Everything you need to know about Iceland. . .

The Country - Geography
Iceland is one of the largest islands in the North Atlantic. Iceland has a total area of 103,000 sq km, or 39.756 sq miles. From north to south the greatest distance is about 300 km or 185 miles, from west to east about 500 km or 305 miles. The coastline is 6000 km or 3700 miles and the shortest distance to other countries are 286 km or 180 miles to Greenland, 795 km or 495 miles to Scotland and 950 km or 590 miles to Norway.

The Arctic Circle touches the island of Grimsley off the north coast of Iceland. Iceland straddles a submarine ridge connecting Scotland with Greenland and has one of the Earth's major geological faults - the midAtlantic rift - running right through it.

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic countries in the world, and nearly all types of volcanoes formed on earth can be found in Iceland. Geologically Iceland is a very young country still in progress of its formation. The appearance of the island of Surtsey, created by submarine eruption off the south coast in 1963, is one example.

The Viking Age -
The word Viking is a collective designation of Nordic peoples, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Icelanders, who ranged abroad during a period of dynamic Scandinavian expansion in the Middle Ages, from about AD 800 to 1100. Called the Viking Age, the period has long been popularly associated with unbridled piracy, when freebooters came swarming out of the northlands in their predatory long ships to burn and pillage their way across civilized Europe. This however, is now recognized as a gross simplification. Modern scholarship emphasizes the achievements of the Viking Age in terms of Scandinavian art and craftsmanship, marine technology, exploration and the development of commerce, the Vikings as traders, not raiders.

In 2001 archaeological remains were excavated in Aoalstraeti, which turned out to be the oldest relics of human habitation in Reykjavik, from before AD 871. The finds included a hall or longhouse, which is now preserved in its original location as the focal point of the exhibition about life in Viking Age Reykjavik.

The exhibition aims to provide insight into the environment of the Reykjavik farm at the time of the first settlers. Exhibits include artefacts from arechaeological excavations in central Reykjavik. The construction of Viking Age buildings is explained using multi-media technology. Computer technology is used to give an impression of what life was like in the hall.

The Weather in Iceland -
Iceland enjoys a much milder climate than its name and location adjacent to the Arctic circle would imply. A branch of the Gulf Stream flows along the southern and the western coast greatly moderating the climate. In coastal areas the monthly average temperatures range from approximately -5C to 15C, with termperatures varying around 0C +/- 5C in wintertime and 10C +/- 5C in summertime. The winter temperatures are approximately 15C warmer than in other areas located at the same latitude (63-67 degrees N), and the summertime average temperatures are approximately 5C lower. Due to the Gulf Stream, mild Atlantic air is brought in contact with colder Arctic air resulting in a climate that is marked by frequent changes in weather and storminess. Furthermore this leads to more rainfall in the southern and western part than in the northern part of the island.

The summer tourist season is from late May to early September. During the first half of this period the sun stays above the horizon for almost 24 hours and the interplay of light and shadows on mountains, lava fields and glaciers yield an ever changing landscape. However, even during the middle of summer the sky is frequently cloudy or overcast and the sunshine does not warm the air much. Hence, during daytime, the air is usually cool ("refreshing" is the local euphemism) and cold during nighttime. Also, by the coast the inhabited area, summertime warming is often capped by sea-breeze, resulting in temperatures around 12 degrees centrigrade.

The winter season is the abode of long nights, and severe winter storms. However, the silence of the frozen expanse and the dance of the Aurora Borealis on a clear night sky draws an increasing number of tourists.