Iceland is a small island nation in the North Atlantic, with a controversial early history. Settlement began in the late 9th century, and a Commonwealth was formed in the early 10th century. Civil war broke out, and in the mid-13th century, Iceland joined Norway. In the early 19th century, Denmark retained ownership of Iceland, but granted it autonomy in the late 19th century. Iceland became an independent republic in 1944, and its economy grew substantially in the 1980s and 1990s. Tourism is a growing industry, with the Blue Lagoon and Geysir being popular destinations. Flights arrive daily in Reykjavik from major European and American hubs.
Iceland is a small island nation in the North Atlantic. It covers 39,800 square miles (103,000 square km), making it somewhat larger than the state of Indiana. It is relatively isolated, with the closest land masses being Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The early history of the island is controversial. There is some evidence to suggest that Romans or other travelers visited in the 3rd century, and some evidence to suggest that the Irish had settled there before the 9th century.
The first concrete evidence of settlement comes in the late 9th century, however, when Norsemen arrived in Iceland and settled in a region they called Reykjavik, literally the Bay of Fumes, after the steam rising from geothermal vents in the area. In the early 10th century the various leaders of the new settlements came together and formed a Commonwealth, with what many consider to be the world’s first Parliament.
Eventually civil war broke out between the various powerful leaders, wearing the country down. In the mid-13th century the country joined Norway, placing it under the control of the Norwegian king. Norway and Denmark merged in the 15th century and the island came under Denmark-Norway control.
In the early 19th century Norway and Denmark separated and Denmark retained ownership of Iceland. At the beginning of the 19th century the original parliamentary body, which had remained for centuries, was suppressed. A growing nationalist sentiment throughout the 19th century led to its mid-century re-creation, this time with a greater focus on its connection to the original Commonwealth.
In the late 19th century Denmark granted the country great autonomy and home rule was officially achieved in 19, with Iceland and Denmark as united nations under a single monarch. During World War II Denmark was occupied by the Germans and the connection between the two countries was dissolved. Iceland attempted to remain neutral during the war and in 1918 Allied forces invaded the country, occupying it as a reserve base.
It was recognized as an independent republic in 1944, while Denmark was still occupied by Nazi Germany. After the war, it further developed its infrastructure and pursued a position of neutrality. The United States assumed responsibility for the military defense of the island, and in return it was allowed to maintain a military presence there, a situation which lasted until 2006.
In the decades immediately following the war, Iceland and the United Kingdom repeatedly clashed over the issue of fishing rights. The problem was finally resolved after the Third Cod War in 1975 and Iceland’s threat to withdraw from NATO, when the UK agreed not to fish within 200 nautical miles (370 km) of the island.
The country’s economy grew substantially during the 1980s and 1990s, with a mild recession in the 1990s hardly impeding growth. It is now the fifth most productive nation on Earth based on GDP per capita, with a robust and stable economy.
Tourism is a growing industry in Iceland as the country attempts to diversify its reliance on fishing and the infrastructure has improved astonishingly over the past decade. The cities themselves are some of the most amazing sites for most tourists, with the country’s 99% reliance on geothermal energy leading to incredible eco-friendliness and an abundance of energy.
The Blue Lagoon is the main tourist destination in the area. The lagoon features naturally heated seawater loaded with all kinds of beneficial minerals and is one of the best spas in the world. The area also has many hot springs. Geysir is the most famous, with its huge jets of water after which all others in the world are named. Parks also cover the island, with Europe’s largest national park, Skaftfell, being arguably the most impressive. Huge waterfalls, the largest ice cap on the planet outside of North and South Polar, and thousands of square miles of perfect habitat make visiting this park feel like visiting an untouched planet.
Flights arrive daily in Reykjavik from most major European and American hubs. It is also possible, although quite expensive and time-consuming, to take a ferry from Denmark across the Faroe Islands.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
