A Visit to Iceland

At 11 o’clock at night, the sun has set, but the sky is not dark. Even in August, the air is cool, and breezes sometimes whip up into strong winds. At every turn, a new natural wonder meets the eye.

The Mini Page visited Iceland this summer! Let’s learn more about this fantastic island in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Mixed-up names

Iceland’s name might lead you to believe that it’s covered with ice. And Greenland might sound like a lush, green paradise.

Actually, Iceland’s coasts don’t freeze during the winter because of a warm current in the North Atlantic Ocean. Most of the country’s 330,000 people live in or around Reykjavik (REH-kyuh-vick), the capital on the southwest coast of the island. The coldest areas are the highlands in the central part of Iceland. (By contrast, most of Greenland is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet.)

The first democracy?

Iceland was settled by Norsemen, or Vikings, between 870 and 930. Most of the settlers were farmers from Norway looking for new land. Around 930, Icelanders established an

assembly, or parliament. At these springtime meetings, men met to discuss and make laws and share them with others. Some Icelanders believe their system is the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy.

Natural beauty

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates runs right through the middle of Iceland. As a result, the island has several volcanoes and many geysers.

Dramatic waterfalls dump water from three large glaciers and several smaller ones.

Animals

As you explore Iceland, you’ll see many people wearing beautifully knitted wool sweaters. Icelandic wool comes from Icelandic sheep. These sheep are descended from those brought to Iceland by settlers from Norway.

Language

Because many of Iceland’s original settlers came from Norway, the language developed from Nordic languages.

The Icelandic alphabet has 32 characters (the English alphabet has 26). There is no C,Q, W or Z in the Icelandic alphabet.

Names

Your last name is probably the same as your parents’ last name. In Iceland, your last name would be based on your father’s first name. For instance, if your dad’s name is John, and your name is Elizabeth, your name would be Elizabeth Johnsdóttir (John’s daughter) in Iceland. Your brother Sam would be Sam Johnsson.

School

School in Iceland would seem familiar to you. Kids start school around age 6. Classes begin in August or September, and summer vacation begins in May or June. Students learn English and Danish, along with other languages.

Mini Page photo Mini Fact: While Icelanders most speak Icelandic, English is widely spoken on the island.

The Icelandic horse was developed on the island from ponies brought by Norse settlers. It is smaller than most horses and comes in many colors. Some sheep farmers use the horses to round up animals.

Strokkur, a geyser in southwest Iceland, erupts about every 10 minutes.

Icelandic sheep are shorn, or shaved, in the spring so that their coats can keep them warm all winter.

Can you pronounce these Icelandic words?