Ísland

Some facts about Iceland

Iceland is frequently called the “Land of Fire and Ice,” indicating the contrasts in the geology of this island in the North Atlantic Ocean. The name of the country must be considered an exaggeration as only about 11% of its surface is covered with glaciers. In warmer, prehistorical periods the ice coverage is believed to have been much less. The reference to fire, on the other hand, is more correct as there are many active volcanoes in the country. Since settlement there have been a large number of volcanic eruptions, the last occurring under Vatnajökull glacier in the spring of 1997. Iceland is thus a young country, still being formed, and is therefore a very interesting environmental laboratory. The hot springs, which are among the country´s most valuable resources, are direct result of the volcanism.

The geographical location of Iceland can be described by saying that the arctic circle crosses its northernmost part, the island of Grimsey. The climate in Iceland is, however, warmer than one would expect so far north. The reason for this is that a branch of the warm Gulf Stream encircles the country and keeps the climate fairly moderate. Iceland is therefore a good place to live.

Fishing the rich fishing banks around the country, together with farming, have been the basis of Icelandic economy. Today, industry and torism are becoming increasingly important.

Prehistorical period: the epoc of mankind before written history
Arctic circle: parallel with latitude 66°33’, 23,5” from the North Pole.

An island far from the continents

The area of Iceland is 39,709 sq. Miles or about the size of the U.S. state of Kentucky. The country was settled around year 870, or possibly earlier. The present population numbers nearly 280,000 people, which means an average of 7 people per sq. mile. However, the people are not distributed evenly over the country; by far the gratest number live in the lowlands, which are only about a quarter of the total area.

The climate of Iceland has a great influence on plant and animal life, but the fact that the country is an island, far from any continent, also plays an important role. The result is that relatively few plant species are found here compared with regions at similar latitudes on the European and North American continents. The main reason for this is not the climate but the fact that the large expanse of ocean acts as a barrier for the natural transport of seeds. The same applies for terrestrial animals. The arctic fox is the only native mammal species in Iceland. Today the number of plant species in the country is increasing rapidly because man is giving nature a helping hand and importing plants.

The long distance from the continents has also protected the country´s environment. The ocean around Iceland, the atmosphere, lakes, rivers, soils and vegetation have remained relatively unpolluted. In spite of this it would be wrong to say that the environment is undisturbed. Eleven centuries of habitation, in combination with the climate, volcanic activity and other natural catastrophes, have had disastrous effects on the vegetation and wildlife.
lowlands in Iceland: below 900-1200 feet elevation above sea level

Terrestrial animals: animals living on land
Mammal species: species of animals that feed their young on milk

A land is formed

The modern geological view is that the earth´s crust is divided into numerous plates which move very slowly. The plates in the North Atlantic were merged into plate about 60 million years ago. Then it broke up. There are two types of boundaries between the plates. From mid-oceanic ridges molten material from the interior of the earth reaches the surface and the two plates subsequently push apart. This is te case in Iceland. With the other tipe of boundary, two plates move towards each other. Then a light continental plate usually overrides a heavier oceanic plate.

Land is formed when volcanic activity greatly exceeds the normal rift production. This is believed to be caused by mantle plumes, a massive stocklike current of hot material from deep within the interior of the earth. The two most famous mantle plumes lie under Iceland and Hawaii. If it were not for the mantle plume, instead of Iceland there would be a 9,000 feet deep ocean.

Iceland is located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where two major crustal plates are seperating, at the rate of approximately 0,8 inches per year. The mid-ocean ridge system is about 50,000 miles long and is only visible on land in Iceland and parts of East Africa.

Rift: fissure where two plates drift apart
Mid-Atlantic Ridge: fissure system along the entire Atlantic Ocean where spreading takes place

Geology

Iceland is mountanious and more than half of the island is 1200 fee or more above sea level. Regions of rugged lava and glaciers each cover about 11% of the total area.

Virtually all of the land is derived from volcanic rocks, and so volcanic activity is one of the main characteristics of Iceland. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge comes ashore at the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest and branches across the island to the north-east in the shape of an upside down Y. This active volcanic zone traces the path of the ridge. Thus the rock are older the further one moves away from the active volcanic zone. The oldest rocks are in the northwest of Iceland and the East Fjords and are about 15 million years old. Since the land was formed it has been eroded by wind, rain, glaciers, rivers and the ocean. The land is therfore constantly forming, like clay in an artist´s hands.

About 30 major volcanoes are spread over the volcanic zones. They can reach a height of 6,000 feet above sea level and frequently erupt. The eruptions may be both very violent and voluminous. The biggest historical eruption took place in 1783-84; its influence on the northern hemisphere was so widespread that it led to a noticeable cooling of the climate lasting for several years. About a quarter of the population of Iceland subsequently perished, mostly from starvation when the livestock was killed, for instance by poisonous fumes given off by eruption.

EXPLORING SUDURNES ICELAND
An Environmental Handbook