland in the past, until it became independent ;)

I'll write something in Danish too...... er.. sometime :p , once I do some homework on it :funny: :love:

[UllaCountryGal]

Hae Hæ Ulla, hvað segir þú? Hvernig gengur? Hvernig er veðrið í dag? :D

Gaman að hitta þig! ég heiti Michael, og ég er frá Skotland .. :p

(Viltu leiðrétta Íslensku mína þegar ér er að tala?) :funny:

Ísland?.....við skulum sjá :really: landið er mjög fallegt ;) :angel:

Mig langar að fara til Reykjavik, og Ísland... :( :)

Farðu vel með þig, og sjáumst siðar. :cool:

OK.. has anyone ever spoken to you in Icelandic here before? :huh: :cool: :p hehe

Iceland is the most expensive country in Europe (apparently) :uhh:

Some traditional Icelandic food includes rotten shark meat, ram's testicles, and dried fish :eek:
Hæ Michael, ég segi bara allt ágætt. :D
:eek: This truly is a first for me, not only are u the first person in here to speak icelandic to me, but the first foreigner to do so, fullstop. I shurely did not expect this.

We do indeed have very odd traditional foods, what you mentions, plus lamb liver and face. the dried fish is my fave, really good, so is the rotten and sour shark, but be sure to sip a little bit of black death with it, that is a hoot.

I have noticed that it is the most expensive country in Europe. There are always news on TV about how some poducts are cheaper in other countries.

[UllaCountryGal]

:shocked: I can acutally understand most of what you wrote in Islandic.. didn't know it was so similiar to Danish lol!

yea it is, the grammar in many cases just the same and some sentences can be look pretty much the same in both languages. But they sound like black and white

[Annette]

yea it is, the grammar in many cases just the same and some sentences can be look pretty much the same in both languages. But they sound like black and white
That's pretty cool! I had no idea!

So, written it's they are similiar, but not spoken?

[UllaCountryGal]

That's pretty cool! I had no idea!

So, written it's they are similiar, but not spoken?

yeah exactly, it's like danish is more loosen up than icelanic. icelandic more like swedish in the pronounciation, but a bit rougher

[Annette]

yeah exactly, it's like danish is more loosen up than icelanic. icelandic more like swedish in the pronounciation, but a bit rougher
Okay... I doubt I'll be able to uderstand much spoken.. since I hardly understand Swedish :uhh:

[scotsman4shania]

Sæl og blessuð Ulla
Hæ Michael, ég segi bara allt ágætt. :D
bara fint! það er gott að heyra! :D

:eek: This truly is a first for me, not only are u the first person in here to speak icelandic to me, but the first foreigner to do so, fullstop. I shurely did not expect this.

Hey, no problem - I am glad I gave you a nice surprise :D :p ;)
Yeah, I know it is surprising for someone outside Iceland to know some Icelandic :p
But I assure you I am no expert- I just know a little really.... :]

But I would like to visit Iceland someday for sure.


We do indeed have very odd traditional foods, what you mentions, plus lamb liver and face. the dried fish is my fave, really good, so is the rotten and sour shark, but be sure to sip a little bit of black death with it, that is a hoot.

Hmm..... black death..? sounds interesting :shocked: :D hehe, I will have to try that. :p

SO..... DO YOU BELIEVE IN ELVES TOO?? :huh: ;) :supwink:

Höfum samband, og ég ætla að fá tvö flök af nýrri eða saltaðri síld :funny: :p

[UllaCountryGal]

Hmm..... black death..? sounds interesting :shocked: :D hehe, I will have to try that. :p some very strong alchol, like vodka only Icelandic

SO..... DO YOU BELIEVE IN ELVES TOO?? :huh: ;) :supwink: I dont personally believe in them, they are more like a myth.
I can tell you on thing my name is a name of many elf-queens. it's a elf name.

Höfum samband, og ég ætla að fá tvö flök af nýrri eða saltaðri síld :funny: :p Já höfum endilega samband, Það er ekki hægt að fá síld í flökum en ég mæli með að þú fáir þér flök af ýsu í staðinn til að steikja ;)

[scotsman4shania]

some very strong alchol, like vodka only Icelandic

I dont personally believe in them, they are more like a myth.
I can tell you on thing my name is Úlfhildur and many elf-queens have that name. it's a elf name.

Já höfum endilega samband, Það er ekki hægt að fá síld í flökum en ég mæli með að þú fáir þér flök af ýsu í staðinn til að steikja ;)

Oh, I prefer beer to spirits, but I´ll try anything once :p
Just how strong is that alcohol?? :uhh: It must be strong if it is
called "Black death" I guess :funny: :eek:

Oh, nice to meet you elf queen ;)

maybe it is like our Loch Ness Monster in Scotland...... it is just a myth for the tourists. :) but then again.. you just never know.?? maybe the elves and the monster do exist?? hehe ;)

I saw some people trying to eat the shark, dried fish, and er.. ram's "bits" on TV once, I think it was the "Blue Peter" kids show.
And despite nearly being sick with the shark meat, they managed to at least eat some of everything! :D
But if you are in another country, you have to try the local food after all. :]

[UllaCountryGal]

also one thing we have that I know you scotish ppl have aswell, and other ppl dont really get. Haggis

[scotsman4shania]

also one thing we have that I know you scotish ppl have aswell, and other ppl dont really get. Haggis

:eek: :eek:

You eat haggis too?? wow, I did not know that! we got something in common then :great:

I thought for a moment, you were going to say kilts :funny: :biglaugh:

[UllaCountryGal]

no Icelandic men would never dare wearing a kilt

[scotsman4shania]

no Icelandic men would never dare wearing a kilt

Especially in the winter time.... :eek: :nervous: :chill:

Wearing one in Scotland would be cold enough, but I can imagine the Icelandic winters would be much much colder :p :uhh:

[UllaCountryGal]

Especially in the winter time.... :eek: :nervous: :chill:

Wearing one in Scotland would be cold enough, but I can imagine the Icelandic winters would be much much colder :p :uhh:

you know Iceland isnt so much colder than Scotland

[Kristian]

I don't know much :p

Introduction
Background:
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Geography
Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates:
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People Iceland
Population:
296,737 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 33.53 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.91% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
male: 78.13 years
female: 82.34 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002)
Languages:
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Iceland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
local short form: Island
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament
elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118
Flag description:
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Iceland
Economy - overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.373 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 9.6%
services: 79.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
158,100 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.154 billion
expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)
Public debt:
35.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish
Industries:
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
8.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
8.271 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
7.692 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Current account balance:
$-570 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
$2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners:
UK 19.1%, Germany 17.1%, Netherlands 11%, US 10.2%, Spain 6.9%, Denmark 4.6% (2004)
Imports:
$3.307 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.3%, US 10%, Norway 9.8%, Denmark 7.6%, UK 6.9%, Sweden 6.4%, Netherlands 5.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$935 million (2004)
Debt - external:
$3.073 billion (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
$NA
Currency:
Icelandic krona (ISK)
Currency code:
ISK
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Iceland Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
190,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
279,100 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.is
Internet hosts:
122,175 (2004)
Internet users:
195,000 (2003)
Transportation Iceland Top of Page
Highways:
total: 13,004 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,331 km
unpaved: 8,673 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT
by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 30 (2005)
Airports:
98 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2004 est.)

Military Iceland
Military branches:
no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
0
Military - note:
defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Transnational Issues Iceland
Disputes - international:
Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

[Kristian]

Just some facts I remember :supwink:

[FinnFreak]

also one thing we have that I know you scotish ppl have aswell, and other ppl dont really get. Haggis

...I've tried Haggis once in Drumnadrochit... ;)

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. It is a weighty sausage, and is traditionally served with "neeps and tatties" which is mashed swede (rutabaga) and mashed potatoes - Scots generally refer to Swedish turnips as 'turnips' rather than 'swedes', hence "neeps". This said, the etymology is confusing: the large yellow-orange root vegetable Scots refer to as a turnip is called a swede in those parts of Britain where the small white-purple root vegetable is called a turnip.

Although there are many recipes, some of which use deer offal, it is normally made with the following ingredients: sheep's heart, liver, and lungs (or "lights"), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach for several hours. In this it somewhat resembles other stuffed intestines, otherwise known as sausages, of which it is among the largest types. There are also meat-free recipes specifically for vegetarians which taste very similar to the meat-based recipes.

In some ways, the northeastern U.S. dish scrapple resembles haggis, however haggis differs in the following ways: it uses sheep offal instead of pig offal and oatmeal instead of cornmeal (maize); it is a sausage rather than a meat loaf; and it is boiled instead of being baked. As a result, the appearance and the flavour vary significantly.

Also similar to:

Saumagen (Germany)

Pölsa (Sweden)


John - ;)

[Gilly]

I don't know much :p

Introduction
Background:
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Geography
Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates:
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People Iceland
Population:
296,737 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 33.53 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.91% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
male: 78.13 years
female: 82.34 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002)
Languages:
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Iceland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
local short form: Island
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament
elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118
Flag description:
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Iceland
Economy - overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.373 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 9.6%
services: 79.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
158,100 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.154 billion
expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)
Public debt:
35.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish
Industries:
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
8.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
8.271 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
7.692 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Current account balance:
$-570 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
$2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners:
UK 19.1%, Germany 17.1%, Netherlands 11%, US 10.2%, Spain 6.9%, Denmark 4.6% (2004)
Imports:
$3.307 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.3%, US 10%, Norway 9.8%, Denmark 7.6%, UK 6.9%, Sweden 6.4%, Netherlands 5.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$935 million (2004)
Debt - external:
$3.073 billion (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
$NA
Currency:
Icelandic krona (ISK)
Currency code:
ISK
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Iceland Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
190,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
279,100 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.is
Internet hosts:
122,175 (2004)
Internet users:
195,000 (2003)
Transportation Iceland Top of Page
Highways:
total: 13,004 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,331 km
unpaved: 8,673 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT
by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 30 (2005)
Airports:
98 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2004 est.)

Military Iceland
Military branches:
no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
0
Military - note:
defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Transnational Issues Iceland
Disputes - international:
Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Oh woooow!! :shocked: Nah, wouldn't say you know a lot... :p ;)

One of the things I know bout Iceland is that there are lots of those "hot springs".. if they're called that. Hope you know what I mean.. I mainly know that he scenery must be beautiful :love: I'd always dreamt of going there on vacation.. really have to do that one day :)

[matty]

Just some facts I remember :supwink:

Smarty pants :p

[FinnFreak]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/StuartPortnoy/Iceland/Geyser.jpg

A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air (Bryan 1995). The name geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the verb gjósa, "to gush".

The formation of geysers requires a favourable hydrogeology which exists in only a few places on Earth, and so they are fairly rare phenomena. About 1000 exist worldwide, with about half of these in Yellowstone National Park, USA (Glennon, J.A. 2005). Geyser eruptive activity may change or cease due to ongoing mineral deposition within the geyser plumbing, exchange of functions with nearby hot springs, earthquake influences, and human intervention (Bryan, T.S. 1995).

Erupting fountains of liquefied nitrogen have been observed on Neptune's moon Triton. These phenomena are also often referred to as geysers. On Triton, the geysers appear to be driven by solar heating instead of geothermal energy. The nitrogen, liquefied by a kind of greenhouse effect, may erupt to heights of 8 km.


John - :D

[UllaCountryGal]

on the 17th of June 2000(I think) We got a big eathquake, it was about 6 on the richter scale, that cause the hot spring Geysir to erupt, He had only erupted after human intervention for some time before that. But after it erupted on it's own, a lot of other smaller hot springs got activated. No Geysir is restricted cause it might erupt at any time. (I have seen it , it is spectacular) not like it used to be, ppl could walk right onto the edge.
The little hot spring in John's picture is called Strokkur and is a baby brother to Geysir.

now as far as the haggis sauage thing. What you say is in swedis pölsa, we have that too, that's more of a hot-dog thing, we call it pylsa, (with a y cause it's pølser in danish). ex-pres.Bill Clinton had one of these while he was here in town, and few days after he had a blod cloth or something of that nature.. If you want to experience a "pylsa" sausage and cant come to Iceland you can get them on Strojet in Copenhagen in icelandic hot-dog stand

[GorToma]

I know it is in Europe
It has an amazing nature
they declared in The Times that they do not support the War in iraq
I know the capital's name

and the most important thing is

:great: Icelandic women are the most beutiful in the whole world

[Blue_Firefly]

I don't know much :p.....

.....blah blah blah and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Oh sure, anyone can sound smart if they were to go on google and look up all that info and then copy & paste :rolleyes:

[Annette]

now as far as the haggis sauage thing. What you say is in swedis pölsa, we have that too, that's more of a hot-dog thing, we call it pylsa, (with a y cause it's pølser in danish). ex-pres.Bill Clinton had one of these while he was here in town, and few days after he had a blod cloth or something of that nature.. If you want to experience a "pylsa" sausage and cant come to Iceland you can get them on Strojet in Copenhagen in icelandic hot-dog stand

*Writes mental note to check that out next time she's in Copenhagen* Well, maybe... not sure I really want to taste that haggis thingy.

[SHANIANUTS!]

Some traditional Icelandic food includes .. ram's testicles,... :funny: ;)I eat out every week with buds in the tri state area around Cinci OH. We went to a well known down home oldtime Lexington Ky restaurant (that is featured in the book "Southern Restaurants") a couple of years ago that specialized in Rocky Mountain Oysters, more commonly known as lamb's testicles:

..here are some recipes for them:
http://www.sheepscreek.com/recipes/lamb-treats.html

They were delicious.

[Troll]

I eat out every week with buds in the tri state area around Cinci OH. We went to a well known down home oldtime Lexington Ky restaurant (that is featured in the book "Southern Restaurants") a couple of years ago that specialized in Rocky Mountain Oysters, more commonly known as lamb's testicles:

..here are some recipes for them:
http://www.sheepscreek.com/recipes/lamb-treats.html

They were delicious.

I have heard about those. Never tried one.

[Troll]

Cool Fact: "It's against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland."

[Roger]

This is a really interesting thread!

Various comments:

- here in Canada we learn nothing about Iceland in school

- I have always wanted to go there

- your language still uses letters long since abandoned in English following the Norman conquest of 1066. I am referring to the letters to represent the voiced and voiceless "th" sound. Sorry - don't know how to reproduce them on my computer. We should have kept them in English. We were overly influenced by the Norman French which used the exclusively Latin alphabet which lacks these letters.

- here in Canada it is increasingly the custom for women to keep their maiden names. Our daughter has kept her maiden name. In Quebec a woman must keep her maiden name by law.

[UllaCountryGal]

*Writes mental note to check that out next time she's in Copenhagen* Well, maybe... not sure I really want to taste that haggis thingy.
The thing in Copenhagen is not haggis, it's pylsa( hot-dog), how it is eaten here( I havent seen anybody in other countries eat one that way and with the same stuff as we do) The bread sausage(hot-dog) is longer and so is the bread. and in the bread you can put ketchup, mustard, fried onion, raw onion and a yellow sause we call Remúlaði(it doesnt exist in english, there's no word for it). it's very good you can choose what u like. I personaly like it with ketchup, fried onion and remúlaði( I supose it could be remulade in ohter languages)

Cool Fact: "It's against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland."

that is true, but dont get the wrong idea, we are not some dog-less country. If one wants to get a dog they have to apply to the state for a permition. But the fact is that everybody gets the permition right a way

[UllaCountryGal]

- your language still uses letters long since abandoned in English following the Norman conquest of 1066. I am referring to the letters to represent the voiced and voiceless "th" sound. Sorry - don't know how to reproduce them on my computer. We should have kept them in English. We were overly influenced by the Norman French which used the exclusively Latin alphabet which lacks these letters.

you know like so many other nations we wrote in latin but always spoke in icelandic. but then one good fella came and desided to change it and write in icelandic, cus it didnt make any sence to use 2 different language to comunicate, and plus not everybody knew latin. so he started to write in icelandic and he tried to use the latin alphabet, but it didnt work as it didnt have so many sounds that we had to have. So he just added all the missing sounds to the latin alphabet and voila we had an alphabet of our own.

The Faroe Ilands's alphabet is the same, but I dont know how it happened there, probaly just a similar guy over there who got the same idea

[Troll]

that is true, but dont get the wrong idea, we are not some dog-less country. If one wants to get a dog they have to apply to the state for a permition. But the fact is that everybody gets the permition right a way

Thanks for the info.

[Annette]

The thing in Copenhagen is not haggis, it's pylsa( hot-dog), how it is eaten here( I havent seen anybody in other countries eat one that way and with the same stuff as we do) The bread sausage(hot-dog) is longer and so is the bread. and in the bread you can put ketchup, mustard, fried onion, raw onion and a yellow sause we call Remúlaði(it doesnt exist in english, there's no word for it). it's very good you can choose what u like. I personaly like it with ketchup, fried onion and remúlaði( I supose it could be remulade in ohter languages)


Oh... I misunderstod then. But we eat our hot-dogs that way too :up: I just never had one:uhh: Don't like pølser that much... only with lots of remulade:p Remulade and ketchup goes with everything:p

[Troll]

Oh... I misunderstod then. But we eat our hot-dogs that way too :up: I just never had one:uhh: Don't like pølser that much... only with lots of remulade:p Remulade and ketchup goes with everything:p

Yep ketchup can go with anything,

[Groucho]

I know it is in Europe
It has an amazing nature
they declared in The Times that they do not support the War in iraq
I know the capital's name

and the most important thing is

:great: Icelandic women are the most beutiful in the whole world

That is what I heard, that Icelandic women are the most beautiful in the world. The vikings kidnapped the most beautiful women when they plunder countries, thus the reasoning. But is it really true? While Iceland is considered a part of Europe doesn't it sit off the northwest part of mainland Europe as an island? Is it about 1/2 between Europe and Canada? Ulla this has been interesting, reading all the comments about your country.

[ELEANOR MAW]

I know Iceland has very few tress and has lots and lots of Icelandic ponies :D
Also they eat a lot of fish & lamb :D
Also Bjork comes from Iceland :funny:

[UllaCountryGal]

Man this is an old thread.....


That is what I heard, that Icelandic women are the most beautiful in the world. The vikings kidnapped the most beautiful women when they plunder countries, thus the reasoning. But is it really true? While Iceland is considered a part of Europe doesn't it sit off the northwest part of mainland Europe as an island? Is it about 1/2 between Europe and Canada? Ulla this has been interesting, reading all the comments about your country.

The thing about the viking kidnapping beautiful women is only partly true. The fact of the matter is that the Vikings kidnapped everybody. They took a lot of celtic people and used them as slaves in Iceland. They even kidnapped Irish royalty.

Geographically Iceland is half in North America and half in Europe. Half the nation is living in "North America". Historically we are in Europe. We share history with the other Nordic countries. Iceland is an island in the middle of the North Atlantic ocean. Our nearest neighbor is Greenland. We decide to be on Greenwich Mean Time with no Daylight Saving, even though our geographical timezones are GMT -2 and GMT -1

I know Iceland has very few tress and has lots and lots of Icelandic ponies :D
Also they eat a lot of fish & lamb :D
Also Bjork comes from Iceland :funny:

I don't want to be rude or anything, but don't call the Icelandic horse a pony. It might not be as a big as all y'all's mainland horses. But it is no pony! It's a strong horse. Good for everything!
I get so offended when people refer to the Icelandic horse as a pony!

[Groucho]

Thanks Ulla.

[Troll]

Thanks for the info.

[StarryShania]

I don't know one thing about Iceland. I know this may sound stupid, but, is it always cold there ? And what do you do there for fun ? :D

[k_rine]

the only thing i know is that greenland is icy, and that iceland is green :up: But it's interesting enough. :great:

[StarryShania]

That's pretty funny, LOL.

[UllaCountryGal]

I don't know one thing about Iceland. I know this may sound stupid, but, is it always cold there ? And what do you do there for fun ? :D

Those are questions that I have heard so many times before, but I always answer them, because I don't want to keep people from knowing the facts.

It is not cold in Iceland. As a matter of fact it is most probably warmer in wintertime than in all the mainland countries in the northern hemisphere. Average heat in the winter is about 0°C. It's usually over that, like 0-5°C, but it can plummitt down to -15°C. But that's like 1 week per winter. In the summer time the average is about 10-15°C It doesn't get much higher than 15°C. But it can push 20°C but that is not common. I have to note that 15°C in Iceland does not feel the same as 15°C on the mainlands. We are surrounded by sea, and there are winds that blow around that make it feel warmer here.

What do you do there for fun?
Well there is one simple answer to that. Everything that you do!!
We play sports, we watch TV in HD, and just regular TV as well lol, go to the movies, go to theater, listen to music, read books, go to coffeehouses and restaurants and bars, hang out with other people, spend time on high-speed internet, we travel around the country and to other countries, go shopping in malls, have pets, creative things like crafting of any sort, etc, etc.

[Paul]

That is what I heard, that Icelandic women are the most beautiful in the world. The vikings kidnapped the most beautiful women when they plunder countries, thus the reasoning.

This could explain a lot of things, especially about the state of a lot of the British population still living here. :biglaugh:

[faithfully]

I know Iceland has ice:hmmm:

[Paul]

I remember watching TV and they showed the cars they have which they drive across the glaciers with, they have giant tyres and leave them quite flat to make driving easier. When they want to blow them up, they fill them with flammable air and set fire to it, it blows the tyres up to harder pressure without pumping. Crazy!

[Troll]

That is crazy