Portal:Iceland

Wikipedia portals: Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Natural sciences People Philosophy Religion Society Technology edit   The Iceland Portal Flag of Iceland Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland, is a volcanic island nation in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Norway, Scotland, Ireland and the Faeroe Islands. Iceland was one of the last large islands uninhabited by humans until it was discovered and settled by immigrants from Scandinavia, Ireland and Scotland during the 9th and 10th centuries. Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small island of Grímsey off Iceland's northern coast, but not through mainland Iceland. Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part of Europe, not of North America. Due to cultural, economic, and linguistic similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included as part of Scandinavia. Approximately ten per cent (10%) of the island is glaciated. Iceland is located on both a geological hot spot, thought to be caused by a mantle plume, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This combined location means that the island is extremely geologically active. All this geologic activity helps Iceland to produce 17.5% of its electricity from geothermal sources. Read more... Show new selections edit   Selected article Renewable energy in Iceland has supplied over 70% of Iceland's primary energy needs since 1999, proportionally more than any other country. The remainder of its energy needs are produced from imported oil and coal. Iceland is at the forefront of renewable energy research and plans to become the world's first hydrogen economy, with all of their private automobiles, fishing boats, and public transportation running on hydrogen fuel. This would make Iceland the first completely energy-independent country in the world, using 100% renewable energy sources. Of the 99.9% of Iceland's electricity that is currently generated from renewable sources, 81% is generated from hydroelectric power; virtually all the remainder from geothermal power. Geothermal sources are also used to heat 89% of the households in Iceland, with the remaining being heated with electricity. The nation ranked 53rd in the list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita (2003), emitting 62% less than the United States per capita, despite using more primary energy per capita. ...Archive/Nominations Read more... edit   Selected picture Credit: Roger McLassus The image shows the only part of the crater of the volcano Grímsvötn in Iceland not covered by the ice of Vatnajökull glacier in 1972. ...Archive/Nominations Read more... edit   Selected biography Davíð Oddsson (born 17 January 1948 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as foreign minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and since 2005 he has chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of Iceland. By Icelandic standards, Davíð Oddsson’s career is very successful. He was only 34 years old when he became Mayor of Reykjavík, and only 43 years when he formed his first government. Although his implementation of wide-ranging and radical free-market reforms against bitter opposition generated controversy, he has left a large mark on Icelandic political history and that under his leadership, the Icelandic economy has changed beyond recognition. ...Archive/Nominations Read more... edit   News Jan 17: Chess legend Bobby Fischer dies in Iceland at the age of 64. (Reuters) Jan 13: According to Eric Weiner's travel memoir The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World, Iceland consistently ranks as one of Earth's happiest places. (Mercury News) Jan 12: Ísafjörður's town council agrees to challenge the Ministry of Transport to convert its local airport to an international airport. (IcelandReview) Jan 12: Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator, is considering plans for a movie based on the 1986 Reykjavík Summit? (IceNews) ...Archive Read more... edit   Did you know... ...that the Althing, founded in Þingvellir in the year 930, is the oldest parliament in Europe? ...that Johánnes Gunnarsson's father was Iceland's only native Catholic for twenty years? ...that the team of KR Reykjavik wear four stars on their shirts, each representing 5 league titles? ...Archive Read more... edit   Categories [+] Iceland edit   Selected quote There is no more sagacious animal than the Icelandic horse. He is stopped by neither snow, nor storm, nor impassable roads, nor rocks, glaciers, or anything. He is courageous, sober, and surefooted. He never makes a false step, never shies. If there is a river or fjord to cross (and we shall meet with many) you will see him plunge in at once, just as if he were amphibious, and gain the opposite bank. — Jules Verne, A Journey to the Center of the Earth ...Archive Read more... edit   Selected panorama Credit: TommyBee Blönduós is a small settlement in northwestern Iceland in the county of Austur-Húnavatnssýsla, 245 km from Reykjavík. ...Archive/Nominations Read more... edit   Main topics Subdivisions: Austurland • Höfuðborgarsvæði • Suðurland • Suðurnes • Vestfirðir History: Timeline • Settlement of Iceland • Icelandic Commonwealth • Age of the Sturlungs • Cod War Law: Supreme Court of Iceland Politics: Parliament (Alþing) • President • Prime Minister • Ombudsman • Cabinet • Constitution • Elections • Administrative divisions • Political parties Geography: Climate • Geology • Glaciers • Volcanoes • Waterfalls • Lakes • Rivers • Transport Economy: Stock Exchange • Icelandic Króna • Banks Military: Iceland Air Defence System • Icelandic Crisis Response Unit Demographics: Language • Religion • Subdivisions Culture: Architecture • Art • Cinema • Cuisine • Education • Literature • Media • Music • Public holidays • Sport • Television • Whaling Symbols: Flag • Coat of arms • National anthem (Lofsöngur) edit   Things you can do Requests: Kjósarsýsla • Gullbringusýsla • Borgarfjarðarsýsla • Dalasýsla • Mýrasýsla • Snæfellsnes- og Hnappadalssýsla • Norður-Ísafjarðarsýsla • Strandasýsla • Vestur-Ísafjarðarsýsla • Austur-Húnavatnssýsla • Skagafjarðarsýsla • Vestur-Húnavatnssýsla • Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla • Austur-Skaftafellssýsla • Norður-Múlasýsla • Rangárvallasýsla • More... Stubs: Sjónvarpið • Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project • Morgunblaðið • Icelandic Police • Atli Heimir Sveinsson • Constitution of Iceland • Valdís Óskarsdóttir • Þorramatur • Islam in Iceland • Perlan • Left-Green Movement • Jet Black Joe • Suðurland • More... Tasks: Classify and rate unassessed articles Join: WikiProject Iceland edit   Wikipedia in Icelandic There is an Icelandic version of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. edit   WikiProjects Iceland Europe edit   Featured and good content Featured articles Alliterative verse • Eldfell • Hrafnkels saga • Surtsey Good articles Bolli Bollason • Die Another Day • Education in Iceland • Iceland hotspot • Icelanders • Paul Oscar • Renewable energy in Iceland Featured pictures Grímsvötn in 1972 edit   Related portals Europe European Union United Nations Denmark Norway Scotland Ireland Faroe Islands edit   Associated Wikimedia Iceland on Wikinews Iceland on Wikiquote Iceland on Wikibooks Iceland on Wikisource Iceland on Wiktionary Iceland on Wikimedia Commons News Quotations Manuals & Texts Texts Definitions Images What are portals? · List of portals · Featured portals