Mini message on the topic of the poor country Iceland. Reykjavik is the capital of the cold and fabulous country of Iceland. Transport in Iceland

Iceland is an island located in the north of the harsh Atlantic Ocean. The state of the same name also owns a number of adjacent islands. The main attractions here are volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, valleys and fjords. A country - wildlife, on the territory of which there are many places where no human has set foot.

This is what attracts tourists and adventurous travelers here. Here you can see amazing natural artifacts that cannot be found anywhere else in the world - huge fields of solidified lava, the purest blue Lakes, deep canyons and smoking thawed patches everywhere. Also, Iceland is famous National parks(this) where tourists from numerous countries, and Lake Tingvalavaten, which was formed due to the breaking of continental plates. Once upon a time, the Vikings called this lake “The Pool of Witches” and drowned their unfaithful wives there.

Interactive map of attractions:

A few secrets for a great holiday in Iceland

It is enough to look around for at least one moment to understand why this country is loved and revered all over the world.

It is the incredible natural resources of this cold, icy region that attract tens of thousands of travelers here, like a magnet, from year to year. Numerous waterfalls, majestic geysers, once deadly volcanoes, amazing fjords, glaciers stretching to the very horizon - all this is Iceland. Nature is very harsh, but here it is still alive, real and not spoiled by people, as in megacities, where not a trace of ecology remains.

The first person to settle on the island was a Norwegian, and he called this area the Land of Ice. This name is perfect for Iceland, but despite the chilling climate, it’s definitely worth a visit. In our time, with such a rapid development of civilization and with the constant expansion into uninhabited areas, a visit to such a country is perhaps the last chance to see virgin nature. And don’t confuse small patches of nature reserves with different corners peace with the real selfless nature of these lands.

The most beautiful and interesting places in Iceland

Bay of Seals is a city in the southwest of Iceland, its more common name is Kopavogur (Kopavogur). You won’t be able to see any ancient and historical sights here, because the city is only a little over seventy years old. Kopavogur has the most high building throughout the country - the Smáratorg tower, whose height is almost eighty meters. You can visit the Natural History Museum, where the inhabitants of the local ocean live in four huge aquariums.

For extreme sports enthusiasts, it is suggested to swim in the geothermal pool, located near the cliff, on the Borgarholt hill. In fact, everything in this place is thought out and safe, but you can get adrenaline.

If the purpose of the trip is to visit the maximum number of natural attractions, then you need to go to the city of Akureyri. It is in its vicinity that the maximum number of interesting and beautiful places. From here, excursions by plane to the Arctic Circle depart, trips to the western fjords begin, and hikes to nearby volcanoes are organized. It is from here that you can go on an excursion to the legendary city, which was completely covered with ash due to a volcanic eruption in 1973. Now it is a ghost town with no residents.

Icelandic cuisine

The cuisine in Iceland is not pretentious. Basically all seafood dishes:

• salmon;
• shark meat;
• cod;
• halibut;
• shrimps.

A traditional dish is seafood chowder. As a delicacy, you can try whale meat, which, frankly, is not for everyone, although it is considered healing in Chinese medicine.

Lamb dishes are prepared less frequently, mainly fried meat or baked cutlets. There are practically no fruits and vegetables here, with the exception of potatoes. There are several restaurants with vegetable dishes, but the prices are unlikely to please even a wealthy tourist.

Among the traditional drinks, it is worth highlighting an analogue of vodka - Brennivin. It is produced from potatoes and caraway seeds. Locals call it the Black Death. Like any other alcohol in Iceland, Black Death is an expensive vodka.

Transport in Iceland

Intercity public transport No. According to the excursion program, of course, you will be transported by private transport. If you are visiting the country on your own, you will either have to rent a car or try to join some kind of group.

The only way to get from one city to another is by plane. In general, there is only one highway- Highway #1. The road is 1,400 km long and runs along the entire coast.
There is no railway at all, so there is nothing to please train lovers.

With car rental, things are wonderful in everything except the cost. Renting an SUV, but you can’t go very far in a passenger car, costs from 120 euros per day. But Russian and Ukrainian rights are quite suitable. It is better to refuel every time you see gas stations; they are not a common occurrence in Iceland.

• The flight to Iceland from the CIS will in any case involve a transfer.
• A visa to Iceland is required to visit.
• It is allowed to import up to a liter of alcohol, but not stronger than 22 degrees, as well as two hundred cigarettes or two hundred and fifty grams of tobacco.
• The import of meat in any form is prohibited, including sausage and bacon, as well as milk, eggs and any plant seeds.
• It is prohibited to import any equipment for fishing and riding.
• Anything of historical value, even pieces of solidified lava, cannot be exported.
• It is not customary to leave tips in cafes and restaurants.
• The cost of dinner per person is from 50 euros, without alcohol.
• Local crowns are in use. For 1 US dollar they will offer 125 ISK.
• The official language is Icelandic, but many speak fluent English.

Authors: A. V. Shadsky ( General information, Population, Economy), M. A. Arshinova (Nature), A. F. Limonov (Nature: geological structure and minerals), V. V. Roginsky (Historical sketch), V. V. Gorbachev (Armed Forces), V. S. Nechaev (Health), V. I. Linder (Sports), A. V. Zimmerling (Literature), N. N. Mokhov (Music), E. Ya. Surits (Ballet), V. V. Minyaev (Movie)Authors: A. V. Shadsky (General information, Population, Economy), M. A. Arshinova (Nature), A. F. Limonov (Nature: geological structure and minerals); >>

ICELAND (Ísland), Republic of Iceland (Lýð veldið Ísland).

General information

I. is a state in Europe. Located on the island. Iceland, in the north parts of the Atlantic approx. In the north it is washed by the Greenland Sea, in the east by the Norwegian Sea, and in the west by the Danish Strait. separates I. from Greenland. Pl. 103 thousand km 2. Us. 312.9 thousand people (2007). The capital is Reykjavik. Official language– Icelandic. The monetary unit is the Icelandic krona. Administratively, the territory of India is divided into 23 regions (sisli), united by the Isl. statistics for 8 regions (table).

I. - member of the UN (1946), NATO (1949), CE (1950), North. Council (1952), OSCE (1973), Economic Organizations. cooperation and development (1961), European. Free Trade Association (1970), IMF (1945), IBRD (1945), WTO (1995).

Political system

I. is a unitary state. The Constitution was adopted on June 17, 1944. The form of government is a parliamentary republic.

The head of state is the president. Legislator power belongs to parliament and the president, will execute. power - to the president and government.

The President is elected for 4 years by direct secret ballot. A presidential candidate must be Icelandic by nationality, over 35 years of age, and have an impeccable reputation.

Supreme legislator. body - the unicameral parliament (Althing). 63 deputies are elected for 4 years by universal, equal, direct secret ballot using a system of proportional representation. Bills adopted by the Althing are sent to the president for signature and, after his approval, become laws. If the president refuses to approve the bill, it can only come into force if it is approved by a referendum.

The government - the Cabinet of Ministers - is headed by a prime minister appointed by the president. The cabinet is responsible to the Althing and must resign if a vote of no confidence is passed against it.

India has a multi-party system. Largest parties: Independence Party, Social Democratic. alliance, Green and Left Alliance, Progressive Party, Liberal Party.

Nature

Relief

The coastline is approx. 5000 km. In the northwest, north and east, the rocky shores are dissected by numerous. bays (Fahsafloui, Hunafloui) and fjords (Breidafjord, Isafjord, Eyjafjord, etc.). Southwestern and south The shores are sandy and leveled. On the Snæfellsnes Peninsula there is a unique beach with yellow sand (on the other coasts the sand is black, volcanic). Surface I. preim. sublime. The main part of the island is a volcanic one. high plateau 500–900 m with large mountain ranges, including Vatnajökull, Erayvajökull (the highest point of I. is the Hvannadalshnukur volcano, 2119 m), Mýrdalsjökull (1480 m), Hofsjökull (1765 m), etc. Lowlands occupy less than 10% of the territory , mainly in the west and southwest. Lava fields (area up to 570 km 2), moraine and outwash plains are widespread.

A vast zone stretches from the north to the southwest of the country, in which the bay is located. including volcanoes. Total in I. approx. 200 volcanoes, including 26 active ones. For 1100 years, St. 150 volcanic eruptions. The most typical are fissure-type volcanoes (Laki, Askya, etc.). The most active volcano is Hekla (1491 m, last eruption in 2000). In 1963, as a result of an underwater eruption off the southwest. coast of I. arose about. Surtsey. A combination of active volcanism and modern glaciation leads to subglacial eruptions, during which rapid melting of ice occurs and the formation of powerful mud flows.

Geological structure and minerals

I. is located on the volcanic island. origin, representing an exit above the surface of the ocean Mid-Atlantic Ridge, along the axis of which the expansion and new formation of oceanic occurs. crust (spreading). The island arose above an ascending flow of heated mantle material (plume). The territory is composed of ch. arr. Neogene-Quaternary basalts (the oldest are Middle Miocene in age). In addition to basalts, there are lavas of intermediate and acidic composition (andesites, rhyolites; ca. 10%). The thickness of the earth's crust under the Earth is from 19 to 35 km, the boundary between the upper and lower mantle of the Earth is raised by 20 km, and the heat flow is increased. The island has two rift valleys. East the valley stretches across the entire territory of India in the meridional direction, the western valley branches off from it to the southwest to the center. parts of the island. Closing of rifts with adjacent spreading ridges in the Atlantic ca. happens through transform faults, along which the island is shifted east relative to the ridges by a distance of approx. 100 km. India's rift zones are tectonically, magmatically, and seismically active; within their boundaries, intense hydrothermal activity occurs. The spreading rate in rifts is ca. 1.5 cm/year. The stretching of the earth's crust leads to the appearance of gaping cracks longitudinal to the rift valleys, which are subsequently filled with magma rising from the magmatic rocks. chambers located at a depth of approx. 3 km. After each fissure eruption, a subhorizontal basalt layer and a subvertical dolerite dike are formed on the surface. The combination of dikes from several eruptions forms dike swarms. Fissure outpourings are almost annual. Wed. The thickness of volcanics along the periphery of the rift zones is up to 8 km.

The bowels of I. are rich in natural resources. materials and raw materials for production. materials: basalts, rhyolites, pumice, volcanic. slag, sand (volcanic, carbonate), gravel, diatomite. There are significant reserves of hydrogeothermal resources.

Climate

I. is characterized by subarctic. maritime climate, formed under the influence of warm Irminger Current and cold East Greenland Current. Depending on the passage of the Atlantic. cyclones, the weather changes dramatically; Fogs and stormy winds are frequent throughout the year. Winter is mild, windy (average January temperatures in the south and southwest from 2 to –3 °C; in inland areas and in the mountains from –5 to –15 °C); summers are cool and humid (average July temperatures 7–12 °C). Precipitation is especially abundant in the south and southwest (up to 1000 mm per year, on the slopes of mountain ranges - up to 3000 mm). Inland areas receive 300–500 mm of precipitation per year, mainly in autumn.

The height of the snow line is from 1200 m above sea level to the center. parts of I. up to 600 m in the north. Total area glaciers 11800 km 2 (2000), the largest cover glacier in Europe is Vatnajökull (8538 km 2).

Inland waters

Numerous rivers I. mainly short (Tjoursau – 287 km, Khvitau – 183 km), stormy and rapids. When crossing the ledges of basalt plateaus, many high waterfalls are formed. up to 100 m. River feeding is predominant. snow and glacial, floods in spring and summer. During subglacial volcanic eruptions, river flows increase sharply, and floods are common. The rivers of India are not navigable, but they have large reserves of hydropower (estimated at 80 billion kWh per year; only 6% of hydropower resources are used). Many lakes are tectonic, volcanic. and glacial origin, occupying up to 3% of the territory. The largest are Thingvallavatn (area 82.7 km 2, depth 114 m), Thorisvatn, Myvatn. With volcanic hot springs (over 1000) are associated with activities; the most famous is the Big Geyser, called. which has become a household name for all such formations. The energy of thermal sources is widely used in municipal and greenhouse sectors; numerous resorts.

Annually renewable water resources amount to 170 km 3 . In terms of water availability (about 600 thousand m 3 of water per person per year), India occupies a leading place in Europe. For farms. Less than 0.1% of available water resources are used for purposes, of which 63% are consumed by industry. enterprises, 31% is spent on municipal water supply, 6% goes to agricultural needs.

Soils, flora and fauna

Volcanic soils are widely represented in the soil cover. On the coastal plains, under forb-grass meadows and tundras, peaty-turf subarctic soils are developed. soil; on the volcanic plateau – rocky dry-peaty mountain-tundra soils. To the south Peat bogs and peat-bog soils are common in parts of India. So... The territories are covered with rocky placers with a sparse moss-lichen cover or completely devoid of plants. cover.

The flora of India includes a total of 483 species of vascular plants, among which the most numerous are sedges and grasses. Grows approx. 560 species of mosses and at least 550 species of lichens. More than 50 species of higher plants are classified as rare, and 31 species are protected in India. During development, as a result of cutting down and overgrazing of the area under natural resources. woody vegetation (birch woodlands, thickets of willow, rowan and juniper) have sharply decreased and now amount to approx. 1% of the territory of I. So. The area is occupied by arts. coniferous plantations (12 thousand hectares). Subarctic forb-grass meadows are widely used as highly productive pastures. The plains of I. are susceptible, which means. erosion and deflation despite measures being taken to protect them; The Grazing Lands Anti-Deflation Act was passed in 1895 and became one of the first environmental laws. acts in Europe.

Specific A feature of India's fauna is the complete absence of amphibians and reptiles. Of the 11 species of mammals, only the arctic fox is the indigenous inhabitant of India; the remaining species, including reindeer, were brought to the island by humans. The avifauna includes 93 bird species, 76 of which regularly nest on the island. A large colony of waterfowl (wheathen, Icelandic goldeneye, polar loon, etc.) is known on the lake. Mývatn. There are trout in the lakes and salmon in the rivers. In the coastal waters of India there are 2 species of seals and several. whale species. From St. 50 species of fish of the most important commercial importance are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut, etc. A serious problem for the conservation of natural resources. Biodiversity of India is represented by the introduction of alien species of plants and animals.

In India, 85 protected natural areas have been created, occupying approx. 12% of the country's territory, including national Thingvellir park, listed World Heritage .

Population

Tough economics The policy allowed the government to achieve an improvement in the market situation and a reduction in inflation. After the 1987 elections, the ruling coalition was expanded to include the Social Democrats. Member became Prime Minister. PN Thorstein Paulsson. The government has focused on fighting inflation and improving the state's health. finance in order to achieve the elimination of the deficit in the balance of payments and foreign trade. In 1988, a new center-left government was created with the participation of the PP, SDPI and Nar. union (1988–91) led by progressive Steingrim Hermannsson. It announced its intention to increase taxes on large incomes, increase pensions, benefits and subsidies, as well as assistance to fish processing enterprises. The measures taken by the government made it possible to reduce the inflation rate from 27 to 15%.

In the 1991 elections, the PN achieved success. Its leader David Oddsson formed a government from representatives of his party and the Social Democrats, and after the 1995 elections - from the PN and PP. It remained in power after the Althing elections in 1999.

In 1994, India entered Europe. economical space (SES). During negotiations between European The Free Trade Association and the EU recognized the fishing zone established by India. India abolished duties on imports of fish products from EU countries and allowed ships from these countries to catch up to 3 thousand tons of fish per year in their fishing zone. At the same time, I. continued to challenge the right of ships from Norway, Denmark and Canada to fish in the island. shelf. In order to prevent overfishing and the reduction of the country's fish resources, I. reduced its own. fishing fleet.

From the beginning 1990s India's GDP grew continuously (by an average of 4.5% per year). The government has reduced taxes, including income tax (by 4%) and corporate tax (from 24.5 to 14%). The authorities have weakened economic regulation. activities using government funds. funds and focused on the development of free market mechanisms. At the same time, state privatization continued. companies. In 2000, there were signs of some decline in history. economy: GDP growth rates slowed, unemployment reached 2%, inflation - 5%. In 2003 economic. the situation has stabilized, inflation has dropped to 2%. Based on the results of the 2003 parliamentary elections, coalitions were created. the government of the PN and the Social Democratic Party. alliance (formed in 2001 as a result of the merger of SDPI, People's Union, etc.) under the leadership. Geira Haarde (PN), supported by 43 deputies (out of 63). In 2001, India joined the Schengen Agreement. 9/30/2006 The USA and India reached an agreement on the transfer of Amer. military bases in Keflavik isl. government.

From the beginning 1990s Russian-Islamic countries were actively developing. relationships. On Dec. 1994 The Declaration on the Fundamentals of Relations between the two countries was signed. Since Apr. 1999 Bilateral political meetings are held on a regular basis. consultations through the ministries of foreign affairs. affairs, since 2001 there has been a mechanism for annual consultations on trade and economics. questions.

An important milestone in Russian-Islamic relations was the first ever visit of President I. Olav Ragnar Grimsson to Russia from April 18–24, 2002. On Sept. 2002 he took part in the 2nd meeting of the North. research forum in Veliky Novgorod, in April. 2003 attended the celebrations dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, and in August of the same year visited the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Russian-Islamic is developing. cooperation at the regional level. The attention of Icelanders is focused on expanding ties with the North-West of Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Kamchatka, Chukotka. Relations are maintained between the parliaments of both countries, as well as cooperation within regional organizations (Arctic Council, etc.).

In 2003, trade turnover between Russia and India reached 89.7 million dollars. Ex. exports to Russia amount to $13.8 million, growing. export to India - 75.9 million dollars. Structure of growth. export to Iceland is predominant. raw materials: 62.3% are petroleum products, 27% are aluminum. Icelanders export ships and vehicles (25.1% of exports), seafood (23.3%), fabrics and clothing (14.9%), chemicals to Russia. fertilizers (10.8%), industrial equipment (9.5%).

One of the chapters. directions Russian-Islamic relations is cooperation in the field of fisheries. Signing in May 1999 Russian-Norwegian-Islamic. Agreements on certain aspects of fishing resolved the problem of uncontrolled cod fishing by Icelanders in the open part of the Barents Sea. In April 2000 was signed by Russian-Isl. intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of fisheries.

Cooperation between countries in the field of culture is expanding. In 1996, the first Russian-Icelandic dictionary, prepared by the Islamic Republic, was published. and grew up philologists.

In the summer of 2002 I. visited Russia. military ships. A community of Russian-speaking people has been formed in Reykjavik, through whose efforts the Orthodox parish of St. Nicholas.

Farm

India is one of the highly developed countries of the world. GDP volume is 11.89 billion dollars (at purchasing power parity, 2007), per capita 39.4 thousand dollars. Human development index 0.968 (2005; 1st place among 177 countries of the world).

Intl. specialization of the country from the 2nd half. 20th century determine fishing and fish processing. Since the 1980s The electric power industry and the energy-intensive aluminum production that grew on its basis became significant sectors of the economy. Since the 1990s As a result of further diversification and liberalization of the economy, the service sector developed, mainly. foreign tourism, financial sector, developments in the field of high technology. Foreign capital is actively involved in the construction of new heavy industry facilities, the development of communication systems, etc. (access for foreign investments in fishing and fish processing, as well as in the banking sector, is prohibited by law). Since 2003, economic growth has been observed. rise; GDP growth rates in 2004 and 2005 were among the highest in the Northern countries. Europe (7.7% and 7.5%, respectively); GDP growth in 2006 was 3.2%. In the structure of GDP, the service sector accounts for 69%, industry and construction – 24.7%, in the village. farming and fishing – 6.2% (2005).

Industry

One of the key industries is energy and heat supply (3.6% of GDP, 0.9% of employment in 2005). “The country of waterfalls and geysers”, I. has means. hydro and geothermal energy resources. After the oil crisis of the 1970s. state energy policy was focused on the active development and use of local renewable energy sources (RES). As a result, a unique energy was created. system: in the fuel and energy structure. RES balance accounts for approx. 72% (17% - hydropower, 55% - geothermal energy, 2005), 28% of energy needs are covered by imports. India imports the necessary minimum of oil and petroleum products (for refueling fishing vessels, cars and airliners), and coal (for the needs of the cement industry).

The installed capacity of power plants is 1507 MW (2006). Electricity production 8.68 billion kW6 h (29.3 thousand kW6 h per capita, in terms of electricity consumption per capita India ranks 1st in the world), including 80.8% at hydroelectric power stations , 19.1% at geothermal power plants (GeoTES). There are 5 geothermal power plants (with an installed capacity of 210 MW; it is planned to increase it to 410 MW): “Nesjavellir”, “Krafla”, “Svartsengi”, “Reykjanes” and “Hellisheiði” (the last two, with a capacity of 100 MW and 90 MW, were launched in 2006). The areas of application of geothermal waters in India are more diverse than in other countries of the world. They are used in the heat supply of cities, including for heating rooms and heating sidewalks (ice and snow are melted by the residual heat of heating systems), filling swimming pools (approximately 130), in greenhouse farming, etc.

As part of the large industrial program. construction in India, new power plants are being built. objects: the country's largest hydroelectric power station "Kárahnjúkar" (design capacity 690 MW; will go into operation in 2008) and several. new geothermal power plants near Reykjavik. State the strategy for creating a “hydrogen society” provides for a complete transition of the economy to the use of renewable energy sources and a refusal to import energy resources; Research and development is actively underway on the production of hydrogen fuel by electrolysis of water (in Reykjavik in 2003–06, an experiment was conducted to install hydrogen fuel cells on city buses; the next stages are the conversion of private cars to hydrogen fuel, then fishing boats).

In manufacturing industries, approx. 12% of GDP (excluding fish processing) and employs 10.1% of workers. The leading place belongs to the aluminum industry (the industry consumes about 51% of the electricity generated in India). From imported bauxite in 2006, approx. 400 thousand tons of aluminum; Almost all products are exported. As part of the large industrial program. Construction by 2006, the capacity of the aluminum smelter in Grundartaungi was significantly expanded (from 90 to 220 thousand tons; owned by the American company Century Aluminum), in 2007 the plant was launched in Reydarfjörður in the east of the country (capacity 346 thousand tons; American company " Alcoa Inc."), by 2010 it is planned to expand the plant in Stroimsvik (from 180 to 460 thousand tons; Canadian company "Alcan Inc."); in the future - the construction by 2010–15 of two more aluminum plants in the north and southwest of the country (with a capacity of 250 thousand tons of aluminum each). The implementation of the program will allow India to increase aluminum smelting to 1.5 million tons per year and become one of the world's largest producers and exporters. Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the production of ferrosilicon (114.8 thousand tons in 2005).

The most important sector of the economy is fishing and fish processing (4.8% of GDP is created in fishing, 2% of GDP is created in fish processing; 3.1% and 3% of workers are employed, respectively; 2005). India is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of fish catch and export of fish products. In 2006, 1,323 thousand tons of fish and seafood were caught (including whiting 315 thousand tons, herring 291 thousand tons, cod 199 thousand tons, capelin 178 thousand tons, haddock 97 thousand tons, sea bass 83 thousand . t, ​​pollock 75 thousand t). The fishing fleet includes 1,692 vessels (2006), including 63 large trawlers operating ocean fishing. fishing, 852 small deck vessels (boats, etc.), which fish in territorial waters and have exceptional economic zone I. (EEZ; 200 nautical miles); the rest are fishing boats. The growth in the number of vessels is constrained by the current system of distribution of quotas for marine production. biological resources in territorial waters and EEZ (quotas are assigned to each specific vessel; a new vessel can receive a quota and begin fishing if the owner purchases and then disposes of the old one). The number of large ocean-class trawlers fishing outside the country’s EEZ (Norwegian, Barents and Bering Seas, South Atlantic, Atlantic coast of Canada and Morocco, Pacific coast of Chile) is increasing; advanced technologies for the extraction and deep processing of seafood are being developed and implemented. From ser. 1980s India has taken first place in the world in terms of industry indicators such as catch per employee (on average, about 300 tons per year; 265 tons in 2006) and the cost of production per employee ($374 thousand). in 2006).

The largest fishing ports (catch, thousand tons, 2003): Neskoypstadur 238, Vestmannaeyjar 202, Eskifjordur 164, Grindavik 148, Seydisfjordur 140, Akranes 117, Reykjavik 104. Processing plants - fish processing plants, refrigerators, canneries, etc. - are located along the coast . B. h. products (frozen fish fillets, salted and dried fish, fish meal and fish oil) are exported. Practices the arts. fish farming, oriented mainly for air deliveries of chilled products for the restaurant business of Southern countries. Europe. In 2006, India exported seafood worth $1.87 billion; basic buyers are EU countries (76% of the cost).

Shipbuilding is focused on meeting the needs of fisheries. and ship repair enterprises, as well as factories producing high-tech equipment for fishing (including mid-water trawls) and deep processing of seafood (Marel Ltd. - high-precision scales operating in stormy sea conditions, lines for cutting fish and shrimp for floating fish factories and coastal enterprises). Basic centers - Reykjavik, Akureyri, Isafjordur.

There are factories producing cement (132.5 thousand tons; Akranes) and nitrogen fertilizers (over 3 thousand tons; Gyvyunes), small enterprises in the paint and varnish, textile, leather and footwear, knitwear, woodworking, furniture industries ( mainly in the Reykjavik area). Honey production is developing. technicians, pharmaceutical drugs. Extraction of diatomite (approx. 20 thousand tons per year), pumice, and natural stones is carried out. materials (sands, basalts, rhyolites, etc.).

Agriculture

The agricultural sector produces 1.4% of GDP and employs 3.4% of workers (2005). I. provides internal needs for meat, dairy products, eggs, that means. degrees in fresh vegetables; Some of the products are exported to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The missing types of food (grain, etc.) are imported.

Small-scale agricultural products. The land plots are fragmented and are privately owned. The state provides support to farmers (over 4 thousand farms in total, mid-2000s) by providing subsidies and limiting agricultural imports. products. The number of farms specializing in the production of greenhouse vegetables, including using environmentally friendly technologies, is growing.

S.-kh. the land is approx. 22% of the country's territory (2.2 million hectares) and is mainly used. under meadows and pastures. The leading industry is livestock farming, the basis of which is meat and wool sheep breeding and dairy cattle breeding. Livestock (thousands, 2006): sheep 455.7, cattle 68.7 (including dairy cattle 25.5), horses (Icelandic ponies) 75.6, poultry 166.2. Meat production (thousand tons, 2005): lamb 8.74, pork 5.3, beef 3.54, horse meat 0.8, poultry 5.77. Crop production is subordinated to the needs of livestock farming. Forage grasses (hay is the main product of crop farms), potatoes, turnips, and barley are grown on cultivated lands. A greenhouse economy based on the use of thermal springs has been developed. Vegetables, flowers, etc. are grown in greenhouses (mainly in the south of India). Harvest (thousand tons, 2005): grain 9.73, potatoes 7.25, tomatoes 1.51, cucumbers 1.15, carrots 0, 42, cabbage 0.39.

Services sector

One of the most dynamically developing sectors is foreign. tourism (mainly ecological). Tourists are attracted by unusual landscapes (frozen volcanic lava creates so-called lunar landscapes), mountains and fjords, volcanoes and geysers, waterfalls, open-air pools with thermal waters, etc. In 2006, 422 thousand people visited Iran. (including approx. 25% from Scandinavian countries, approx. 16% from Great Britain, over 13% from the USA, over 9% from Germany). R&D is being actively carried out, including in the field of energy saving, construction of geothermal power plants, as well as biotechnologies (genetic medicine, genetic engineering); production of computer programs has been established (including those commissioned by Apple and Microsoft). The financial sector is developing rapidly. I. occupies a leading position in the world in the field of communication services. Along with postal services (there are 93 branches throughout the country), there is a developed telephone network: in the beginning. 2006 193.9 thousand landline telephone numbers and 304 thousand mobile numbers were registered (over 1 mobile phone for each resident). 88% of us use the Internet. I. (in rural areas - 84%).

Transport

The basis of the internal I.'s transport system consists of automobile and aviation. transport; Some transportation is carried out by coastal vessels. External transportation of passengers is carried out mainly. by air, cargo by sea. transport. There are no railways. The length of paved roads is 13,038 km (2006). In coastal areas, most settlements are connected by paved roads; in internal In areas of India there are only dirt roads (open for travel only in the summer months). Basic highway - a ring road connecting the cities of Reykjavik - Borgarnes - Blönduous - Akureyri - Eyilsstadir - Höfn - Selfoss (length approximately 1.4 thousand km). There are 197.3 thousand cars, 1.9 thousand buses, 25.5 thousand trucks, 4.2 thousand motorcycles in the country (mid 2006). The provision of the population with passenger cars is 642 per 1000 people. (2006); traffic density is 15 cars per 1 km of road (2004). In the 1990s - early. 2000s means. Some of the ships of the leading shipping companies “Eimskip” (specialized in transatlantic transportation) and “Samskip” (carried out cargo and passenger transportation to Europe) were transferred to “flags of convenience” of other countries (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Norway , Malta, Faroe Islands; 34 vessels in total). 48 small vessels with a total displacement of 7,767 tons of deadweight are registered under the flag of India (including 1 vessel with a displacement of 480 tons of deadweight). In 2005 isl. ships transported 5.8 million tons of cargo. There are 11 passenger airports, 4 of which are international. Ch. The “air gate” of the country is the airport named after. Leif Eirikson in Keflavik (52 km from Reykjavik; over 1.8 million passengers in 2005); spare international The airport is located in Eylsstadir in the east of I. Intl. flights (to Greenland and the Faroe Islands) are also operated from domestically. Reykjavik and Akureyri airports. In 2005, only 2.66 million passengers were transported through Indian airports (including 0.77 thousand on domestic airlines). Leading national airlines: state "Flugleið ir Í slands" (its divisions: "Icelandair", carries out passenger transportation; "Iceland Cargo", specializes in cargo transportation; "Flugfélag slands"), private "Air Atlanta" (passenger charter and cargo transportation outside of Iceland). ) and Iceland Express (charter passenger services). Int. Air traffic is carried out mainly. companies "Flugfélag lands" and "Loftleið ir".

International trade

The volume of foreign trade turnover is 10.07 billion dollars (2006), including exports of 3.62 billion dollars, imports of 6.45 billion dollars. Main. commodity export items: seafood – 51.2% of the value (including frozen fish fillets – approx. 15%, fresh fish – approx. 10%, salted and dried fish – approx. 10%, frozen fish – approx. 6 %, fish meal – approx. 6%, frozen shrimp – approx. 4%, fish oil, etc.), industrial. goods - 38.3% (mainly aluminum - about 19%, ferrosilicon - over 3%, etc.), ships, agricultural products. kh-va, etc. In the structure of imports, 25.1% falls on industrial products. destination (23.9%) and raw materials (1.2%), 23.8% - for industrial products. construction, 22.4% - for vehicles (cars, ships), 8.4% - for fuel and other petroleum products. OK. 75% ex. export and approx. 65% of imports come from EU countries (2006). From the department countries' largest trading partners: Germany (15.0% of exports and 12.3% of imports), USA (10.8% and 12.9%, respectively), the Netherlands (16.6% and 4.8%), Great Britain (15.6% and 5.3%), Norway (4.0% and 7.0%), Denmark (3.5% and 6.1%), Sweden (0.9% and 7.0%) , Japan (2.1% and 4.1%), Spain (6.4% and 1.3%). The Russian Federation accounts for approx. 1.9% ex. export.

Armed forces

Armed There are no I. forces as regular formations (2006). In the interests of ensuring national security, a coast guard service (CGS) consisting of 130 people was created. It consists of 3 patrol ships, a patrol aircraft, 2 search and rescue helicopters, a combat engineer unit, and a logistics service. provision. Basic The tasks of the Civil Defense Service are: supervision of fishing; conducting search and rescue operations; performing customs functions and civil defense activities. The tasks of maintaining internal law enforcement is entrusted to the police (450 people) and the emergency rescue service (approx. 70 people; 2 helicopters). Military annual budget 41.5 million dollars (2005). Mobilization resources amount to 75.6 thousand people, including those fit for military service. service – 66.5 thousand people.

The country's leadership considers it appropriate to provide national security through close cooperation with the United States in the field of defense. In this regard, there are approx. 1.8 thousand people personnel and a squadron of basic patrol aircraft of the US Navy, 1.3 thousand people. personnel and a squadron of US Air Force fighters.

Healthcare

In I. per 100 thousand inhabitants. there are 362 doctors, 1363 persons avg. honey. personnel, 100 dentists, 130 pharmacists, 69 midwives (2004); hospital beds – 750.8 per 10 thousand inhabitants. (2005). Total expenditure on health care is 9.9% of GDP (budget financing - 83.4%, private sector - 16.6%) (2004). Legal regulation of the healthcare system is carried out by the Constitution (1944, amendments 1999), laws: on local social services (1991), medical. patient insurance (2000), infectious diseases. diseases (1997), child protection (2002), disabled people (1992), tobacco smoking control (2002), biobanks (2000), scientific. research in the health sector (1999), patient rights (1997), pharmaceuticals (1994), advertising of medical products. appointments (1995). Incidence rate per 100 thousand inhabitants. is: diseases of the circulatory system - 207 cases, malignant neoplasms - 160.5, injuries and poisonings - 34.8, pulmonary tuberculosis - 3.8 cases (2005). Basic Causes of mortality in the adult population: diseases of the circulatory system (38%), ischemic. heart disease (20%), cancer (30%) (2004).

Sport

In isl. sagas 12–13 centuries the game of chess is mentioned, and the national character is also described. Glim wrestling, the rules of which are reported in the Jonsbook, a code of laws adopted in 1281 by the Althing. It resembles Greco-Roman wrestling, but the fight is held not on mats, but on a hard floor.

Physical management culture and sports in the country with the middle. 20th century carried out by three organizations: Office of Physical. Education Ministry of People's Republic Education, Isl. Sports Union (ISA), Isl. union of youth organizations. ISA unites St. 250 sports clubs representing approx. 30 sports unions. The largest clubs in the country: KR, Keflavik, Akranes, Akureyri, Volur, Fram, Vikingur, etc.

The most popular sports in the country are football, athletics, chess, handball, shooting (the oldest sports organization in India is the Reykjavik Shooting Association; founded in 1867), skiing, swimming, golf, basketball, volleyball, weight lifting, and bridge.

National The Olympic and Sports Association of India was founded in 1921 and recognized by the IOC in 1934. Athletes of India took part in the Olympic Games in 1908 (London) and 1912 (Stockholm), and in all subsequent ones since 1936 (Berlin); in total (in 1936–2008) they won 4 Olympic medals: in 1956 (Melbourne) Vilhjaulm Einarsson became a silver medalist in the triple jump; in 1984 (Los Angeles) Bjarni Fridriksson won a bronze medal in the judo competition; in 2000 (Sydney), the bronze medal in the javelin was awarded to Vala Flosadottir; in 2008 (Beijing), the I. men's handball team won silver medals.

The constant growth of interest in chess was facilitated by: the opening of chess clubs (the first in 1900); performance with the world champion A. A. Alekhine on tour (1931); sporting successes of the first isl. grandmaster Fridrik Olafsson – participant in the Candidates Tournament (1959) and the “Match of the Century” (1970) as part of the world team, 4th President of FIDE (1978–82); holding in Reykjavik (1972) a world championship match between B.V. Spassky and R. Fischer; carrying out traditions international tournaments in Reykjavik (since 1960), including the 1988 World Cup stage; successful performances of the I. national team at the World Chess Olympiads (best result in 1986 - 5th place).

In March 2005, thanks to the active work of Il. Chess Federation, the 11th world chess champion R. Fischer became a citizen of Iceland (died in Reykjavik on January 17, 2008).

First prof. football player I. - striker Albert Gudmundsson, played for Glasgow Rangers, Arsenal, Milan, president of the Football Association I. (1968–73); subsequently became a politician (in 1983–87 he served as minister of finance and industrial development, and in 1980 he ran for the post of president of the country). Dr. famous football players: striker Ausgeir Sigurvinsson, who played for Bayern (Munich, 1981–82) and Stuttgart (1982–90), with whom he became the champion of Germany (1984), played 45 matches for the Ivan national team, scored 5 goals ; Eid Smari Gudjohnsen, who played for London's Chelsea (2000–06), and since 2006 has played for Barcelona. In the beginning. 1990s I.'s team won the world bridge championship.

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions

The education system is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Basic The governing documents are the laws: on preschool education (1994), obligatory. training (1995), complete secondary education (1996), about universities (1997). Preschool education is paid and optional. Most preschool institutions are run by municipalities. Kindergartens are attended by approx. 75% of children aged 3 to 6 years and approx. 15% of younger children. Education in educational institutions of all levels is free. Mandatory Education for children from 6 to 16 years old is provided by primary and junior high schools; Complete secondary education - grammar. schools, industrial-prof. schools, special prof. schools, etc. comprehensive schools. Governments predominate. educational institutions. In sparsely populated areas of India, the so-called. mobile schools and boarding schools. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 99% (2005). Prof.-technical Education is carried out on the basis of a 10-year school in prof. schools (course of study from 1 year to 3 years), 4-year colleges (maritime, engineering-navigation, etc.), prof. schools (arts and crafts, drama, ballet). The higher education system includes state. universities: University College in Howlar (1882), S.-kh. University in Borgarnes (1889; university status since 2005), Isl. pedagogical University (1908; current name and status since 1997) in Reykjavik, Israel. University (1911) in Reykjavik - a major center of education and science, includes St. 20 research institutes, including the Arni Magnusson Institute (1972; study of ancient historical literature; it includes the Museum of Manuscripts), University of Akureyri (1987); private universities: Borgarnes University (1918; university status since 1988, current name since 2006), Reykjavik University (1998), Isl. Academy of Arts (1999), Akureyri Renewable Energy School (RES; founded 2006, opened 2007).

Among scientific institutions: Institute of Natural Sciences. history (1889; modern status since 1947), Isl. Academy of Sciences and Literatures (1918), Isl. Research Council (1994; unites research institutes - marine, technological, agricultural, fishing industry, construction) - all in Reykjavik.

Libraries: National and University (1994), City (1923), National. archive (1882) - all in Reykjavik. National museum (1863), National. gallery (1884), Aurbair open-air museum, museum of the sculptor Ausmund Sveinsson, artist. gallery of sculptor Einar Jonsson - all in Reykjavik; Museum of Natural History history (1889) in Vestmannaeyjar; folklore museums - in Borgarnes, Reikir, Glembaer and other cities; Whale Museum in Husavik and others.

Mass media

The first study was published in 1773. periodic publication - monthly "Islandske Maaneds-Tidender" on date. language In 1848, a weekly newspaper began to be published. "Thjooolfur." The oldest one currently coming out is gas. "Ví sir" (since 1910). In 2007, 5 daily newspapers related to various issues were published in India. political batches, and 5 weekly. The largest newspapers: “Morgunblaéié” (since 1913; circulation 50–55 thousand copies), “Frеttablað ið, The Reykjavik Grapevine” (since 2003, about 30 thousand copies) and “DV” (“Dagblað ið Ví sir "; St. 38 thousand copies). Radio broadcasting since 1930, conducted by the state. by the radio company "Rí kisútvarpið" (RÚ V) through two radio stations - "Rás1" and "Rás 2". National television since 1966 (before this, television broadcasting was carried out by an American television station in Keflavik). For a long time, the only TV channel in India was “Sjónvarpið”. In 1986, the private TV channel “Stöð 2” was created. The media use foreign information. agencies, ch. arr. Norv. Telegraph Bureau, Reuters and Associated Press.

Literature

Literature I. develops in Isl. language, which has a continuous lit. a tradition dating back to the early Middle Ages. It is especially significant for the variety of genres and the number of outstanding works of ancient Islamic literature. period (9th–14th centuries), the events of which are described in the “Book of the Settlement of the Country” (13th century), as well as in the study. sagah - prosaic. stories about the past. Masterpieces of ancient history literature are “The Saga of Egil”, “The Saga of Njal”, “The Saga of the People of Salmon Valley”, “The Saga of Gisli”, “The Saga of the People of the Sandy Shore”; The most significant ones also include “The Saga of the Named Brothers”, “The Saga of Grettir”, “The Saga of Gunnlaug the Snaketongue”. Traditions of ancient Germany. epic cultures were preserved in heroic. and mythological songs (most of them were included in "Elder Edda", recorded in the 13th century).

In the Middle Ages. period there also existed skaldic poetry, which was the author’s, was reproduced non-variably and was distinguished by a complicated form: an abundance of poetic. figures (kennings and heyties), strict rules of alliteration and internal. rhymes and violation of the general linguistic word order made it difficult for unprepared listeners to perceive the text and at the same time prevented its distortion. Two main skaldic genre. poetry - a song of praise and a hanging for the occasion. Unlike Eddic songs dedicated to the distant past, skaldic. poems captured the events of our time. The largest skalds are Egil Skallagrimsson (10th century), Cormac Egmundarson (mid 10th century), Hallfred the Hard Skald (late 10th - early 11th centuries), Sighvat Thordarson (1st half of the 11th century), Thormod Skald Black-browed (1st half of the 11th century). In the 9th–12th centuries. saga, epic and skaldic. poetry was transmitted orally.

Isl. the church fought against pagan worship, but not against lit. traditions dating back to paganism: in the 11th–13th centuries. historical and the legendary past became the subject of study by educated Icelanders, who reconstructed the interior. chronology and synchronized the events of pan-European and historical events. history. By 1200, lat. spread to India. alphabet Major writers of the 13th century. – Snorri Sturluson, which amounted to "Younger Edda", “The Circle of the Earth” (a cycle of sagas about the history of Norway) and “The Saga of Saint Olaf”, and his nephew Sturla Thordarson, author of “The Saga of Hakon the Old”, “The Saga of Magnus the Corrector of the Laws”, “The Saga of the Icelanders”, as well as one of the editions of the “Book of the Settlement of the Country”. 14th–15th centuries - the time of mass recording and rewriting of sagas. OK. 1300, an extensive compilation of sagas about the history of I. was recorded - “The Saga of the Sturlungs” (its probable author was Sturla Thordarson’s student Thord Narvason). Among the new genres that became widespread in the 14th–17th centuries, it is worth noting the Romans - the original form of lit. ballads, often representing a retelling of heroic stories. songs and sagas. It is believed that the verse is Roman, like some skaldic. dimensions, reflects the influence of lat. versification, but direct borrowing is unlikely. The greatest poet of the 17th century, who continued the Roman tradition, was Hallgrim Pietursson, the author of psalms popular in India. In the 18th century isl. Literature experienced means. European influence literature

Beginning 19th century - a period of linguistic revival and romanticism in Islam. lit-re; The most prominent poets are Jonas Hallgrimsson and Bjarne Thorarensen. Puristic. program formulated date. linguist R.K. Rusk and suggesting the orientation of the study. liters on own. traditions and resistance to external influences, in the 2nd half. 19 – beginning 20th centuries reflected in the works of the poets Mattias Jochumsson and Einar Benedichtsson, who are considered to be the late romantics. Ser. 19th century – time of mastering the novel and drama: first study. novel – “A Boy and a Girl” by Joun Thorodsen (1850), first edition. play – “Skoga Sveidn” by Mattias Jochumsson (1864). However, the synthesis of European genres. literature and centuries-old traditions of history. epic prose was fully realized only in the 20th century. in the works of prose writers Haldor Kiljan Laxness (Nobel Ave., 1955) and Gunnar Gunnarson. All R. 20th century a controversy broke out between traditionalist poets (Johannes ur Kötlum, Johan Hjalmarsson) and modernists who called themselves “atomic skalds”. The writer, poet and essayist Sigurd A. Magnusson stands apart, some of whose works are written in English. language Among the authors of the new wave, modernist Thor Vilhjaulmsson (novel "Burning Moss", 1986), Einar Kaurason (novels "Devil's Island", 1983, and "Golden Island", 1985), poet and prose writer Einar Maur Gvudmundsson (novel "Angels of the Universe") stand out , 1993).

Architecture and fine arts

In India, from the first centuries of settlement, long houses were built from blocks of peat and turf. From the 11th–12th centuries. In India, jewelry in Scandinavian style is known. animal style, wood carvings with features of Romanesque art (reliefs with wickerwork, figures of people and animals, Crucifixions; a fragment of a church door from Walthjoufsstaður with the image of a knight, a lion and dragons, c. 1200, preserved, National Museum in Reykjavik). Traditional metallic ones were decorated with a wicker pattern. buckles and other clothing items, church utensils (silver bowls of the 12th–13th centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, London), embroidered altar covers. High skill was achieved in the illumination of manuscripts in Romanesque and Gothic. styles (since the 15th century, manuscripts were produced for export, mainly to Norway). In the 17th century within the framework of church art, picturesque portraits began to appear, full of naive expressiveness (in compositions of altar images, etc.). From ser. 18th century century, ch. arr. according to project dates. architects, built stone buildings in simple utilitarian forms; to the end 19th century a type of history has developed. houses made of imported timber, tuff, basalt, often clad in corrugated iron, painted in bright colors.

Music

Information about early forms of music-making, genres of music and poetry. creativity are contained in the monuments of ancient history. liters. The Icelanders retain elements of pan-Scandinavian music and poetry. heritage, including a number of genres. With the adoption of Christianity, Gregorian chant spread, from the 2nd half. 16th century - music of the Protestant church. National music I.’s school is the youngest of the Scandinavian ones; it began to take shape in the middle. 19th century influenced by Danish. The first profs studied in Denmark. musicians I. – organists Pietur Gudjounsen and Jonas Helgason. The first collections of chorales were published in 1861 and 1874, the first secular melody of the Islamic. author (Jounas Helgason) published in 1873. Among the musicians are con. 19 – beginning 20th centuries – the first one means. isl. composer Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson (author of the national anthem of India, 1874); conductor and self-taught composer, founder of the first symphony. orchestra I. and songwriter Helgi Helgason; a versatile musician, politician and businessman, creator of the first textbook on elementary music theory in Islamic literature. language Björn Kristjaunsson. Great importance for the development of music. I. culture was carried out by the activity of pastor Bjarni Thorsteinsson, who published a collection of works in 1909. “Icelandic National Music” (contains samples of musical and poetic folklore and ancient sacred music). Music representative romanticism in India - a student of M. Reger Pal Isoulfsson (Festival Cantata, 1930; he was also a famous organist). Among other composers of the 20th century. – Joun Leifs, Joun Nordahl (actively used composition techniques of the 20th century, including applying them to historical musical folklore, for example, in the orchestral work “Choralis”, 1982). Jón Ausgeirsson created the first isl. opera “The Maiden of Trim” (1974, Reykjavik).

In Reykjavik there are National theater and national symphonic orchestra (both 1950), Icelandic Opera (1982), Conservatory (1930), held Int. arts festival (since 1970, annually since 2004). Among the choral groups, the most famous are the men's choirs “Fustbraidur” (1911) and “Reykjavikur” (1926). The popular singer Björk (Björk Guðmundsdóttir) has won worldwide recognition.

Ballet

Prof. ballet began to develop in India in the 1930s, when A. Nordman opened a ballroom and ballet dance school in Reykjavik. In the National ballets were staged at the theater. composers (“From the album of Jonas Hallgrimson” by Pál Isoulfsson, ballet by Ingibjörg Björnsdóttir, 1971, etc.). Among the students operating under the National. theater of the ballet school - Helgi Tomasson, who later gained worldwide fame as a soloist. US troupe. In 1973 under the National theater was created by Isl. dance company, which at different times was headed by A. Carter, K. Bennett, Y. Chetal, K. Morell, Nanna Olafsdottir. Since 1975, she has staged plays here. choreographer N. G. Konyus (“Much Ado About Nothing” by T. N. Khrennikov, 1977, etc.). Since 1996, the troupe has focused entirely on searching in the field of modern art. dance. The repertoire includes performances both Icelandic (Ingibjörg Björnsdóttir, Olaf Ingolfsdóttir, Lara Stefansdóttir, Jóhann Freyr Björgvinsson, etc.) and foreign (J. Ulrich, I. Kilian, R. Orta, I. Galili, J. Stromgren, J. Uotinen and others) choreographers. Among the leading soloists of the troupe are: Katrin Agusta Jonsson, Gudmund Elias Knudsen, Katrin Ingvadottir, Peter Andersson, Steve Lorenz, Cameron Corbett.

Theater

The first theatrical productions (from 1720) were performed in lat. school in Skulholt. Moving to Reykjavik in 1799, this school continued until the 2nd half. 19th century remained the only center of theatrical life in India. Students staged comedies of the first era. playwright Sigurd Pietursson (“Narfi” and others). Since the 1860s Amateur circles became widespread in the capital, the most notable among which was the troupe of Sigurd Gudmundsson, a director of “living pictures” depicting events from ancient history. sagas and preserved in the repertoire of Islamic literature. theaters until the beginning. 21st century Under the influence of Gudmundsson, the first original music. the plays were written by Mattias Jochumsson (Les Misérables) and Indridi Einarsson (New Year's Eve). The first prof. The Reykjavik Theater Society (RTO), formed in 1897, became the theater of India. The troupe included director and playwright Einar Kvaran, leading actress Stefania Gudmundsdottir and others. The heyday of I.'s theatrical art came in the 1940s, when the leading directors and teachers of the RTO were Indridi Voge and Laurus Paulsson. So... Oorsteinn Stephensen contributed to the development of acting. Since 1989, the RTO has been located in the Gore building. theater in Reykjavik.

In 1950, the National Society was founded in Reykjavik on the basis of the RTO. theater where they staged modern and classic plays isl. and foreign authors. In 1952, theater and ballet schools were opened at the theater. Since the 1960s Alternative theatrical trends also developed in India. Avant-garde drama formed the basis of the repertoire of the Grima Theater (Reykjavik), and the Theater Workshop troupe (Reykjavik) turned to folklore motifs. The Theater Company was founded in Akureyri in 1973, and Nar in 1975. theater that combines Italian techniques in its productions. commedia dell'arte from modern choreography and music. There are also theaters in the cities of Eskifjörður and Siglúfjörður. In 1975, Isl was created in Reykjavik. theater school. The first children's theater in India is “Moguleikhusid” (1990, Reykjavik). One of the largest theater groups at the turn of the 20th–21st centuries. – theater in Hafnarfjörður (1995), the basis of its repertoire is new music. drama.

Movie

The first full-length feature film in India was made in 1919. dir. Gunnar Sommerfelt based on the novel “The Story of the Borg Family” by Gunnar Gunnarsson. Collaboration isl. filmmakers with colleagues from other countries (Denmark, Sweden, Germany) continued until the 1930s, when the country established the production of newsreel documentaries and advertising short films. First study gaming f. “The Adventures of Joon and Gwendur” was filmed by Loft Gudmundsson in 1923 until the 1940s. remaining the only major director in India. Domestic comedies and melodramas were staged by Oscar Gislasson. In 1948, Loft Gudmundsson staged the first musical. color f. "Between the Mountain and the Beach" Swede. dir. Arne Matsson created in 1954 (together with his scientific colleagues) f. "Salka Valka" based on the novel by Haldor Kiljan Laxness. Received wide recognition f. “Sertsey” by Oswald Knudsen (1965) about the birth of a new island in 1963 as a result of an underwater volcanic eruption; among the films released jointly. with scand. studios, Gabriel Axel's The Red Robe (1967) stands out. So... rise in isl. cinematography occurred in the 1970s, when the state began to provide assistance in the development of national cinema. In 1974, the Law on the creation of a special law was prepared, and in 1979 it came into force. film fund for subsidizing ex. film industrialists and filmmakers (1–2 films a year received financial support from the state). At the turn of the 1980s–90s. I.'s cinema was recognized as one of the most original phenomena in world cinema. In the 1980s a group of directors appeared who received cinematographic degrees. education abroad (Germany, France, etc.). Most of their works remained unknown outside India, but dep. works received international resonance due to participation in film festivals. For example, f. Thorstein Jonsson's "Nuclear Power Plant" (1983) was the first book. film shown at the International film festival in Cannes. August Gudmundsson's films The Earth and Her Sons, The Saga of Gisli (both 1980) and At the Top (1982) also received recognition. One of the largest isl. directors 20 – beginning 21st centuries Fridrik Thor Fridriksson put a row means. documentaries (“Blacksmith”, 1981; “Rock in Reykjavik”, 1982; “Cowboys from the North”, 1984), subsequently worked successfully in feature films (“White Whales”, 1987, Ave. International Film Festival in Locarno; “Falcons”, 2002; Nyslandia, 2004, etc.). Among other directors: Baltasar Kormakur (“101 Reykjavik”, 2000, Mkf Ave. in Locarno; “The Sea”, 2002, Mkf Ave. in San Sebastian; “Little Journey to Heaven”, 2005), Dagur Kuri (“Noah” , white crow", 2002, MKF Ave. in Berlin; "Dark Horse", 2005). In 1978, the Film Foundation and Film Archive were founded in Reykjavik. Since 1978, the International has been held in Reykjavik. film festival

— Island state in the North Atlantic Ocean 300 km east of Greenland and 1000 km west of Norway.

The name of the country comes from island - “ice country”.

Official name: Icelandic Republic

Capital: Reykjavik

The area of ​​the land: 103 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 319 thousand people

Administrative division: It is divided into 23 districts (sislas).

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President, elected for a term of 4 years.

Population composition: 95% are Icelanders - descendants of Scandinavians who speak Icelandic. The country is also home to Danes, Norwegians, and others.

Official language: Icelandic. It is a dialect of Old Norse that developed by the 12th century. Since then, the language has remained virtually unchanged.

Religion: 87% of the population belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4% to other Protestant denominations (primarily Seventh-day Adventists), 2% to the Roman Catholic Church, 7% to other denominations.

Internet domain: .is

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +354

Country barcode: 569

Climate

Iceland is dominated by a subarctic climate, which is moderated on the coast by the warm North Atlantic Current (a branch of the current runs along the southern and western coasts of the island). The weather in this country changes dramatically and is sometimes simply unpredictable. In winter there are strong winds.

The warmest month in Iceland is July, daytime temperatures in coastal areas at this time rise to + 13..+15 degrees, and night temperatures drop to 8..10 degrees Celsius. The coldest month is January. During the day on the coast in January it is recorded about 0..+2 degrees, and at night - 2..4 degrees below zero. It is worth noting that temperature regime along the entire coast it is almost the same, in the northern and eastern coastal regions it is only 1-2 degrees lower than in the southern and western ones.

The central higher parts of the island have a more continental climate. Here, in the winter months, minimum temperatures can reach -20 degrees, and in the summer months, maximum temperatures rise only to 7 degrees Celsius.

Average annual precipitation for west coast can reach 1000-1300 mm, at south coast- 2000 mm, in the northern and eastern - about 750 mm, on the southern slopes of the central hills up to 4000 mm of precipitation falls. The main precipitation falls in autumn and winter, the wettest month being October. The least precipitation falls in May.

The most comfortable time to relax and hiking in Iceland - summer months (peak tourist season falls between early July and mid-August). After August 31, many establishments simply close. The best time to watch whales is from April to October, and bird watching is best from mid-May to mid-August. Ski season lasts from mid-November to May. During the winter months, the weather here is unpredictable and strong winds blow constantly.

Geography

Iceland - island country. It is located on the island of the same name in North Atlantic. This is the second largest island in Europe, its area together with nearby islands is 103 thousand square meters. km. In the north the country is washed by the Greenland Sea, in the east by the Norwegian Sea, and in the west the Denmark Strait separates Iceland from Greenland. The most northern point Iceland is located in the Arctic Circle, the length of the island from north to south is 306 km, from west to east - 480 km. In summer you can see white nights here, but in December the sun appears only for 3-4 hours.

Iceland is part of the North Atlantic Ocean Ridge, which was formed at the junction of lithospheric plates. The surface of the island is a volcanic plateau with an average altitude of 500m above sea level. Due to frequent movements of the earth's crust, many active volcanoes have formed here and, as a consequence of similar geological processes, there are geysers and hot springs here.

Iceland's volcanoes are of various types, but most of them are of the fissure type (chains of craters along cracks and faults). The Laki volcano belongs to this type. This is a giant crack in the earth's crust filled with solidified lava. Or, for example, the extinct volcano Esya looks like a long ridge with a flat top. Iceland's most famous volcano, Hekla, has a cone-shaped shape. It is considered the national symbol of the country. Hot springs are found throughout the country, except in the eastern part, where they are rare.

The most famous geothermal area in Iceland is the area located 60 km from Reykjavik - the Valley of Geysers. The word "geyser" was once a proper name; it was used in Iceland to refer to a gushing hot spring, which is located in the Valley of Geysers. Later this name spread throughout the world. Now that same Geyser is not very active; it gushes approximately once a day, throwing out a column of water to a height of 55 meters. In Iceland, energy from such sources is widely used, and some of them heat entire houses.

The name of the country is translated as “ice country”. And in fact, the local cover glaciers are among the largest in the world. Their total area is 11.8 thousand square meters. km. The largest cover glacier, Vatnajökull, is located in the southeast of the island. This is a vast ice plateau where highest point country of Hvannadalshnukur, whose height is 2119 meters above sea level.

The western, northern and eastern shores of Iceland are rocky, heavily dissected by fjords, the southwestern and southern shores mostly sandy and level.

There are many rivers on the island, but they are not navigable. The most long rivers- Tjorsar, Jökulsa a Fjodlum, Jölvüsaa and Skjalvandafljöt. The largest lakes in Iceland are Thingvallavatn and Thorisvatn.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Only a quarter of the country is covered with vegetation. These are mainly mosses and grasses. 1% of the area is occupied by woody plants, for example, dwarf birch trees with trunks bent from the strong wind; coniferous plantations have recently appeared. central part The country is devoid of vegetation and is a rocky desert.

Animal world

The species composition of Iceland's fauna is poor. At the time the country was settled, there was only one species of land mammal - 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. About 80 species of birds nest in Iceland.

Mountain lakes and rivers are home to many swans, ducks and geese, and on the sea coast gulls, terns, etc. are common. Trout lives in the lakes, and salmon lives in the rivers. Two species of seals and some species of whales are found in coastal waters. Here are feeding and spawning areas for fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut and shrimp.

Attractions

Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9.15 to 16.00.

Traveler's checks are accepted everywhere. Credit cards are extremely widespread - non-cash payments make up the overwhelming majority of domestic turnover. Therefore, credit cards from the world's leading payment systems are also accepted everywhere. ATMs are located in all banks, large shops, hotels and most high streets, and work with all types of credit cards.

Useful information for tourists

Tipping in Iceland is usually only given to doormen in restaurants and hotels. In all other cases they are included in the service bill. It is not customary to tip hairdressers and taxi drivers. Fashionable hotels, restaurants and nightclubs have a paid wardrobe. The country is very expensive.

In the north the island is washed by the Greenland Sea, in the east by the Norwegian Sea; to the west, the 280 km wide Denmark Strait separates it from Greenland.

total area Iceland - about 103 thousand km² (18th place in the world among islands). Of these, 11.8 thousand km² are covered with glaciers. Lakes and glaciers occupy 14.3% of the territory; Only 23% is covered with vegetation. Most large lakes: Thorisvatn (reservoir) (83-88 km²) and Thingvallavatn (82 km²). The central part of the island is a desert region of volcanoes, sand and lava fields, highlands and glaciers. Plateaus from 500 to 1000 m in height predominate. Only 1/4 of the territory is suitable for habitation - coastal lowlands and valleys.

Geological formation

Crustal fracture formed by the divergence of the North American and Eurasian plates

The island of Iceland is located on the ridge of the North Atlantic global tectonic suture, along which the North American and Eurasian lithospheric plates diverge.

The island is composed of thick layers of basalts and other lavas that poured out gradually from the Lower Miocene to the present day, that is, over 20 million years. The thickness of the lava layers reaches 7 km.

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Volcanoes

Iceland is one of the most active regions volcanic activity on Earth. Eruptions occur here on average once every five years [ ] . On the island there are active volcanoes(Hekla, Laki), geysers, hot springs. Due to the constant divergence of plates, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes periodically occur on the island.

Volcano Hekla

A glacier covered with ash after the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption

Hekla is the most popular volcano in Iceland. Its perfectly regular, gentle cone is clearly visible from Reykjavik, and for the Icelanders this mountain is the same national symbol as Fuji for the Japanese. And just like in Japan, thousands of tourists strive every year to climb to its top and look into the dark depths of the crater.

However, classic central-type volcanoes are not very common in Iceland. Here there is a different - fissure - type of volcanism. A striking example is the Laki volcano - it’s not even a volcano, but a giant crack in the earth’s crust filled with frozen lava.

The Esja volcano, extinct centuries ago, is visible from everywhere in Reykjavik as long mountain, almost an entire ridge, with a flat top. Popular rumor claims that Esya is a petrified giantess. Geologists believe that the mountain was formed from numerous frozen lava flows, which were layered one on top of the other over many centuries.

Glaciers

The area of ​​the island is 103 thousand km², of which 11.8 thousand km² is covered with glaciers. The largest cover glacier (the largest in volume not only in Iceland, but throughout Europe) - Vatnajökull - is located in the southeast of the island. Its area is 8300 km². This is a vast ice plateau, pierced in eight places by the points of extinct and active volcanoes. Other major ice caps are Hofsjökull and Langjökull in the interior of the island, and Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull in the south (covering active volcanoes). Icelandic glaciers are the largest area of ​​modern glaciation in Europe.

Republic of Iceland.

The name of the country comes from island - “ice country”.

Capital of Iceland. Reykjavik is the most northern capital peace.

Iceland area. 102819 km2.

Population of Iceland. 272 thousand people

Location of Iceland. Iceland is an island state in the northern part, 300 km east of and 1000 km west of. Administrative division. It is divided into 23 districts (sislas).

Form of government of Iceland. Republic.

Head of State of Iceland. President, elected for a term of 4 years.

Higher Legislature Iceland. A unicameral parliament (Althing) with a term of office of 4 years.

Highest executive body of Iceland. Government appointed by the president.

Major cities in Iceland. Kipavogur, Hafnafjordur, Akureyri, Keflavik, Vestmannajar.

Official language of Iceland. Icelandic.

Religion of Iceland. 96% are Lutherans, 3% are .

Ethnic composition of Iceland. 99% are Icelandic.

Currency of Iceland. Icelandic krona = 100 eyre.

Fauna of Iceland. The fauna is characterized by some mouse-like animals, arctic foxes, and reindeer and mink live in the interior regions. U north coast Polar bears appear on floating ice. Walruses live in coastal waters. Iceland is famous for its diversity of birds (more than 100 species), as well as large numbers of salmon and trout. There are about 150 species of fish in the coastal waters - cod, sea bass, halibut, haddock, herring, etc.

Video source: AirPano.ru

Rivers and lakes of Iceland. The territory of Iceland is covered with a dense network (many have rapids and waterfalls up to 60 m), the largest of which is Tjoursau (237 km). There are many lakes of tectonic and origin. The largest is Thingvallavatn.

Sights of Iceland. The famous Valley of Geysers, the National Museum, the cathedrals in Reykjavik and Howlar, the monument to Leif Eriksson in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Althing. There are more than 200 volcanoes on the island.

Useful information for tourists

Tipping in Iceland is usually only given in restaurants and hotels. In all other cases they are included in the service bill. It is not customary to tip hairdressers and taxi drivers. Fashionable hotels, restaurants and nightclubs have a paid wardrobe. The country is very expensive.