Of course, the main heroes of EURO 2016 were the players of the Icelandic team, who managed to snatch the victory from the England team, and, perhaps, this is the only team in the Championship, which is warmly treated by fans from all over the world. Today we publish a selection of 30 interesting facts about what kind of country Iceland is, and what kind of people live there.

1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with a little over 320 thousand people, and before the Second World War the population of the island was only 50 thousand people. About 30,000 fans came to the European Football Championship, that is, about 10 percent of the country's population.

2. If you paid attention, then all the names of the players of the Icelandic national team are similar, they end in "son". The thing here is that in Iceland patronymics are used instead of surnames, in fact, this is an analogue of our patronymic. For boys, the particle "sleep" (son) is added to the name of the father, for girls - "dottir" (daughter). Thus, for example, if there are two children of different sexes in a family, then they will have different “surnames”, for example, the girl Palmarsdottir, that is, the daughter of Palmars and the son of Palmarsson, that is, the son of Palmars. In 1925, Iceland even passed a special law prohibiting citizens of the country from acquiring surnames in the classical sense. By the way, in the event that the father for some reason does not recognize the child, then the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but by the name of the mother.

Pictured: Icelandic wedding

3. However, this does not mean that the Icelanders do not at all strive to keep the surname, they just do it in a peculiar way, some give the same names to children through the generation, that is, they call the child by grandfather or grandmother, so that, so to speak, one can trace the line kind.

4. The classic names of the Icelanders are well known to many of us, because we met them in the ancient Scandinavian sagas. Yes, Ragnar, Sigur or Aðalsteinn, which means “main stone”, in Iceland the same normal human names as Ivan, Dmitry or Alexander in Russia. The most popular names in Iceland are: male - Jon and female - Gudrun.

5. In Iceland, in everyday life, especially long and complex names are abbreviated, for example, a young man named Aðalsteinn can simply be called Ali, Guvrun - Gunn, Stefan - Steppi, Jon - Nonni, and so on.

6. Until recently, it was generally accepted that the Icelanders are the descendants of the Vikings from Norway and Sweden, but a recent genetic examination has established that the gene pool of modern Icelanders is dominated by the genes of the Irish, who in Iceland in ancient times existed in the position of slaves. On the other hand, this is in perfect agreement with the local belief that the Icelandic Vikings stole all the beautiful women from England and Ireland for the purpose of love leaks, and, well, for reproduction.

In the photo: panorama of Reykjavik

7. The Icelandic language, due to the long isolation of the island from the rest of the world, has evolved very poorly compared to other Scandinavian languages, that is, the percentage of words borrowed from other languages ​​is extremely small in it. Because of this, Icelandic is very close to the very language of the northern peoples, which the Vikings spoke in ancient times, and the ancient sagas of Icelanders can even read, as they say, without straining.

8. Icelandic everyday sagas, unlike other works of folk art, are a dry enumeration of facts, because of this, it is sometimes quite difficult for a modern reader to perceive them. That is, in the sagas there is no description of the feelings of the heroes or experiences, only a meticulous enumeration of events: he went there, conquered that, married such and such, killed such and such, was killed by such and such. At the same time, much attention is paid to where exactly this or that event occurred, and in what period of time it happened. Previously, largely due to the meticulous manner of presentation and the lack of an emotional component in the descriptions, many researchers considered the Icelandic household sagas to be historical documents that did not require careful verification and historical reconstruction, but now the sagas are perceived by scientists, rather, as works of art, and the facts stated in them are subject to verification.

Pictured: Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik

9. Another reflection of this feature of national thinking is the names of geographical objects. In fact, complex and multi-stage words are simply a definition of the place in question. So, Reykjavik means “smoking bay”, the name of the city of Kopavogur stands for “young seal bay”, and the difficult-to-pronounce name famous volcano Eyyafyadlayokyull, as the "Island of mountain glaciers."

10. At the same time, 90 percent of the country's population is fluent in English. No less curious is the following fact - in order to find a job in Iceland, a foreigner does not need knowledge of the Icelandic language - fluent English is more than enough. For this reason, many immigrants who have settled in Iceland do not speak Icelandic even after 10 years in the country; English is more than enough for both life and work. Another interesting thing is that if a citizen of another country has lived in Iceland for 6 years, he can apply for Icelandic citizenship and get it without any problems.

In the photo: the priest of the church Ásatrúarfélagið and his follower

11. Including because very few people live in Iceland, there is practically no crime. As a result, young mothers, for example, easily leave their babies to sleep in strollers on the streets of Reykjavik, while they themselves go with their girlfriends to drink coffee in a cafe, car keys are often left in cars, and the Reykjavik prison is empty, and sometimes tourists even spend the night in it, not managed to find a room in a hotel. In addition, the police in Iceland do not carry weapons, and Iceland does not have armed forces, their functions are to some extent performed by the coast guard.

12. Today, the neo-pagan religion Ásatrúarfélagið, which is a slightly modernized cult of the Scandinavian gods, is very popular in Iceland. Priests of Ásatrúarfélagið are allowed, for example, to perform a wedding ceremony, it is considered an official procedure in the country, while clergymen can also marry homosexual couples.
Today, 2,400 people officially rank themselves as followers of the Ásatrúarfélagið cult, and even now in Iceland a full-fledged temple of the Scandinavian gods is being built, this will be the first such building since the Vikings.

In the photo: stones in which, according to legend, spirits live

13. The traditional date for the adoption of Christianity in Iceland is 1000, which is curious, after that Icelandic Christianity developed without the close supervision of Rome, as a result, the Icelanders retained their ancient beliefs and traditions. For example, here they still believe in trolls (giants) or Hidden inhabitants (elves). Elves are huldufoulks, these are creatures that live in round stones of a certain type, mere mortals cannot see them, except in those cases when the spirits themselves decide to appear to people.
The presence of such a stone, for example, at the construction site of a road or a house can cause problems, because huldufoulks should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, before moving the stone, it is recommended to perform magical manipulations on it.

In the photo: evil spirits Yule Lad

14. Christmas in Icelandic will be Yule, that is, it is a direct tracing-paper from the word "Yule" - the ancient holiday of the winter solstice among the Germanic peoples, so it is not surprising that Santa Claus is an unpopular character here. Here, Yule Lad works for him at Christmas, but they do not give gifts to children, on the contrary, the heroes of folklore are the evil spirits of winter. There are fifteen spirits, and they come from the very Hidden inhabitants of the huldufoulks. Spirits come to the cities strictly on schedule, the first to descend from the mountains on December 12 are Gryla and Leppaludi - mom and dad of thirteen Yule Lad. In this case, dad is a lazy and overweight male spirit, and his wife is an evil old woman, an analogue of the Russian Baba Yaga, by the way, she also has a stick. Following their parents, one by one, their children come to the cities - the evil spirits of Yule.
Each of the spirits, according to beliefs, is engaged in sabotage to the best of his ability and ability: one steals dishes, another blows out candles in houses, a third steals sausages, a fourth licks milk supplies, a fifth entangles wool from sheep, in a word, everything is in business. The evil cat Yolokotturin accompanies the spirits, according to legend, she steals small children and eats them. Yule Lad figurines in Reykjavik can be seen on Christmas Eve on every corner, their images are also pasted on Icelandair aircraft, and projections with them are broadcast on shop windows and house facades.

15. It is believed that the national dish of Iceland is haukarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. The Greenland shark has no urinary tract, its meat contains poisonous ammonia, therefore, in order for the meat to become edible, it is left to rot under the ground or in the basement for three months. The taste (and smell) of haukarl is pure urea, as it usually stinks in some dirty public toilet. So, in fact, modern Icelanders almost never eat haukarl - this is entertainment for tourists, many of the locals have never tried this muck, as they say, one smell was enough to fully understand the scale of the disaster.

16. But the fried breast of a dead end bird, on the contrary, is a popular local dish, a kind of delicacy. Puffins are caught in the summer when they arrive on the island to nest, puffin meat is very tasty, but it’s a pity for the bird, look how cute they are, they even know how to kiss! In a word, ate and cried, ate and cried.
It is also shocking to many that in Iceland they eat whales, which, by the way, taste like steak. But, according to Icelandic anglers, if the whale population is not thinned out, they multiply very quickly, and then eat all the commercial fish. Iceland regularly violates whale slaughter quotas, and animal rights activists, and indeed the whole of Europe, are regularly unhappy with this.

In the photo: the national Icelandic dish Plokkfiskur

17. In general, if we talk about Icelandic cuisine, then cod, haddock, smoked salmon, lamb in a variety of forms are popular here, especially lamb fillet, small lobsters (they are slightly larger in size than large shrimp) and, of course, herring . Of vegetables, of course, potatoes are popular, by the way, the delicious local dish Plokkfiskur is prepared from the remains of haddock and potatoes.
In addition, Icelanders are very fond of pouring ketchup and mayonnaise on their food, the most popular local drink is Coca-Cola. Of the sweets here, sweets and licorice lollipops are held in high esteem, and in summer locals lean on berries, with which everything is fine in Iceland. But there are no McDonald's restaurants in the country, the latter closed in 2008 during the crisis.

18. Even in Iceland they eat horse meat, and this is also a bit sad, because local horses are a real miracle of nature. They are short, hardy, and in winter they are covered with thick wool. At the same time, Icelandic horses are not scared, there are no predators dangerous for them on the island, so horses are not used to fear for their lives, they easily approach strangers, allow themselves to be petted and fed.

There is still debate about how the horses originally got to the island. In ancient times, the Icelanders assumed that all local horses were descendants of Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of the god Odin, historians believe that the Vikings brought horses to Iceland in the 9th-10th centuries AD, and geneticists claim that the horses were brought to the island from the coast of Scotland. Even in Iceland, hippotherapy is popular - the treatment of neurological disorders through communication with horses.

19. Iceland stands on thermal springs, so renewable energy sources are mainly used here. As a result, thermal water flows from the tap, which, however, smells very strongly of hydrogen sulfide, but you gradually sniff it, houses are also generously heated, and since pipes with hot thermal water in Reykjavik are laid right under the sidewalk, the streets of the Icelandic capital can never icy, so it makes no sense to sprinkle them with chemistry.

In the photo: Icelandic jeep for winter off-road trips

20. But, do not think that everything is so beautiful. Outside the cities, many roads in Iceland become impassable in winter: there are icing, drifting snow, and snow blockages here. Therefore, the most popular type of car used if you need to travel from Reykjavik to Akureyri in winter is a jeep, and the more the better. On excursions to national parks or to geysers, tourists are taken on such monsters as in the photo below.

21. But what is really beautiful in Iceland is the thermal pools with hot water built in the open air. Of course, everyone has heard about the famous Blue Lagoon, built near the thermal power plant, but this is more entertainment for tourists. The Icelanders themselves most often go to ordinary thermal pools, which are open in an amount of approximately one for every 10 houses. Everything is simple there: you go in, wash yourself, climb into the outdoor thermal pool. When buying a subscription, the cost of visiting is around 2 euros.

Curiously, when visiting the thermal pool, guests must wash their hair, and since most of the pools are located in the open air, the very fact that the locals bathe with a wet head and do not get sick cannot but cause admiration. In general, visiting the thermal baths in Iceland is the same evening leisure option as going to a bar, it is here that young people most often invite girls on a first date. It turns out very convenient, and cheaper than going to a bar, and you can immediately see the person in all the details.

22. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think, the temperature here rarely drops below minus 6 degrees, but the piercing and sometimes knocking down wind fully compensates for this. But in the summer in Iceland it is never hot, the air temperature here rarely rises above 20 degrees, and the wind is still the same, do not forget about the wind.

23. If, until recently, Turkey was the most popular resort for Russians, then the same function for Icelanders is still performed Canary Islands. The reasons for the Icelanders' love for the Canary Islands are prosaic: nature is similar, flying is relatively close, by Icelandic standards it is very budgetary, but, most importantly, it is warm, and the fact that the water in the ocean is cool does not bother them at all.

Pictured: Northern Lights over Reykjavik

24. Winter in Iceland is not just dark, but very dark, on December 21 - the shortest day of the year - dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets already at 16.00. But in winter you can regularly observe the Northern Lights here, in Iceland it is usually green, and there is even a website that shows the probability of the appearance of the Northern Lights in a particular area of ​​the country, its address is: http://www.vedur.is .
Change in summer long nights long days come, in comparison with which the white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing, in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.

In the photo: the building of the Icelandic Parliament

25. The government of Iceland is based on democracy, and these are not empty words. Here it is worth referring to the history of the country: as the island was settled in the regions of Iceland, tings were formed - an analogue of the ancient Russian veche. At the Things, courts were held, disputes were resolved and collective discussions of vital issues relating to the community took place. Once a year, at the beginning of summer, representatives from each community gathered for a general meeting - the Althing, in order to regulate relations between the regions. As a rule, successes during the Althing were achieved by those who had the strong support of wealthy landowners. The first Althing was held in Iceland in 930, and this year is considered to be the beginning of the era of democracy. True, in the thirteenth century Iceland fell under the rule of Norway, until the forties of the twentieth century it was under the rule of Denmark, in 1940 the island was captured by Great Britain, which, in turn, transferred Iceland to the USA. The country gained independence from the United States only on June 17, 1944. So, the victory over the England team for the Icelanders is a kind of revenge for the years of occupation.
However, the Icelandic Althingi was re-assembled in 1845, and today it is considered the oldest parliament in the world. In finalizing the last text of the Constitution of Iceland in 2012, the entire population of the country took part, the proposals of citizens were accepted through social networks and even through youtube. But, the most curious thing, with all this, the country has had one and the same president for the past 16 years - Olavur Ragnar Grimsson. He ruled the country from 1999 to 2016. For the second term, Grimsson remained due to the lack of applicants for the post of head of state, for the third time he won during the voting, for the fourth term he went again due to the lack of candidates for the presidency, and for the fifth time he again won the elections. On June 26, 2016, 48-year-old history teacher Gudni Johannesson became the new president of Iceland.

In the photo: Hafthor Bjodnson as Grigor "Mountain" Kligon

26. In Iceland - socialism, here everyone gets about the same salary and lives in the same houses. At the same time, it is believed here that “all professions are needed, all professions are important”, that is, it doesn’t matter if you work as a waiter or a scientist - you are equally worthy of respect. It is curious that many local celebrities, before fame fell on them, worked in not very honorable positions, for example, Hafthor Bjödnson is the most powerful person on the planet and who plays the role of Grigor "Mountain" Kligon in the Game of Thrones, like many Icelanders , for a long time not only engaged in bodybuilding, but also worked part-time in a restaurant.

In general, almost all Icelanders have not one job, but two, the first - for money, the second - for the soul. That is, almost every waiter or bartender here is also an artist, decorator, photographer, designer or jeweler.

27. And the local population is very fond of reading, today, according to some reports, the Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.

In the photo: a girl in lopapeys

28. In Iceland, absolute tolerance for everything, gay marriage has been allowed here since 2010, the percentage of open bisexuals in the country is also very high, and a gay parade takes place in Reykjavik every summer. At the same time, all couples, regardless of whether they are hetero or homo, try to maintain friendly relations when parting, because the country is small and it will still not work to completely stop communication. Icelanders easily marry and divorce easily, in the event of a divorce, children, as a rule, live 50/50 with each parent. At the same time, almost all Icelandic girls are feminists, they do not allow to pay for themselves in restaurants, they themselves carry bags without any difficulties, make repairs, nail and so on. True, the pluses of tolerance give rise to minuses, in Iceland with personal space - it is extremely difficult, because everyone knows everything about everyone.

29. Iceland exists practically according to the rules of the Austrian economy, which is based on self-reliance and the construction of a system of closed reproduction of the community with minimal dependence on exchange with the external environment. No, of course, you can buy Western food here, but they cost several times more than local ones, and the choice is small. With wine, in general, it’s funny, it’s expensive regardless of the type, that is, a bottle of decent wine and frank chatter will cost about the same. Clothes are also mostly locally produced. And the main national thing that is in the wardrobe of any Icelander is lopapeysa (lopapeysa) - a knitted jacket made of sheep's wool with a recognizable national pattern. By the way, lopapeysa is quite expensive, but the thing is worn for years.

30. Iceland, according to statistics, is one of the most active countries in
in social networks. Almost all of its inhabitants have accounts on facebook, however, in addition to facebook, the country also has a local social network www.ja.is, where all Icelanders, young and old, are registered. When registering on this site, users indicate not only their first and last name, but also their phone number, address and place on the map where their houses are located. So if you want to meet one of the Iceland national football team players and he still lives in the country, look for him on www.ja.is, he will definitely be there.

> 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 Eistra (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. Southwestern and southern shores Iceland - 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. Most large lakes Iceland - 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 related to the removal 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 last years In some places, significant plantations of conifers have been created.

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 big cities- 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", to ensure that all members of society have 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.

Armed forces. 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 Cooperation 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 north coast from June to September), etc. In connection with the decrease in catches of herring and cod and the reduction of fish resources in the North Atlantic, the importance of capelin and saithe 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. Not in Iceland railways, but there is an extensive network highways 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 settlements. 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 Great Britain, 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 at a later time - 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 the poetry of skalds, 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 Icelanders, served as an impetus for the activities of the famous Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241), 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 wood carving, 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.

Theater. 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 composed by two talented playwrights, Johan Sigurjönsson 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.

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, doors are often left unlocked, 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. The Icelanders try 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.

And China is considered real and understandable.

Old house in Iceland

But for the Russians, who are used to living in the far north in the tundra and in the mountains of the Urals and the Caucasus, to be drawn to an even greater adventure, something extremely tempting must happen that will bring benefits. But in connection with the events taking place in Russia and Ukraine, in 2020, many began to consider all possible options for moving to calm countries with a higher standard of living.

However, not everything is predictable, sometimes fate makes such turns for which it is impossible to prepare, which you learn about at the moment of commission. If fate hands you a one-way ticket to Iceland, should you refuse? Maybe there you will find a paradise for your soul.

It is impossible to compare the Icelandic mentality with the European one, but it is somewhat similar to the Scandinavian one. Until the middle of the 20th century, this nation lived very ascetically, due to its remoteness from the mainland. The descendants of the Vikings have preserved their traditions and honor them today. True, modernity has not bypassed the island, which we will tell further.

Panoramic view of Reykjavik

People here are hardworking, accustomed to making money with their own hands: fishing, farming, mining. When the United States and Great Britain considered Iceland "their" territory, the inhabitants of the island responded to this intervention in a peculiar way, turning the situation in their favor.

They managed to establish the fishing industry with the marketing of products in these countries, and then around the world. The state grew rich before our eyes. To this day, residents work in their traditional sectors of the economy, and the service sector, for example, tourism, has begun to develop in part.

Europeans may consider Icelanders to be rednecks because of their habits from a past rural life, after all, the urban population has become relatively recent. They are simple people, but honest and accustomed to abide by the rules and laws. Sometimes pedantic, however, have great fun and walk around on holidays, pouring strong drinks non-stop and eating haukarl.

Haukarl is the national dish of Iceland.

This national Icelandic dish will seem to our taste quite nasty and terrible in fact, as it is rotten shark meat. Even the Vikings came up with a way of eating the meat of Greenland sharks, so as not to be poisoned by the poisonous compounds contained in it.

Another feature that is attributed to the national mentality is love for one's neighbor.

There are almost no accidents involving pedestrians in the country, since not a single motorist will allow a collision and let a person pass, even if it takes a long time to wait.

The same happens with other cars: Icelanders let each other pass politely or wait dutifully in a traffic jam while two drivers in front blocked traffic due to dialogue.

In the country, more than 98% of the inhabitants are native Icelanders, they care about the purity of the nation and rarely mix with other nations; there are very few visiting foreigners and they are obliged to strictly observe local rules of life, so immigration into the country is insignificant.

Hospital building in Iceland

A high standard of living is manifested in the personal position of each citizen in relation to the whole society and the future. So, about 96% of the inhabitants of the island have true friends and, in general, trust politicians; voter turnout reaches 80% and represents a good civil position of the population. About 85% of people are satisfied with their lives and consider themselves happy.

Economy of Iceland

Let's talk in more detail about work, because it is thanks to a constant income that a person buys goods and services and is the engine of trade, contributing to the development of the economy of the region as a whole.

We have already said that 80% of the adult active population has a job, and 90% are people with a diploma. Men are more employed than women, but the difference is small.

The average annual salary in Iceland is $40,000 or $3,300 per month: 20% of people each receive above and below average income, but in general the state provides equal opportunities, regardless of gender, age and education.

There is practically no long-term unemployment in the country, only about 13% of the active population are currently looking for work.

Now let's touch on the issue of pensioners, which are citizens (about half of all) at the age of 65-69 years. Perhaps, among all Europeans, these are the most courageous and risk-averse pensioners, because there is no age limit for retiring. A person can do this earlier, but then his income will be very small compared to others, so people work as much as they want.

This pattern exists in all Scandinavian countries, which probably explains the stable social life. Pension in Iceland averages 1550 USD, which is again comparable to all Scandinavian countries and is considered quite high in Europe.

Prices for basic products in metropolitan Reykjavik in 2015: water costs $2, you can buy bread for the same amount; a dozen eggs will cost twice as much; 1kg of chicken breasts sells for $20, while a bottle of wine averages $17.

As you can see, prices are much higher than in Moscow. A liter of gasoline costs 2.07 US dollars, which is again higher than today in our capital.

This high cost of living extends to housing, whether it's renting or buying your own apartment. 1 sq. m of housing in a residential area of ​​Reykjavik costs 2200 US dollars against 2800 in the city center.

Residential building in Reykjavik

You can rent a one-room apartment in a residential area for $880, and in the center for $1,170. True, you will have to pay only $1,800 for a three-room apartment in the center. This is more or less the same with the Moscow rental market.

World Bank Headquarters

Since the collapse of the USSR, our countries have been cooperating perfectly on a number of economic agreements. Particularly promising are the dialogues on increasing the volume of fishing, the aluminum industry and tourism.

Iceland and the European Union

Iceland has complicated relations with the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the EU). Back in 2009, an application was made to join; the country's current president won the election thanks to promises to improve the quality of life of the population after Iceland is approved as a member of the EU.

Many expected that membership would take place by 2011, but the situation changed dramatically by 2013. The fact is that the main income of many Icelanders is still associated with fishing, the quotas for which the EU decided to reduce in order to redistribute them among other coastal states.

fishing boat in Iceland

This situation did not suit the Icelanders, and they demanded that the government hold a referendum. It was there that the decision was made to withdraw the application. A proud nation has decided not to belong to the European Union. This did not suit someone, there were rallies, but in general, the life of the Icelanders remained the same as it was.

Iceland is not a member of the European Union and will not enter it with the conditions that Brussels put forward for it. In 2015, she withdrew her application for EU membership.

Iceland and the Schengen Agreement

Since 1996, Iceland has been a member of the Schengen zone, which gives the right to visit all other countries that are parties to the agreement. It also left a significant positive imprint on its foreign policy with neighboring countries and the rest of the world.

Internal migration among the Schengen countries remains approximately at the same level, although less developed states are losing their residents in favor of rich states. External migration of the population is practically absent in Iceland. There are very few states in the world that could boast of the absence of foreign residents.