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| History | |
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Main articles: History of Iceland, History of Scandinavia, and Timeline of Icelandic history
[edit] Tags:Is,History Of Scandinavia, | |
| Settlement and the Commonwealth 860–1262 | |
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See also: Settlement of Iceland and Icelandic Commonwealth
Ingólfr Arnarson, the first permanent Norwegian settler in Iceland
One theory suggests the first people to have visited Iceland were members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission or hermits, also known as Papar, who came in the 8th century, though no archaeological discoveries support this hypothesis. The monks are supposed to have left with the arrival of Norsemen, who systematically settled in the period c. 870–930.
Recently archeologists have found the ruins of a cabin in Hafnir on the Reykjanes peninsula (close to KeflavÃk Airport). Carbon dating reveals that the cabin was abandoned between 770 and 880, suggesting that someone had come to Iceland well before 874.[16] The first known permanent Norse settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, who built his homestead in ReykjavÃk in the year 874. Ingólfur was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Norsemen and their Irish slaves. By 930, most arable land had been claimed and the Althing, a legislative and judiciary parliament, was initiated to regulate the Icelandic Commonwealth. Christianity was adopted c. 999–1000
In the 11th century, three Armenian bishops — Petros, Abraham and Stephannos — are recorded by Icelandic sources as Christian missionaries in Iceland. Their presence has been explained in terms of the service of King Harald of Norway (c.1047-1066) in Constantinople, where he had met Armenians serving in the Byzantine Imperial Army.[17] The Commonwealth lasted until 1262 when the political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains.[18]
Ósvör, a replica of an old fishing outpost outside of BolungarvÃk
[edit] Tags:ReykjavÃk,Ingólfur Arnarson,Norse,Hiberno-scottish Mission,Arable,Althing,BolungarvÃk, | |
| Middle Ages to the Early Modern Era 1262–1814 | |
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See also: Age of the Sturlungs
The internal struggles and civil strife of the Sturlung Era led to the signing of the Old Covenant in 1262, which brought Iceland under the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland passed to Denmark-Norway around 1380, when the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden were united in the Kalmar Union. In the ensuing centuries, Iceland became one of the poorest countries settled by Europeans. Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. The Black Death swept Iceland in 1402–04 and 1494–95,[19] the first time killing as much as 50% to 60% of the population, and 30% to 50% in the second.[20]
Around the middle of the 16th century, King Christian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all his subjects. Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar, was beheaded in 1550 along with two of his sons. The country subsequently became fully Lutheran. Lutheranism has since remained the dominant religion. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Denmark imposed harsh trade restrictions on Iceland, while pirates from several countries raided its coasts.[21][22] A great smallpox epidemic in the 18th century killed around a third of the population.[23][24] In 1783 the Laki volcano erupted, with devastating effects.[25] The years following the eruption, known as the Mist Hardships (Icelandic: Móðuharðindin), saw the death of over half of all livestock in the country, with ensuing famine in which around a quarter of the population died.[26]
[edit] Tags:European,Age Of The Sturlungs,Sturlung Era,Denmark-norway,Sweden,Christian Iii Of Denmark,Lutheranism,Jón Arason,Smallpox,Laki,Famine,Europe, | |
| The Independence Movement 1814–1918 | |
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Jón Sigurðsson, leader of the Icelandic independence movement
See also: Icelandic independence movement
In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel. Iceland, however, remained a Danish dependency. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to grow worse, resulting in mass emigration to the New World, particularly Manitoba in Canada. About 15,000 out of a total population of 70,000 left.[27] However, a new national consciousness had arisen, inspired by romantic and nationalist ideas from mainland Europe. An Icelandic independence movement arose in the 1850s under the leadership of Jón Sigurðsson. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule, which was expanded in 1904.
[edit] Tags:Danish,Napoleonic Wars,New World,Manitoba,Canada,Romantic,Nationalist, | |
| Kingdom of Iceland 1918–1944 | |
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See also: Kingdom of Iceland and Iceland during World War II
The Danish-Icelandic Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918 and valid for 25 years, recognised Iceland as a fully sovereign state in a personal union with the King of Denmark. The Government of Iceland established an embassy in Copenhagen. However, it requested that Denmark should handle Icelandic foreign policy. Danish embassies around the world would display two coats of arms and two flags: those of the Kingdom of Denmark and those of the Kingdom of Iceland. During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. After the German occupation of Denmark on 9 April 1940, the Althing declared that the Icelandic Government should assume the Danish king's duties, taking control of foreign affairs and other matters previously handled by Denmark. A month later, British Armed Forces occupied Iceland in order to stop the nation siding with the now occupied Denmark. In 1941, the occupation of Iceland was taken over by the United States so that Britain could use its troops elsewhere.
On 31 December 1943, the Act of Union agreement expired after 25 years. Beginning on 20 May 1944, Icelanders voted in a four-day plebiscite on whether to terminate the personal union with the King of Denmark and establish a republic. The vote was 97% in favour of ending the union and 95% in favour of the new republican constitution. Iceland formally became a republic on 17 June 1944, with Sveinn Björnsson as the first President.
[edit] Tags:United States,Sveinn Björnsson, | |
| 1945 – 2003 | |
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British and Icelandic vessels collide in the Atlantic Ocean during the Cod Wars
In 1946, the Allied occupation force left Iceland, which formally became a member of NATO on 30 March 1949, amid domestic controversy and riots. On 5 May 1951, a defence agreement was signed with the United States. American troops returned to Iceland, as the Iceland Defence Force, and remained throughout the Cold War; the US withdrew the last of its forces on 30 September 2006.
The immediate post-war period was followed by substantial economic growth, driven by industrialisation of the fishing industry and the Marshall Plan programme. The 1970s were marked by the Cod Wars — several disputes with the United Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits. The economy was greatly diversified and liberalised when Iceland joined the European Economic Area in 1994.
[edit] Tags:Atlantic Ocean,Nato,Cold War,Economic Growth,Marshall Plan,European Economic Area, | |
| 2003–2011 The rise and fall of Iceland as a financial centre | |
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See also: 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests
In the years 2003–2007, Iceland developed from a nation best known for its fishing industry into a country providing sophisticated financial services, but was consequently hit hard by the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis.[28] The crisis has resulted in the greatest migration from Iceland since 1887, with 5000 Icelanders emigrating in 2009.[29]
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| Geography | |
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General topographic map
Main article: Geography of Iceland
Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island of GrÃmsey off the main island's northern coast. The country lies between latitudes 63° and 67° N, and longitudes 25° and 13° W.
Though Iceland is nearer to Greenland (North America) than mainland Europe, the island is generally included in Europe for cultural reasons. Geologically the island is part of both continental plates. The closest bodies of land are Greenland (287 km (178 mi)) and the Faroe Islands (420 km (261 mi)). The closest distance to the mainland of Europe is 970 km (603 mi) (to Norway).
Iceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second largest island following Great Britain. The main island is 101,826 km2 (39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is 103,000 km2 (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is tundra. There are thirty minor islands in Iceland, including the lightly populated island of GrÃmsey and the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3%; only 23% is vegetated.[30] The largest lakes are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km2 (32.0–34.0 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km2 (31.7 sq mi); other important lakes include Lagarfljót and Mývatn. Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake, at 248 m (814 ft).[31]
Geologically, Iceland is a part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the ridge along which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new oceanic crust. In addition, this part of the mid-ocean ridge is located atop a mantle plume causing Iceland to be subaerial. Iceland marks the boundary between both the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate since it has been created by rifting, and accretion through volcanism, along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge — where the two plates meet.[32]
Many fjords punctuate its 4,970-km-long coastline, which is also where most settlements are situated. The island's interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand and mountains. The major towns are the capital of ReykjavÃk, along with its outlying towns of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and Garðabær, Reykjanesbær, where the international airport is located, and Akureyri, in northern Iceland. The island of GrÃmsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.[33] Iceland has three national parks: Vatnajökull National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park.[34]
Iceland, as seen from space on 29 January 2004
Suðureyri
Norðfjörður
Viðey with Esjan in the background
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull
An iceberg near Jökulsárlón with Vatnajökull in the background.
[edit] Tags:North Atlantic Ocean,Mid-atlantic Ridge,Arctic Circle,GrÃmsey,63°,67° N,25°,Greenland, | |
| Geology | |
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The erupting Geysir in Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser in the world
Dettifoss, located in northeast Iceland. It is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, with an average water flow of 200 m3/second.
Eyjafjallajökull major eruption, photo taken May 10, 2010
Main article: Geology of Iceland
See also: Iceland plume
A geologically young land, Iceland is located on both the Iceland hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs right through it. This location means that the island is highly geologically active with many volcanoes, notably Hekla, Eldgjá, Herðubreið and Eldfell.[35] The volcanic eruption of Laki in 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a quarter of the island's population;[36] the eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa for several months afterward.[37]
Iceland has many geysers, including Geysir, from which the English word is derived, and the famous Strokkur, which erupts every 5–10 minutes. After a phase of inactivity, Geysir started erupting again after a series of earthquakes in 2000. Geysir has since then grown more quiet and does not erupt often.
With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have inexpensive hot water and home heat. The island itself is composed primarily of basalt, a low-silica lava associated with effusive volcanism as has occurred also in Hawaii. Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types (Composite- & Fissure), many producing more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite. Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes within approx. 30 volcanic systems active[38]
Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland. Named after Surtr, it rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions between 8 November 1963 and 5 June 1968.[33] Only scientists researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the island.[39]
On 21 March 2010, a volcano in Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to flee their homes.[40] Further eruptions on 14 April forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes.[41] The resultant cloud of volcanic ash brought major disruption to air travel across Europe. Tags:/,Geologically Active, | |
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