Created when the European and North American continents collided, Iceland’s landscape is uniquely warped and contorted, marked by active volcanoes and the tortoise-like crawl of advancing and retreating glaciers. Nature is the country’s greatest attraction, and visitors can pick their way through sunken ice kettles, bathe in natural hot springs, and bike through fishing villages on mountainous dirt roads. An emphasis on natural farming has made Icelandic produce and meat sought-after exports: Icelandic dining is a pleasure. Covered by more glaciers and highly dependent on and protective of its fishing industry, Iceland is quickly becoming a hot tourist and ecotourist destination.
Facts And Figures Official Name: Republic of Iceland. Capital: Reykjavík. Major Cities: Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður. Population: 302,000 ...more
Travelers hoping to stay in Iceland may be able to secure summer work. Check www.eurojobs.com for info on job placement. Ecotourism opportunities abound; organizations run tours on horseback to hot springs ...more
Home of 60% of Icelanders, Reykjavík (pop. 200,000) is a modestly sized capital with an international clubbing reputation. Bold, modern architecture along with white painted concrete structures rise ...more
The black cliffs of the Westman Islands (pop. 4000) are the most recent offerings of the volcanic fury that continues to shape Iceland. The archipelago is made up of 15 islands and many isolated rock ...more
Wedged between two of southern Iceland’s glaciers, Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk are gateways to the diverse landscapes of the country, from jagged lava fields and mammoth volcanic craters to desert ...more
Although Akureyri (ah-KOO-rare-ee) has only 17,500 inhabitants, it claims the title “capital of the north.” A college town with a few trendy hangouts, Akureyri also serves as an outpost for exploring ...more
Like Þingvellir National Park to the south, Mývatn (MEE-va-ten) is a collision point of the European and North American tectonic plates, creating a volatile volcanic environment prone to eruption. ...more
Europe’s premier whale-watching destination, Húsavík (WHO-saah-veek; pop. 2400) has attractions ranging from the majestic to the bizarre. Erected in 1974, The Icelandic Phallological Museum ...more
Jökulsárgljúfur in Vatnajökull National Park The Jökulsa á Fjöllum River flows into Jökulsárgljúfur, site of Vatnajökull National Park ...more
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