Where is Iceland located and how do people live there. Country Iceland: description and interesting facts

1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with about 320 thousand people living here, and before the Second World War the country's population was only 50 thousand.

2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when parting or divorcing, a couple always tries to maintain a good relationship. Cases when an ex-boyfriend does not communicate with an ex-girlfriend or ex-spouses do not talk to each other are extremely rare, because in any case, they have almost all friends and acquaintances in common.

3. Instead of surnames in Iceland - patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “sleep” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if it is a daughter) is added to the name of the father, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia Palmars daughter, is added.

4. In the event that the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but by the name of the mother.

5. Since everyone in Reykjavík knows everyone else, the doors of houses are often not locked, car keys are left in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or shop.

6. In Reykjavik, it's normal to go out to the nearest grocery store in your pajamas.

7. Residents of Reykjavik almost always pay for purchases with bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash is not accepted here.

8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is unhealthy, so in winter everyone here sniffs, that is, sorry, they draw snot into themselves.

9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent, even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems.

10. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think, the temperature here rarely drops below -6 degrees.

11. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, on December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets already at 16.00. In the summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which the white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing, in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.

12. The lack of sunlight in winter is compensated to some extent by the northern lights, you can see it all the time, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to it.

13. Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all the inhabitants of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, take fish oil without fail, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.
14. Almost all Icelanders have profiles on Facebook, according to the latest data, Iceland is an active country in the social network.

15. Even if an Icelander doesn't have a Facebook profile for some reason, they can still be easily found online. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the website www.ja.is, where they indicate their first and last name, phone number, address and place on the map where their house is located.

16. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed toward you, he demonstrates this by touching something and something.

17. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local residents like to dye their hair in a darker shade.

18. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required, most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, which is why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik so much.

19. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay pride parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.

20 . The most popular professions in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter tries to get an education in a creative specialty, and at the same time plays in some kind of rock or folk group.

21. For the reason described above, no one uses the services of designers, for example, to come up with the design of an apartment or a wedding dress. The inhabitants of Iceland are sure that each of them is an artist himself, therefore they prefer to invent the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress on their own.

22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.

23. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, they take the competition of young singers very seriously here, and during the live broadcast, the whole country is watching what is happening on TV.

24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland, the latter closed in 2008 during the crisis.

25. The most popular names in Iceland are Jon for men and Guvrun for women. Also, ancient mythological names are still common, for example, aðalsteinn, which means "main stone".

26. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use in everyday life not full, but abbreviated versions of names, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dabby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppi, Jon - Nonni, etc.

27. The language of Iceland has not changed much over the past 1000 years, so there are letters in it that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read the old Viking sagas in the original without any problems.

28. The local population generally loves to read, today, according to some reports, the Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.

29. The price of wine in Iceland is often determined not by the year of its production or quality, but by the strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost many times less than a 15-degree chatter.

30. There are no armed forces in Iceland, their functions are performed to some extent by the Coast Guard.

31. The police in Iceland do not carry weapons, they are not issued pistols.

32. Residents of Reykjavik for the most part are terrible at parking, they can throw the car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place do little to help.

33. Icelanders are trying to use only renewable energy sources, gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.

34. There is no need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes, it is still poured from a tap. This is water from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely drinkable.

35. But the hot tap water in Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.

36. Taking hot thermal baths is a popular evening activity in Reykjavik, the cost of visiting with the purchase of a subscription is about 5 euros.

37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a central heating system, which distinguishes the country favorably from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each inclusion of the heater.

38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic law allowed the inhabitants of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is because in the past, Turkish pirates often plundered Icelandic ships and coastal villages.

39. To this day, Icelandic law allows the inhabitants of the country to kill polar bears for food.

40. In Iceland, licorice is very popular, it is added to any dishes, plus chocolates with licorice filling are produced here.

41. The national dish of Iceland is haukarl, the rotten meat of the Greenland shark cut into small pieces. If you do not chew it and just swallow it, it is still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you will feel the “magic” taste of urea. The fact is that the Greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot for three months underground or in the basement. The creators of The Simpsons sneered at the taste of this dish, among other things, in one of the episodes of the animated series.

42. In Iceland, they eat mostly fish, while all dishes are poured over the top with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of fish can not be recognized.

43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, while Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and Coca-Cola is also very popular here.

44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which makes it difficult to build a house or a road. Before construction begins, local “witches” are consulted here to see if it is possible to move this or that stone, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, the Icelanders have to perform magical rites, for example, keep the stone in honey for some time.

45. 2,148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on a revival of Icelandic and Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to the traditional registration of marriage.

46. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus in Iceland, there are 15 Santa Clauses of different types, by and large they are all elves, in which the locals believe.

47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a playground.

48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted jacket made of sheep's wool with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time.

49. The Icelanders are proud to have the oldest undisbanded parliament in the world, it is called Alþingi and was founded in 930.

50. The inhabitants of Iceland are very trusting, when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous job, but simply take the newcomer's word for it.

At the moment, Iceland is one of the most liberated countries on Earth. Instead of the Western principle "Three dates, then sex", it is popular there: "First sex, names later."
Even in the 19th century, writers and historians noted the unusual freedom of Icelandic sexual traditions against the backdrop of other civilization. Thus, in the novel Paradise Regained, the Icelandic Nobel laureate Halldor Laxness writes [about the end of the 19th century]: “Love, as we understand it now, was not yet brought to Iceland. People united without romance, according to the unwritten law of nature and in accordance with German pietism of the Danish king. The word "love" was preserved in the language, but, apparently, as a legacy of old, distant times, when it had some completely different meaning; perhaps it was applied to horses.".
It is possible to explain the above quote by the difficulty of survival, they say, in a harsh climate, people are reduced by efficiency, not emotions, however, by now the situation has not changed significantly. Love in the civilized sense - that is, looking for the "only" or "only one", exchanging phones, meeting, embarrassed, sitting over a salad, discussing studies or work, then another 2-3 years, and you can pompously announce your engagement on Facebook - this harder to find in Iceland than snow in the south in summer.
“I can’t even imagine going on this crazy American date,” says Gemma, 29, an Icelandic living in Los Angeles. “What if things go wrong? I'd rather have sex first and see if there's contact before investing."
This instinctive denial of Gemma implicitly explains why the Icelandic norm is to meet a stranger, take him to an apartment, get fucked to death, and only then decide whether to see each other again. Political views and life goals go to hell, the potential for future relationships is measured by sexual compatibility or the quality of sex. The real "date," in the romantic American fashion, happens months after the first meeting - if sex throughout this time has motivated people to meet casually and without obligation.
The basis of Icelandic casual sex culture is drinking. Bars close at half past five in the morning - the Reykjavik Police Department seems to have a strict policy of giving people the freedom to drink whenever they want. A typical "frame" happens late after midnight in one of the many such establishments - it is assumed that if you are there at this time, then you are alone and looking for someone to have sex with. In fact, many Icelanders even see it as something of a courtship template.
“That's how it goes,” Gemma explains, “You get drunk, you dance, and then, without talking too much, you go for a walk. Just choose the one who kisses the best and head home. It is not customary to find out if a person has a girlfriend or a boyfriend - if you are in search, you have a reason. You can talk in the morning, if the hangover is not too bad,” she adds, “Breakfast is already a rarity, then everyone disperses. No expectations or desires beyond what has been described.”
By the way, an important and compelling reason for such a widespread culture of casual sex in Iceland is that this country is the most feminist on Earth. This is not an exaggeration, but data from the Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum, from 2016, according to which Iceland is among the countries in terms of the minimum gender gap.
In the same report, Iceland is also named first in many other categories of quality of life, such as trust in government, access to education, economic involvement and potential of the population, as well as health care, as well as longevity.
There are 1.7 female students for every student at the university. In Parliament, there are three men and two women. In 2010, Iceland became the first country to ban striptease, prostitution and lapdance to show the world that women, and people in general, are not trafficked. And in 2015, the country became actively involved in the FreeTheNipple movement, when angry feminists and feminists across Iceland flooded Twitter with calls for desexualization of breasts - also in the fight for gender equality.
The entire Icelandic nation is convinced that men and women are equal players in the field of liberalized sex. Men are allegedly obsessed with sex, and women are obsessed with family, and this is allegedly confirmed by science? - No, the Icelanders have not heard about this, according to their beliefs, a woman is not only able to love and thirst, but she can also ask for sex first, and clarify in bed exactly how she wants, it’s a man’s duty to try these “subtleties” to satisfy.
“I have no idea why other countries don't believe in women's gluttony,” says Gemma. “Women are just like that. I know this because I am! There is nothing to be ashamed of. Men are simply intimidated by female sexuality. In Iceland, we learn to drown out this fear by telling a man exactly what and how he can do - they like to know "how everything works for us", they maintain through this feeling of "power" over us, so they are not afraid. We ask for bed, what we want, because we are in tune with our sexuality, partly because we have more sexual experience that allows us to know our needs, partly because we learn what is pleasant and healthy for our bodies.
A lot of research proves that women are just as eager for sex as men, and maybe even more. In the culture of most countries, these manifestations are suppressed - a woman cannot even express healthy impulses, due to the traditions of "condemnation of whores" and the cult of rape. There are no such dangers on the northern island, and the word “whore” has recently taken on the meaning of a compliment.
"I'm not afraid of being a whore," Gemma says. "In Iceland, being a whore means not pissing, being confident and satisfied with your body."
And what do they say about a person who slept with 14 people in a week without the slightest intention of finding out who they were outside the bedroom? we ask.
“Cool!” replies Gemma.
Despite all this, people in Iceland fall in love and get married, although less often than in the rest of the world. This is more typical of older Icelanders.
Gemma had a couple of serious relationships with Icelanders, one ended in a fatally broken heart. Many of her friends also regularly met with someone. So you can’t say that there are no emotions in Iceland at all. Just after sex. Here is what Gemma says about the man who abandoned her and who was a special master of "this business":
"I fell in love with him because the sex was so passionate"
The exact opposite of the American idea, according to which "a man is someone who works for a woman."
Since women in Iceland are both financially and sexually free, perhaps also because some studies show women are less programmed for monogamy - weddings are rare. In the usual case, Icelandic women meet someone, have a child, raise him for several years, and only then does the question of marriage come up.
“There is a terrible synonym for divorce in English, 'broken family',” Icelandic Brindis Asmundottir tells CNN. “He implies that when people separate, something is left broken. It's not like that in Iceland. We live in a very small and protected space where a woman has many opportunities. So you can choose your path through life... We think ringing is evil,” Brindis jokes.
Of course, the sexy Icelandic utopia has a downside. An insane amount of sex leads to an insane risk of STDs. Iceland is a country that has been leading Europe in chlamydia for ten years, so that this disease is even called “Hello Reykjavik”.
Also, a lot of Icelanders are lonely.
“Many of us fill an inner void with fucking,” Gemma admits. Unfortunately, going into sex, we gradually forget how to establish this connection.
Petur, a 30-year-old friend of Gemma's who has lived all his life in Iceland, agrees with the tinge of depression: “You don't stop being lonely just because there's a body next to you. Sometimes I want consistency, but how do you take care of someone if you bring your girlfriend from the bar in the evening and she is gone in the morning?
Of course, not everything is so bad. Petur adds: “Not everyone sags alone, of course. There is a lot of entertainment in our culture, and I strongly support its openness. Yes, it’s hard to find a permanent girlfriend, but when no one expects you to have one, then you don’t perceive it as a flaw. You are a normal member of society.”
Not all Icelanders are fond of free sex, although, among young people, most of them are.
Joanna, a 35-year-old Icelander, is one of them.
“Petur’s complaints that he has “used up his potential” sound to me like a hint that he himself is a goat, and not something a woman would like to deal with.”, and this, as it were, emphasizes that not everything in the country is smooth with trend acceptance.
“Yes, we are more sexually liberated, but this does not mean that Iceland is a good place to come to have sex. We don't want people who come here on a sexy vacation,” adds Joanna.

The calm fury with which Icelandic footballers perform at Euro 2016, and the fans support them, makes one believe that Icelanders are the most proud nation on the planet.

About football. The first closed fields appeared 15 years ago

Even the most optimistic Icelanders did not believe that Iceland would beat England at Euro 2016, although, of course, everyone hoped in their hearts.

In fact, football has never before held any place of honor in the Icelandic sports hierarchy. For many years, handball was considered the national sport, which brought Iceland silver at the 2008 Olympics and bronze at the 2010 European Championships.

But about 15 years ago, football began to develop actively - at the suggestion of the authorities, who financed the construction of seven closed fields. Prior to that, only open areas existed in the country. Like residential buildings, they were heated by geothermal energy.

About the fans. After the match with England, many Icelanders did not come to work

The nation is very small - a little more than 300 thousand people, so everyone stands behind the other mountain.

Already after the first performances of the national team at Euro 2016, the whole world started talking that Iceland has the best fans and the warmest relations between football players and fans. And many got goosebumps through the almost ecstatic action that the athletes performed when they defeated the England team - they hooted menacingly and clapped their hands in sync with the crowd of thousands of compatriots in the stands.

Huge screens were put up in the center of Reykjavik by the beginning of the championship, as if calling everyone to cheer in the crowd. More than 10,000 people dressed in T-shirts of the national team watched the match with England on the square. The victory was celebrated until morning. Many after that could not come to work, and the authorities treated this with understanding. The match between the Icelandic team and the Austrian team took place at 16:00 local time, so the end of the working day across the country was officially announced at 15:30, so that everyone could get to the TV.

About appearance. Beards are out of fashion

A few years ago in Iceland, almost all men wore beards (such as those of the Vikings in the pictures) - this trend appeared here much earlier than throughout Europe. Now it has practically disappeared, although you can still meet a bearded Icelander. A bright representative is the captain of the football team Aron Gunnarsson.

Typical Icelanders are tall (seventy meters and above) and mostly slender people with porcelain skin, blond hair and blue eyes. Icelandic women have a completely unique beauty, but, unfortunately, they don’t really try to emphasize it (especially young girls). The manner of dressing can be described as indifference to what you are wearing. Older ladies, as well as most men, pay much more attention to their appearance and manners. But by nature it is a very beautiful nation!

About life. Everybody knows each other

In Iceland, especially in small towns and villages, everyone knows each other. This is true even for the capital of the country - Reykjavik, whose population is 125 thousand people. In your environment, there will definitely be a person who knows who you need. There is even an online directory containing information about every inhabitant of the country with addresses and telephone numbers, the so-called "Book of Icelanders". When a young man and a girl enter into a romantic relationship, they can check the degree of their relationship by entering information about themselves into an online directory.

About families. Vikings are happy to change diapers

Most Icelanders respect family values, despite the fact that more than half of the population is not officially married. Even if the family breaks up, then, as a rule, both parents are equally involved in raising the child: one week he lives with his father and his new family, the other with his mother and her family. Such a schedule is in order here. Fathers spend just as much time with their children as mothers, and on weekends, somewhere on a walk in the city center or a shopping center, you can easily meet a bearded two-meter Viking with a stroller in which two small children are sitting, and the third one is running nearby. He walks alone with them and, if necessary, changes diapers, straightens pink bows, calms the roar, and does it all with undisguised pleasure!

About work. Jack of all trades

It is impossible to say that Icelanders are all sailors. Of course, many are involved in fishing, but this is far from the only thing they do here.

A distinctive feature of the Icelanders, perhaps, is their versatility. Heimir Hallgrimsson - football coach and dentist at the same time - is not an exception, but rather the rule. You can often meet, for example, an accountant-actor (works in the office during the day, plays in the theater in the evening), an IT musician-musician (writes code during the day, performs with a group in clubs in the evening) and so on.

About leisure. Dinner in Iceland is always at 7pm

The working week in Iceland is 37.5 hours. Many work from 8 am, so at 4 pm they are already moving towards the house or playing football with friends. Around 7 pm, the roads in the city are empty, as this is dinner time, and dinner is a sacred thing. If you are invited to dinner in Iceland, then in 99% of cases you will be expected by 7 pm.

Icelanders are very fond of traveling and, as a rule, the whole family. Domestic tourism is very popular in the country, it is customary to relax either with tents or rent summer houses. This is something like our dachas, but without a garden, since you can’t grow much on lava fields, and there is no such culture here, just as there are no natural forests. But Iceland has its own strawberries all year round, its own cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, which are grown in geothermal greenhouses and without the use of inorganic fertilizers. The fact that all vegetables and fruits must be washed before eating, my Icelandic husband learned from me at the age of 37 and laughed.

About weather. In a snowstorm on bicycles

The weather forecast plays an important role in the life of Icelanders, which is understandable, because their country is a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and not far from the Arctic Circle. The weather changes literally a hundred times a day. Moreover, if the forecast is bad, then you can be sure that it will be so, and if it is good, then there is always a chance that the weather will quickly change for the worse. That is why all warm (+12-15 degrees) and sunny days in June-August are just worth their weight in gold and all Icelanders sincerely rejoice at them.

But in general, everyone is used to frequent changes in the weather and has adapted to such a life: people ride bicycles around the city almost all year round and even during snowfalls in winter (unless they have announced a storm warning and asked citizens not to leave their homes), and also commit running in pouring rain or squally winds. They say that if they wait for good weather, they will never start playing sports.

About politics. Icelanders learn Danish in schools

The citizens of Iceland take a very active part in the political life of the country. For example, last Saturday the presidential elections were held here, and everyone considered it their duty to vote. None of those with whom I spoke said: nothing depends on me anyway, so I'd better stay at home in the rain, as is often the case in Russia.

Iceland gained full independence from Denmark in 1944, since then more than one generation of people has grown up who consider themselves absolutely free Icelandic citizens. Nevertheless, in schools, children are required to study Danish (as, indeed, English), many of them then leave for Denmark to receive higher education. Icelanders do not consider Denmark their big brother, they talk more about friendship and warm relations between the two countries. But Iceland has a younger brother - the Faroe Islands, which are part of Denmark, but support Iceland in everything - from the football team to the financial system in the 2008 crisis.

> Iceland

Iceland(Isl. Island) - an island state located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. The territory of the state consists of the island of Iceland and small islands around it. The name of the country literally means ice country. The northern point of Iceland reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern one, 306 km. from it, located at a latitude of 63 degrees 24 minutes N.S. The length of the island from west to east is 480 km.
Square countries 103 thousand sq. km.
highest point- Mount Hvannadalshnukur (2119 m).
Population 317.900 people (20010). The population density is 2.6 people per 1 sq. km. km. The share of the urban population is 91%, rural - 9%.
Capital- the city of Reykjavik (118.427 people).
Official language- Icelandic.
State religion- Lutheranism.
Administrative division: consists of 8 sislas: Austyurland (administrative center - Iglstadur), Vestfirdir (Isafjordur), Vesturland (Borgarnes), Nordurland Vestra (Stadur), Nordurland Eystra (Akyureyri), Sydurland (Selfoss) ), Sydurnes (Keflavik), Hofudborgarsvaedi (Reykjavik).
Currency: Icelandic krone
National holiday: Day of the proclamation of the Republic - June 17.
Telephone code +354

Republic of Iceland, a state in northern Europe. Located on the island of the same name, the second largest in Europe. The northern point of Iceland reaches the Arctic Circle, and the southern one, 306 km. from it, located at a latitude of 63 degrees 24 minutes N.S. The length of the island from the west (13 degrees 28 minutes W) to the east (24 degrees 32 minutes W) is 480 km. The area of ​​the country is 103 thousand square meters. km. Population 317.900 (2010). The capital is the city of Reykjavik (118.427 people).

NATURE

Terrain relief. In geological terms, Iceland is a young country, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions over the past 60 million years (corresponding to the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods in the history of the Earth). The most ancient parts of the country are located in the west, north and east. It is predominantly a plateau composed of ancient basalt lavas. The plateau-like character of the surface is best preserved in the northwest, while in the east and north of the central part of the island, the relief acquires an alpine appearance. A vast zone stretches across the country from north to southwest, mainly filled with palagonite tuffs and breccias, which were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.

A large number of volcanoes are confined to this zone, as well as to the Snaefellsnes region in the west, of which 20 erupted after the settlement of the country. Almost every type of volcano found on Earth is represented in Iceland. The most characteristic are the chains of craters that arose as a result of eruptions along cracks and faults. In 1783, during the eruption of a volcano of this type, Laki, located southwest of Vatnajökull, the largest lava flow observed on Earth in historical times was formed. It covered an area of ​​570 sq. km. To the southwest of Vatnajökull is the volcano Hekla, which erupted in 1947 and 1970. As a result of an underwater eruption, the small island of Surtsey appeared off the southwestern coast of Iceland in 1963. In 1973, during a volcanic eruption on the island of Heimaey, the population of the city of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated.

Hot springs are closely related to volcanic activity and are dispersed throughout the country (there are more than 250 of them). Fields of sulphurous fumaroles (solfatars) are confined only to areas of young volcanism. Of the gushing springs, the most famous is the Big Geyser, whose name has become a household name for all such formations. In Iceland, the energy of thermal springs is widely used. 85% of the population lives in houses heated by their waters. In addition, warm water is supplied to numerous greenhouses and swimming pools.

The coastline of Iceland is approx. 5 thousand km. In the northwest, north and east, the rocky shores are dissected by numerous bays, fjords and islands. Hook-shaped pebble spits enter the inner parts of many fjords, which protect natural harbors from storms blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal cities and towns are often located on such spits. The southwestern and southern coasts of Iceland are sandy, leveled; there are no natural harbors.

Ice caps and other glaciers cover an area of ​​11,900 sq. km. The largest of the ice caps, Vatnajökull with an area of ​​8300 sq. km, located in the southeast of Iceland. The highest point of the country, Hvannadalshnukur (2119), is also located here, which is the raised edge of the caldera of the Eraivajokull volcano. Other major ice caps are Hofsjokull and Laungjokull in the interior of the island and Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull in the south (covering active volcanoes).

Due to the abundance of precipitation in Iceland, there are many rather large rivers, but they are not navigable. To the south of Vatnajökull, the rivers branch into branches, often changing their position. This is a major barrier to transport. During subglacial volcanic eruptions and when ice dams on periglacial lakes break, huge masses of melt water cause rapid floods on rivers. The largest lakes in Iceland are Thingvadlavatn and Tourisvatn.

Climate. Despite its name and the presence of glaciers, Iceland is by no means an Arctic country. The climate is moderated by the warm waters of the North Atlantic Current (an extension of the Gulf Stream), a branch of which runs along the southern and western coasts of the island. The average annual temperature on the southwestern coast in Reykjavik is 4° C, the average temperature in January is -1° C, July 11° C. The corresponding figures on the north coast in Akureyri are 3° C, -2° C and 11° C. Coastal waters are free from ice throughout the year. The exception is situations associated with the removal of polar ice in the north and east. Due to the significant improvement in the climate since the early 1920s, the removal of polar ice to the shores of Iceland occurred only once in 1965. The weather in this country changes dramatically, sometimes within a day, depending on the passage of cyclones eastward across the Atlantic Ocean. The average annual rainfall is 1300–2000 mm on the south coast, 500–750 mm on the north coast, and over 3800 mm on the slopes of Vatnajokull and Mýrdalsjokull open to the south.

Soils and flora. The soils of Iceland are partly mineral, of the loess type, partly marshy, enriched in mineral material derived from volcanic ash, and partly eolian silty and sandy. Less than 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with vegetation (against 2/3 during the settlement of the country 1100 years ago). The vast interior plateaus are almost completely devoid of vegetation. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and grasses. Woody plants until recently occupied only 1% of the area. These are mainly birches, usually having twisted trunks due to strong winds. In recent years, significant plantations of coniferous species have been created in places.

Animal world. The species composition of the Icelandic fauna is poor. During the settlement of the country there was only one species of land mammals - the arctic fox. At the end of the 18th century reindeer were introduced. In addition, mice, rats and mink were accidentally introduced to the island. In Iceland, approx. 80 kinds of birds. Many swans, ducks and geese live on mountain lakes and rivers, and gulls, terns, etc. are common on the sea coast. Trout is found in the lakes, and salmon in the rivers. Two species of seals and some species of whales are found in coastal waters. There are places for feeding and spawning of fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut, and shrimp.

POPULATION

Demography. Iceland was settled in the 9th–10th centuries. and since then it has been inhabited mainly by the descendants of the first settlers; later immigration to the island was limited. Until the middle of the 20th century. the majority of the population lived on isolated farms. In the history of the country, there have repeatedly been sharp reductions in the number of inhabitants due to epidemics, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and famine. In the 20th century there was a constant increase in the population (by 1.5% per year) and the migration of rural residents to cities. Currently, 95% of the inhabitants live in cities and towns, with 40% concentrated in Reykjavik. In the northern part of the country, settlements are concentrated along the coast and in river valleys. 20% of the country's territory is uninhabited.

The average age of the population is 34 years. Age composition: under 15 years old - 22.7%; 15–64 years old - 65.4%; over 65 years old - 11.9%. The annual population growth in 2009 was 0.54%. The birth rate is 14.13 per 1000; mortality rate - 6.95 per 1000; infant mortality - 3.5 per 1000. Average life expectancy 79.8 years.

In 2002, more than 87% of the population belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, more than 4% to other Protestant denominations (primarily Seventh-day Adventists), about 2% to the Roman Catholic Church, and 7% to other denominations.

The self-employed population in 2000 was employed in various services (59.5%), fishing and fish processing (11.8%), construction (10.7%), industry (12.9%) and agriculture (5.1%) .

Ethnogenesis and language. The Icelanders are of predominantly Scandinavian origin, being mainly the descendants of the Vikings who settled on the island in the early Middle Ages. Part of the population are descendants of the Celts from Ireland and Scotland. Icelandic, which is essentially a dialect of Old Norse, has changed little in 1000 years, and modern Icelanders can easily read ancient texts. Only 6% of the population are of foreign origin.

Cities. The capital of the country is Reykjavik, the seat of parliament and government, the financial, cultural and business center of Iceland. Other large cities are Kopavogur (30.314 inhabitants), Hafnarfjordur (25.872 thousand), Akureyri (17.563 thousand).

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

The constitution of the Republic of Iceland was adopted in 1944. Significant changes were made in 1991. The country is a republic. The head of state and parliament are elected by popular vote, and all citizens of the country, men and women over 18 years old, who have lived in Iceland for at least 5 years before the election, have the right to vote.

President and Government. The head of state is the president, who is elected for a term of four years by universal direct and secret suffrage. When only one candidate is nominated for the presidency, no vote is taken and the candidate automatically becomes president. The President of Iceland is the head of the supreme executive power, but in reality his powers are limited and largely formal. Since August 1, 1996, the President of Iceland has been Olafur Ragnar Grimsson. Born in 1943, studied economics and political sciences in Manchester (Great Britain), in 1973-1991 he worked as a professor of political sciences in Iceland. In 1978 he was first elected to parliament from the People's Union, in 1987-1995 he was the chairman of this party. In 1988-1991 he served as Minister of Finance; in this position, he managed to achieve a significant reduction in inflation and is considered the "father of economic stabilization." In 1996 he won the presidential election, receiving more than 41% of the vote. In 2000, due to the lack of other candidates, the Icelandic parliament announced him as president of the country for a new term.

With the consent of the parliament, the president instructs the leader of the parliamentary majority to form the government and approve its composition. He presides over the State Council.

Executive power is vested in the government headed by the prime minister. Ministers are responsible to Parliament. The Prime Minister of Iceland since 1991 is David Oddson. Born in 1948, studied law, worked as a lawyer. In 1973-1975 he was a member of the Board of the youth organization of the Independence Party (PN), since 1974 - a member of the city council of Reykjavik, in 1982 he was elected mayor of the capital. Since 1989, Oddson has been deputy chairman, and since 1991 - chairman of the PN, in 1991 he was elected from her to parliament.

Parliament. Legislative power is constitutionally vested in the President and Parliament. Iceland's Parliament - Althingi is considered the oldest existing in the world. Elected by popular vote for a term of four years. Until 1991, the Althingi consisted of two chambers: elected deputies elected 1/3 of their members to the Upper House, the rest formed the Lower House. Since 1991, the Althing has been unicameral. It currently consists of 63 deputies who are elected on the basis of proportional representation in national and local constituencies. Althing approves the state budget, discusses and adopts laws, amends and supplements the constitution, gives consent to the president to conclude treaties and agreements with other states, controls the financial activities of the executive authorities. Parliament can pass a vote of no confidence in the government, has a great influence on foreign and trade and economic policy.

Political parties. The Independence Party (PN) is the country's largest political party. It was founded in May 1929 as a result of the unification of the parties of conservatives and liberals. PN dominates Icelandic political life and has taken part in most Icelandic governments. In the field of economics, the PN has always advocated limiting the role of the state in matters of the economy and benefits for entrepreneurs. In her opinion, the main function of the state in the economy is not direct intervention, but the creation of favorable conditions for economic activity, the development of research, and so on. According to the 2003 election manifesto, the GON seeks to reduce taxes and public debt, increase entrepreneurial activity, strengthen competitiveness and diversify the Icelandic economy. She intends to "simplify" the social insurance system and maintain the efficiency of the pension system. Declares its intention to increase child benefits, pensions and assistance to the disabled. Calls for increased competition in education and the development of private medicine.

In the field of security, it focuses on strengthening the police. In foreign policy, the party advocated joining NATO and keeping American troops on Icelandic soil. It currently advocates stronger cooperation with NATO and the United States, which it recognizes as the "leading power" of the bloc. Considers it necessary to develop relations with the EU, but speaks out against joining it.

In the 2003 parliamentary elections, she collected 33.7% of the vote and won 22 out of 63 seats in the Althingi. Party leader David Oddson has been prime minister since 1991.

The Progressive Party (PP) is a centrist party founded in 1916 by the leaders of the cooperative movement and enjoys the greatest influence among the country's farmers. She advocated the development of the national economy, the controlled attraction of foreign investment and subsidies to farmers. He supports the country's membership in NATO, although there were forces in its ranks that sought greater foreign policy independence.

Until 1995, she most often acted as an opponent of the PN in the political arena of the country. However, since 1995 it has been a member of the coalition government as a junior partner of the PN. In the 2003 elections, the party collected 17.7% of the vote and won 12 seats in the Althingi. The leader of the PP is Halldor Asgrimsson.

The Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) was formed in 2001 as a result of the merger of the Social Democratic Party of Iceland (founded in 1916), the People's Union (created in 1968 on the basis of the communist United Socialist Party) and the Women's List. Declares its commitment to the goals and methods of the social democratic movement, the principles of freedom and democracy, the liberation of women, equality and social responsibility. According to the 2001 manifesto, the alliance stands for "a society that enables each individual to enjoy the full range of life's opportunities and at the same time learn to provide the same opportunities to others." Strives for the expansion of democracy and the participation of the population in government. The Social Democrats call for "equality through mutual assistance", for ensuring for all members of society the right to health care, education and other social services, to a decent life, regardless of their financial situation. In the field of foreign policy, SDA - for turning Iceland into a "window open to the world", for the development of international cooperation and assistance to less developed countries.

The Green Left Alliance (GLA) is an association of independent leftists, public service union activists, teachers, students, former members of Trotskyist and Maoist groups, members of the environmental movement, various non-governmental organizations and civic initiatives. Created in the late 1990s. He opposes neoliberal government policies, privatization and commercialization of social services, protection of the environment and human rights, justice, equality and social security. In the 2003 elections, he received 8.8% of the vote and won 5 seats in the Althingi. Is in opposition. The leader is Steingrimur Sigfusson.

The Liberal Party (LP) was founded in 1998 by former minister Sverrir Hermansson. Advocates a free market system and rejects centralization and government intervention in the economy. Calls for the promotion of free competition and entrepreneurship, for the reduction of public spending and taxes, for the elimination of income taxes and the introduction of taxes on consumption. At the same time, he declares his condemnation of the neoliberal policy of the Icelandic government and his intention to continue helping the elderly, the sick and the disabled, to oppose the curtailment of medical programs, and to invest in the development of education. He advocates maintaining the role of NATO and strengthening cooperation with Europe. In the 2003 elections, the liberals received 7.4% of the vote and 4 seats in the Althingi. They are in opposition. Chairman - Gudjon Kristjansson.

Local government. Iceland is divided into 23 districts (suslur) and 14 urban districts (koupstadir). Each is governed by a council of ward representatives. Parishes have their own councils. All councils are elected by general vote.

Judicial system. The country has 8 district courts and the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice. In addition, there are special courts for maritime, labor and religious matters.

Military establishment. Iceland does not have its own armed forces, but the US Air Force (Keflavik base) is stationed on its territory. The country has a police force and a coast guard.

Foreign policy. Iceland is a member of NATO, the Nordic Council, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Free Trade Association, the UN and its specialized organizations, as well as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Iceland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in October 1943).

ECONOMY

For most of the country's history, the economy was based on fishing and agriculture. After World War II, the importance of fishing and the fish processing industry increased. There has been some diversification of the Icelandic economy,

Economic growth in 1996–2001 was 3–5% per year. In 2002, the country was hit by the global recession, industrial growth was only 0.2%, and GDP shrank by 0.6%. In 2003, economic growth resumed, inflation fell from 5% to 2%.

GDP in 2002 amounted to more than 8.4 billion US dollars (30,200 US dollars per capita). The unemployment rate in 2002 was 2.8%.

Agriculture. Cultivated land occupies less than 1% of the total area of ​​the country. Only 5% of the working population is employed in agriculture. The country has approx. 6 thousand farms, 80% of which are privately owned. The main livestock sector is sheep breeding (450 thousand in 1996); lamb is the main meat food in Iceland, and also an export item, along with wool and sheep skins. There are also significant numbers of cattle (73 thousand) and poultry (350 thousand), goats, pigs, black-brown foxes, minks and ponies are bred.

The farms produce hay, grow potatoes, turnips, cabbage and other vegetables. A greenhouse economy (cucumbers, tomatoes, other vegetables, flowers, bananas, etc.) is being developed on the basis of geothermal sources. The state pays significant subsidies to farmers.

Fishing and fish processing. This industry provides employment for 12% of the population and 70% of the country's export earnings. The main fishery objects are cod (in the waters off the southwestern coast from January to May), herring (off the northern coast from June to September), etc. In connection with the decrease in herring and cod catches and the reduction of fish resources in the North Atlantic, the importance of capelin and pollock has increased in recent years. The fish catch in 1996 was 2 thousand tons.

In fishing, motor boats with trawls are widely used. The cod is processed primarily in Reykjavik; herring is salted and processed into fish oil and fishmeal in Siglufjordur and other towns on the north coast.

In 1989, under pressure from the international community and under the threat of a boycott of Icelandic goods, Iceland agreed to join the whaling moratorium. In the mid-1990s, the government approved the resumption of whaling on a limited scale.

Manufacturing industry. Industry began to develop only after the Second World War. It currently employs about a third of the population. The mining industry is practically non-existent (apart from the small development of brown coal, pumice and Icelandic spar). Since the late 1960s, aluminum has been produced from imported raw materials (aluminum dioxide); the resulting metal is exported. The main industry is fish processing, filleting and fresh-frozen fish. There are shipyards and ship repair enterprises serving the fishing fleet. Ready-made clothes, shoes, metal products, electrical equipment, furniture and building materials are produced. There is a mineral fertilizer factory (near Reykjavik), a cement plant (in Akranes). Since 1979, the production of ferro-silicon (an alloy of iron and silicon) has been established.

International trade. Until recently, foreign trade was characterized by a negative balance, since Iceland did not possess significant natural resources and depended on the import of petroleum products and food products. This trend has now been reversed. In 2002, the value of exports reached $2.3 billion and imports $2.1 billion.

The main export product is fish and fish products (70%). Agricultural products, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon are also exported. Main partners: Germany (18%), UK (17.5%), Netherlands (11%), USA (11%), Spain (5%), Denmark (5%), Portugal (4%), Norway (4 %).

Machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, textiles, etc. are imported into Iceland. Main partners: USA (11%), Germany (11%), Denmark (8.5%), Norway (85%), UK (7.5%), Netherlands (6%), Sweden (6%).

Energy. Iceland has large reserves of hydropower. Potential hydropower generation is estimated at 80 billion kWh per year. Currently, only 6% of hydropower resources are used. In addition, there is a huge potential for geothermal energy, which is widely used in domestic and greenhouse facilities. Over half of Iceland's energy needs were met by oil imports. Previously, oil came from the USSR, now mainly from the UK and Norway. Of the total reserves of technologically available resources, only 70% is expedient to exploit for financial reasons. Energy production in 1994 amounted to 5 billion kW, of which hydroelectricity accounted for 95%. At the end of the 20th century Energy consumption in Iceland has increased by an average of 7% annually. Approximately half of the energy generated was consumed by energy-intensive industries. A third of energy consumption was met by imported fuel. Even with a higher level of energy development in the country, the fishing fleet will remain the main consumer of imported oil.

Transport.

Motor transport. There are no railways in Iceland, but there is an extensive road network with a total length of 12,955 km. There are regular bus services between many cities and towns. Many families have cars. In 1996, there were 125 thousand cars in the country, that is, one for every two inhabitants.

Sea transport. The total displacement of merchant ships is 192 thousand tons. Three large companies operate in the country - the Icelandic Shipping Company, the State Shipping Company and the Cooperative Shipping Company. Steamboats and motorboats run regularly between coastal cities and towns. Sea communication is supported with the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and Norway.

Air Transport. Modern Iceland is characterized by the rapid development of air traffic. There are two main airlines operating in the country. Flugfelag Islands served domestic flights and connected Iceland with the UK, the Scandinavian countries and mainland Europe. Loftleidir flew to the USA, Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and Luxembourg. In 1979 the two companies merged to form Flugladir, or Icelander. There are two international airports - Reykjavik and Keflavik. The latter is shared between Iceland and the US. There are 86 airfields in the country, c. including 13 - tracks with a hard surface.

Banking and finance. The monetary unit of Iceland is the crown, which is equal to 100 airirs. After the Second World War, there was a gradual devaluation of the krone, which was accompanied by a rapid increase in inflation. In 1967, after the devaluation of the British pound sterling, the exchange rate was set at 57 crowns to 1 US dollar. In 1979, the rate of the Icelandic krone fell sharply - to 352 crowns to the dollar. In the late 1990s, it stabilized at 70 crowns to the dollar.

There are eight major commercial banks in Iceland - National, Central, Fisheries, Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial, Cooperative and People's. Their main offices are in Reykjavik, but numerous branches are scattered throughout the country. In addition, there are savings banks in all counties.

The state budget. The main sources of government revenue are taxes, customs duties and other payments. The state derives significant revenues from commercial enterprises that it controls, such as postal, telephone and telegraph communications, coastal shipping, and a number of monopolies (sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products). In addition to regular government spending, the Icelandic government spends money on the maintenance of artists and writers and on subsidizing agriculture and various industries. Revenues in 2002 amounted to 3.5 billion dollars, expenses - 3.3 billion dollars. External debt in 1999 amounted to 2.6 billion dollars.

Standard of living. After gaining independence, the Icelandic economy has significantly strengthened, the living standards of the population have risen. In this regard, Iceland has outstripped other Scandinavian countries and became one of the richest countries in the world. In 2001, the country had 197 thousand telephone lines, the number of mobile phones exceeded 248 thousand. In 2002, more than 220 thousand Icelanders used the Internet.

Housing construction. Modern Icelanders live in durable, spacious houses with well-functioning heating systems, which are among the best in the world. In ancient times, farmhouses and some city houses were built from peat, but they are virtually gone. Until recently, the main building material was wood, but now it is usually stone and concrete. Due to the rapid population growth, especially in the Reykjavík area, it became necessary to introduce government housing programs, and many new houses were built in and around the capital.

Healthcare. Iceland pays a lot of attention to healthcare. High life expectancy (76 years for men and 81 years for women at the beginning of 1997) and very low infant mortality (ca. 5.3 per 1,000 newborns) serve as indicators of the state's concern for the health of the population. The country is divided into 50 medical districts. There are 25 hospitals that provide medical care, including operational, at the highest level. Tuberculosis was once a real scourge in Iceland, but nowadays it is practically eradicated. There are two sanatoriums and one superbly equipped rehabilitation center, which were previously intended for tuberculosis patients, and then were redesigned. There is a psychiatric clinic in Reykjavik.

SOCIETY

The structure of society. There are practically no poor in the country and class stratification is less pronounced than in many other countries. Increased prosperity was accompanied by increased economic and social security and equality.

Icelanders almost always refer to each other by their first names. Accordingly, all telephone and other directories list names in alphabetical order. The reason is that very few people in Iceland have surnames. In children, the patronymic is given by the name of the father, with the ending -son (son) for boys and -dóttir (daughter) for girls. Thus, a father and son can have the same middle names if the father and grandfather had the same first name.

Icelanders take a great interest in genealogy. According to the sagas and ancient documents, one can trace the genealogy of many inhabitants up to the time of the initial settlement of the country, as well as establish complex family ties.

Labor movement. Trade unions play an important role in the economic life of Iceland. The first trade union was organized in 1887, and the Association of Trade Unions in 1916. Radical parties received great support from trade union members. The Employers' Association was formed in 1934.

cooperative movement. In Iceland, as well as in other Scandinavian countries, the cooperative movement is highly developed, dating back to 1882. Cooperatives were created in all communities, which covered 1/5 of the population. However, due to economic hardships, the cooperative movement waned and essentially disintegrated in the 1990s.

Religion. In Iceland, the mainstream Evangelical Lutheran Church is supported by the state. At the same time, freedom of religion is guaranteed. Iceland constitutes one major diocese, with a bishopric in Reykjavík, consisting of approximately 300 parishes.

Social Security. Iceland is a welfare state with extensive social programs. Measures for insurance in case of sickness and incapacity for work were adopted as early as the late 19th century, and in 1936 an expanded program of social insurance for sickness and accidents, unemployment benefits, for the maintenance of children, the elderly, and the disabled was approved. The program applies to all citizens of Iceland.

CULTURE

Iceland is distinguished by a high level of cultural development due to a long literary tradition, a high standard of education and a great interest of the entire population of the country in books and reading.

Public education. The very first schools in Iceland were organized at the residences of the bishops in Skaulholt and Holar. From Skaulholt, the school was transferred to Reykjavik in 1784. In the Middle Ages, monasteries were also involved in educational activities, and later, priests during visits to houses and peasant farms. Presumably by 1800 all Icelanders could read and write.

Education in public schools is compulsory and free of charge for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. High school graduates are eligible to continue four years of college or vocational training. The oldest college was established in Reykjavik in 1846.

After graduating from colleges and some schools, you can enter the University of Iceland, founded in 1911. However, even before that, separate faculties existed in Reykjavik - theological (since 1847), medical (since 1876) and law (since 1908). In addition to these specialties, at the university you can get education in the field of economics and management, in the humanities (linguistics, literary criticism, history and philosophy), polytechnic, in natural and social sciences. The term of study in most cases is from 3 to 5 years. New university opened in Akureyri; in addition, there are several small colleges providing education at the university level.

In some specialties, Icelandic students have to continue their studies abroad, and the government allocates significant funds for this. 5.7 thousand students study at the University of Iceland; another 2,200 complete their education in other countries.

Vocational schools. There are a number of vocational schools in Iceland, for example, pedagogical, commercial, nautical (preparing captains of the merchant fleet), arts and crafts, polytechnic and medical in Reykjavik. In other parts of the country, a network of technical, agricultural and musical schools, as well as schools of home economics, is developed. All educational institutions receive subsidies from federal and municipal authorities; training is mostly free.

Libraries. The National Library in Reykjavik, the largest in the country, has a collection of about 340,000 items, in addition to 13,000 ancient Icelandic manuscripts. The library of the University of Iceland and the Municipal Library in Reykjavik also stand out in terms of the size of the funds. In all other cities and towns there are public libraries, and in rural areas there are small libraries and reading rooms. All libraries are usually subsidized by the state.

The science. Iceland has developed research in the humanities - history, linguistics and literary criticism. Among historians of the 19th century. the statesman Joun Sigurdsson (1811–1879), then Bjorn M. Olsen (1850–1919) and many others should be noted. From literary critics of the 20th century. Sigurdur Nordahl (1886–1974) and Jón Nelgason (1899–1986) stand out. Natural-science observations were carried out for many centuries, but research was widely developed only in the second half of the 20th century. Björn Gunnløugsson (1788–1876) made the first accurate maps of Iceland with a geodetic basis. In the second half of the 19th century Thorvaldur Thoroddsen (1855–1921) studied and mapped the country's desert interior. Currently, the University of Iceland employs several eminent internationally recognized scientists.

Literature. The vibrant literary traditions of Icelanders date back to the first centuries after the settlement of the country in the early Middle Ages. The initial stage was characterized by skaldic poetry, poems were composed by Icelandic poets, many of whom were at the courts of the kings of Norway. At this time, the Elder (or Song) Edda (1222–1225), a collection of Old Norse mythological and heroic songs, was written. At the end of the 12th century and during the 13th century. most of the Icelandic sagas were created. This was the golden age of Icelandic literature. The writings of Samund Sigfusson, nicknamed the Wise (1056-1133), in particular his Book of the Icelanders, served as an impetus for the activities of the famous Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241), the author of the Sagas of the Norwegian Kings. He was also the compiler of the Younger (or Prose) Edda, which was a manual for skalds (i.e. a textbook of poetry) and a treatise on the pagan mythology of the Icelanders.

After 1300, the ballad becomes the most popular literary genre, and the writing of narrative poems (rímur) has continued to the present day. Icelandic literature experienced a long decline and then another rise with the hymn-writer Hallgrímur Pjetursson (1614–1674) and the naturalist poet Eggert Olafsson (1726–1768). In the 19th century she went through romantic and realistic periods. Among the romantics, the poets Bjarni Thorarensen (1786–1841), Jounas Hadlgrimsson (1807–1845) and Mattias Johumsson (1835–1920) stand out, and among the realists who appeared in the second half of the century, the most famous is Einar H. Kvaran (1850–1938).

From the beginning of the 20th century the number of recognized poets, playwrights and prose writers increased. Einar Benediktsson (1864–1940), Thorstein Erlingsson (1859–1914) and Hannes Hafstein (1861–1922) were the leading poets of the beginning of the century and somewhat earlier. Later came David Stefaunsson (1895-1964) and Toumas Gudmundsson (1901-1983). Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975), one of the most famous modern Icelandic writers, lived in Denmark for many years, and a number of his best novels were written and first published in Danish. Similarly, another prominent writer, Kristman Gudmundsson (1901–1983), lived in Norway for a long time and published a number of his works in Norwegian. The playwright Johan Sigurijousson (1880–1919) created his works not only in Icelandic, but also in Danish. One of the greatest Icelandic poets, Stefan G. Stefansson (1853–1927), spent most of his life in Canada, but wrote in Icelandic. His poems are considered unsurpassed masterpieces of Icelandic poetry.

From the writers of the 20th century. three deserve special mention. Gudmundur G. Khagalin (1898–1985) is a well-known author of novels and short stories. Tourbergur Tourdarson (1889–1974) was a poet and essayist with a gift for satire. An outstanding place in modern Icelandic literature is occupied by Hadldour Kiljan Laksness (1902–1998), author of novels, short stories, essays and poems, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955.

Art. In medieval Iceland, the most common arts were woodcarving, silver jewelry, and stone sculptures to decorate churches. Folk art was expressed in wood carvings, decorative fabrics and silver jewelry.

Painting. The first contemporary Icelandic artists were Sigurdur Gudmundsson (1833–1874) and Thorarin Thorlauksson (1867–1924). Sigurdur Gudmundsson founded the National Museum in Reykjavik in 1863. The first prominent and widely recognized Icelandic painter was Ausgrímur Jónsson (1876–1958), who was influenced by Impressionism. The best of the Expressionist artists is Joun Stefaunsson (1881–1962), Johannes S. Kjarval (1885–1972) also stands out. Other well-known painters include Gunnløugur Scheving (1904–1972), Thorvaldur Skulason (1906–1984) and Svavar Gudnason (1909–1988).

Sculpture. Einar Jónsson (1874–1954) was the first Icelandic sculptor to achieve international recognition. His works adorn the streets and squares of Reykjavik. The Einar Jonsson Museum has been created with a collection of originals and copies of his works. Among the sculptors of the 20th century. Ausmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982) and Sigurjön Olafsson (1908–1982) are well known. Rikardur Jónsson (1888–1972) became famous for his wooden carvings and portraits.

Architecture is a relatively new art form in Iceland. Over the last decades of the 20th century many modern structures were created, mainly from reinforced concrete. A significant part of the monumental buildings and churches in the capital and other areas were designed by the architect Guljoun Samuelsson (1887–1950).

Music. Folk music in Iceland has a long tradition, with tvísöngur song melodies dating back to 1000. Subsequently, folk art has mainly manifested itself in church choral music. In the 19th century the leading composer was Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson (1847–1927), who wrote the national anthem. Sigfus Einarsson (1877–1939) was one of the prominent figures in Icelandic musical culture in the early 20th century. Among later composers, Paul Isolfsson (1897-1974) and especially Jón Leifs (1899-1968) are quite famous, who tried to create a special Icelandic national music based on old folk melodies. In 1925 the Reykjavik Orchestra was organized. Operas appear from time to time in the repertoire of the National Theatre, and a number of Icelandic opera singers enjoy great success abroad. The Icelandic Opera was founded in 1980.

Theatre. The very first theatrical performances in Iceland were performed by students of the Latin School in Reykjavik in the 18th century. In the 19th century interest in the theater was stimulated by Ingridi Einarsson (1851–1939), who wrote a number of plays. The Reykjavik Theater Society, founded in 1897, was the center of dramatic art in Iceland for many years. At the beginning of the 20th century plays for the Icelandic theater were written by two talented playwrights, Johan Sigurjonsson and Gudmundur Kamban (1888–1945), the latter's works were translated and staged on theater stages in other Scandinavian countries. Icelandic theater entered a new era of development in 1950 with the opening of the National Theater in Reykjavik. New performances are put on the stages of the National and City theaters every year. There are small theaters in Akureyri and some other cities.

Mass media. There are many publishing houses in Iceland that produce approx. 400 books and magazines. The first magazines appeared at the end of the 18th century, and the first newspaper in 1848. There are 35 newspapers published in the country, most of them come out once or twice a week. Of the five dailies, Morgunbladid, the organ of the Independence Party, has the largest circulation.

There is only one radio station in Iceland, in Reykjavik, and three relay stations. Radio receivers are available in every home. Television broadcasting began in 1966. In addition to state television, broadcasts are broadcast by a television station at the American military base in Keflavik.

Sport. The traditional sport is the national wrestling glíma. Each of the two belted wrestlers holds on to the opponent's belt and seeks to lift and knock down the other, while it is allowed to use intricate steps and other tricks. Swimming has always been a popular sport; the country has created a network of swimming pools supplied with water from thermal springs. Horse riding competitions are often arranged. Football is very popular, competitions are regularly held from spring to autumn. Handball and basketball are very popular, orienteering and tourism have recently been developing. In winter, almost the entire population of the country is engaged in skiing and skating.

Bridge and chess deserve special mention. Icelandic players do well in these games in international competitions.

I will probably not expand on gastronomic and ethnographic impressions here. I'd rather focus on gender issues. Readers of this column will certainly be interested in how they are doing with “it”.

So, I'm in an Icelandic bar. Field expedition. I study habits. Incredibly beautiful girls flicker around. Feeling like I got to some Reykjavik Fashion Week. My friend, Henrik, shows a funny smartphone app called Inslendinga App. It allows you to find out if it makes sense for a man and a woman to start a serious relationship. Henrik explains that only 320,000 people live in Iceland. people, and many are relatives of one another of varying degrees of distance. And closely related marriages are known to increase the likelihood that children born will suffer from serious illnesses. So they released such a useful program. It is enough for lovers to launch it and touch it with smartphones. After that, the application, using the genealogical database, calculates the degree of relationship and recommends entering into a relationship or abstaining from it. In case of danger of incest, a loud signal will sound.

Henrik works as a tour guide and movie star. No, really. I myself saw an illustrated story about him in a local secular weekly. He draws attention to the girl talking to the bartender. “This is Miss World (we actually have three), her name is Unnar. She is also a swimming instructor and kindergarten teacher. We all have two or three professions here. Even the coach of the football team has a dentist as his main specialty.” What surprises me is not the list of Unnar's versatile interests, but why that waitress over there did not become Miss World. Or that girl over there in the orange jacket. Elves, they are so similar to each other with their impeccable beauty.

One of my companions, compatriots, tightened his drooping jaw a little, takes a sip of fennel vodka and is going to rush into battle - to get acquainted with local beauties. Henrik stops him, warning him that this is not the way to go. How then should it be? Everything is surprisingly simple: women here do exactly what men do in our area. That is, choose a partner. No, of course, and our fair sex is not far behind in this regard. But ours still allow you to take care of them.

As if to confirm Henrik's words, three people sat down next to us and asked if we had any chewing gum. And then they asked: “Where are you from? How are you here? Like? What about Icelandic girls? Well, thank you for the compliment, of course, but my friend says that I have a fat butt. No, don't you? Are you on Instagram? And let's be friends. This is me at the thermal spring. How do you like this swimsuit? What about black hair? I'm going to dye my hair brunette, because there are so many blondes here ... "

I can firmly state: never in my life have I been molested by such beautiful girls. This, of course, raises self-esteem. But - it didn't happen. Why? Will you be satisfied with the answer that I am married? Well, fine. Another thing is interesting: why in Reykjavik it is women who choose men? A new friend answered the question: “In harsh Iceland, there is no time for tenderness. The day is short, the night is long, everyone has two or three jobs. I now need to have time to deliver the mail, go to the university and help my parents gut or salt the fish. We don't have time for you."