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ICELAND: SURTSEY BECOMES WORLD HERITAGE
The small icelandic island Surtsey now belongs to the UNESCO world heritage list. Surtsey was built by a vulvanic eruption on the ground of the North Atlantic on 14th November 1963. It is situated about 30 km south of Iceland and belongs to the Westman Islands.
It has been legally protected from the beginning and plays a major role in long term studies on the process of colonisation of land by plants, animals and marine organisms. MORE
ICELAND GOES OPERA
The first opera house in Iceland will be erected in Reykjavik until 2011. It was designed by the icelandic architect Arkthings as a gigantic luminous cube. The costs are estimated 25 million Euro.Until mow opera events took place in a rebuilt cinema.
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MEN'S HANDBALL TEAM GIVES ICELAND SILVER MEDAL
On the last day of the Olympic Games in Beijing Iceland won a silver medal in handball. After defeating Spain and world master Germany the Icelandic team lost in the end against France.
It is the fourth olympic medal ever to be earned for Iceland. MORE
ICELAND: ELECTION OF PRESIDENT CANCELLED
Because no other presidential candidate was found who could manage to find at least 1500 supporters, the presidential election in Iceland has been cancelled and the former president Olafur Grimsson can serve his fourth term. MORE
GREENLAND WANTS NEW RULES
The government of Greenland wants to establish new rules regarding the future of sea traffic in the region. As there are forecasts that the pole region will be ice-free during the summer period, regulations are needed on such topics like technical conditions of ships or organizing maritime salvage.
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ICELAND CANDIDATE FOR UN
Iceland is a candidate for one of the non-permanent seats in the Security Council for the term 2009-2010. Iceland is willing and ready to take on an active role for international peace and security by serving on the Security Council.
In the UN Security Council, Iceland will work on the basis of protection of civilians in conflicts,
women's participation in post-conflict peace processes, climate change,non-proliferation and disarmament.
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EARTHQUAKE ROCKS ICELAND
A earthquake measuring 6.1 has hit southern Iceland, 50km from the capital, Reykjavik.
In the towns of Hveragerdi and Selfoss, near the epicentre, buildings were damaged and up to 30 people needed treatment for minor injuries.
Residents in the capital felt buildings shake and aftershocks were felt in the south-west of the country.
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ARCTIC SUMMIT IN GREENLAND
The foreign ministers of Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark and the United States came together in Ilulissat,Greenland, to discuss the future development of the arctic region. They agreed to search for a peaceful solution under the auspicies of the United Nations and international law.
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ICELAND GUEST OF HONOUR AT FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR 2011
It is the first scandinavian country in this position. “Iceland is one of the smallest book markets worldwide, but unbelievably productive. Literature has shaped the identity of this European island nation from the beginning. At the same time, its geographical position and its culture have made Iceland an important interface between America and Europe. I’m looking forward to a unique presentation”, said Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair. MORE
ICELANDIC MEN LIVE LONGEST
The men with the world's highest life expectancy live in Iceland. On average they can reckon to become 79.4 years old.Women expect 3 years more.
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ICELAND THE WORLD`S MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY
This is the result of the Global Peace Index recently published in London.140 countries had been evaluated with respect to 24 criteria, including numbers of deaths from organized conflict, levels of violent crime and proportions of GDP used for military expenditures.
Denmark was deemed the world's second most peaceful country, followed by Norway, New Zealand and Japan.
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ICELAND BELONGS TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS OF THE WORLD
The magazine National Geograhic Traveler started a rating of 111 island destinations. 522 experts from all over the world evaluated the beauty of the islands, especially the status of nature and the quality of tourism management.Iceland landed on rank five on behalf of the strong environmental awareness, the millenary culture and the different forms of touring available, from climate-controlled bus tours to multiday wilderness treks. MORE
ICELAND SUMMIT GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
Director Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, G.I. Jane, Gladiator) will make a movie about the legendary 1986 Reykjavik summit between US President Ronald Reagan and soviet leader Michail Gorbachev. It became famous because the two top politicians surprisingly discussed the abolition of nuclear weapons.
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FIRST VIDEO CLIP MADE IN GREENLAND
200 kilometers north of the polar circle the alternative rock band 30 Seconds To Mars produced the first music video clip ever in Greenland. With their song "A beautiful lie" singer Jared Leto and his musicians want to draw more attention on the possible effects of climate change in this part of the world.The making of the video took much more time than previously expected. Six months were needed becuse of the weather conditions. MORE
BOY FROM ICELAND FOOLED THE WHITE HOUSE
Vifill Atkasson, a 16 years old boy from the small seaport Akranes, became the new star among the youth of Iceland. He phoned the White House in Washington and pretended to be the president of Iceland. After run through several control mechanisms successfully the staff believed him and made an appointment for a personal call with the U.S. President. But the swindle was discovered and the boy got a visit from the police - and a lot of applause from his fellow citizens.
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BOY FROM ICELAND FOOLED THE WHITE HOUSE
Vifill Atkasson, a 16 years old boy from the small seaport Akranes, became the new star among the youth of Iceland. He phoned the White House in Washington and pretended to be the president of Iceland. After run through several control mechanisms successfully the staff believed him and made an appointment for a personal call with the U.S. President. But the swindle was discovered and the boy got a visit from the police - and a lot of applause from his fellow citizens.
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IN 70 DAYS ACROSS THE ICE OF GREENLAND
On the 1st of April 2008 two Germans start their 1100 km long tour across the ice and glaciers of Greenland.Their food supply will last only for 70 days. So they have not much time to manage the distance with their sledges. Motor-assistance or sails are not available. In the last five years the sportsmen trained for this "Arctic Move" by running marathons in the Swiss alps.
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CHESS LEGEND BOBBY FISCHER DIED IN ICELAND
The legendary chess champion Bobby Fischer died in Iceland on 18. January because of kidney trouble.He was buried in the small town Laugardaela 50 km east of Reykjavik.Fischer became famous when he 1972 won the world chess championship against the soviet chess master Boris Spasski. The match took place in Reykjavik. Fischer became citizen of Iceland in 2005.
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GREENLAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM DOES NOT GIVE UP
Jens Tang Olesen is the trainer of the greenlandic national football team. He has a severe problem: there is no lawn in Greenland where his football-players can be trained for international competitions. Greenland is not member of the FIFA but the players are eligible to the Danish national team. "We always have to play on sandy places which often are very muddy" he said. Now the three greatest towns have collected money to build a artificial turf. It can also be used by all other teams in Greenland.
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ICELAND IS A STRONGHOLD FOR WRITERS
Up to 1800 titles have been published each year on the Icelandic book market where 40 publishing houses are caring for the reading demands of the 300000 Icelanders. One new publication per 167 inhabitants is definitely a world record! Young authors are inspired by the fact that their island has already produced a Nobel Prize winner for literature, Halldor Laxness. Especially crime novels from Iceland have been international successes in recent years.
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NEW ISLAND APPEARED IN THE NORTH OF GREENLAND
Amidst the melting arctic pack ice north of Greenland a new island has appeared. It is called Stray Dog West and is only 40 meters long. Since Greenland belongs to Denmark this small island could be helpful to strengthen Danish ambitions for the north pole region.
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UNEMPLOYMENT NEARLY VANISHED IN ICELAND
In September the Icelandic unemployment rate figured out at 0.8 %. This was the lowest level since 19 years. Only 1336 persons were registered at the Labour Exchange. A lot of companies have now difficulties to get the workers they need. Some try to recruit retired people and others are looking for working immigrants from the new EU states such as Poland and Lithuania.
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OLDEST ANIMAL FOUND IN ICELANDIC SEA
A team of scientists from Bangor University has found a sample of Arctica islandica near to the coast of Iceland. The mussel was 400 years old and still alive! It is considered as the oldest animal on earth.
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ICELAND MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRY 2007
This year Iceland is number one on the Human Development Index (HDI) which was published in the annual report of the United Nations Development Programme UNDP. The HDI is the measure for life expectancy, literacy, education and living standard.Iceland is followed on the list by Norway and Australia.
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WORLD'S GREATEST DICE ROLL TOOK PLACE IN GREENLAND
Two giant dices made of steel have been thrown from a helicopter and rolled down a snowy slope. Each dice had a weight of 500 kilograms. Bets could be made on the result. The event was initiated by a gamble company but it can be doubted that gambling becomes Greenland´s new national sport. Future will show. MORE
ICELAND STOPS WHALE HUNTING
One year ago Iceland started again with commercial whale hunting. Due to the protests from environmentalist and the lack of demand for whale meat the Icelandic government now stopped it again. Since 1st of September whale hunting is not allowed anymore. The Icelandic tourism industry is very glad about this, especially the organisers of whale watching tours. MORE
BABYBOOM IN ICELAND
In Iceland 90 percent of the men stay at home for at least three months after their child has been born. This is due to a law reform that allows parents to stay at home for nine months gaining 80 percent of their former income, but on the condition that the parents share this time. As a result of this law the birthrate in Iceland is growing since years: statistically seen each woman has 2.1 children. MORE
ALL ICELANDERS ARE ONE FAMILY
Since years the Genealogical Society of Iceland is collecting documents, registers and obituaries to research the relations and history of all icelandic families. Today they have already 650000 names in their computers and due to the long isolation of the island it seems that all Icelanders are related with each other in some extent. For example a sailor now found a common ancestor of him and Icelands famous singer Björk who lived about 1750. MORE
DNA FOUND IN GREENLAND IS 450000 YEARS OLD
450.000 years ago Greenlands South was lushly wooded. This is the result of the discovery of DNA, which two Danish scientists found beneath a layer of two kilometers ice. The DNA could be attached to different coniferous trees and insects. If the dating is correct the greenlandic sheet of ice was obviously not melt away completely during the last warm period 125000 years ago and so could be more resistant to global warming today than estimated. MORE
BIRDS FROM GREENLAND ARE HEADING FOR ARGENTINA
To get more detailed information about the migration of birds during winter time scientists have equipped two birds from Greenland with miniature transmitters. Now they can track their routes on their way south via satellite. The scientists presume that the birds will fly to Argentina and back to Greenland. This is a distance of 40000 kilometers. MORE
CHANCELLOR MERKEL VISITS GREENLAND
Accompanied by Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen the German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit the arctic island from 16. to 17. August to get first hand information about global warming. By boat and helicopter they will take a look at Jakobshavn Isfjord, who is filled up with giant icebergs (approximately 40 square kilometers a year) which move into the sea. MORE
NEXT STAR TREK ADVENTURE IN ICELAND
Two icelandic film companies are searching for interesting locations where parts of Star Trek XI could be realized. Matt Damon and Adrian Brody are said to be guest stars in this movie. MORE
NEXT STAR TREK ADVENTURE IN ICELAND
Two icelandic film companies are searching for interesting locations where parts of Star Trek XI could be realized. Matt Damon and Adrian Brody are said to be guest stars in this movie. MORE
BILLIONAIRES IN GREENLAND
Obviously the polar island is very attractive to billionaires from the computer and internet business.Some time ago Bill Gates was already there and now the Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin made a visit to Greenland. All of the three spent their time by doing kitesurfing, e.g. being pulled over the ice by a kite. Unfortunately the winds had been rather weak. So even rich people cannot buy the weather. MORE
NEW BJÖRK ALBUM OUT NOW!
The 41 years old singer Björk, Iceland´s one and only worldwide known musician, released her new album named "Volta". MORE
TOWARDS A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA
In April China and the Republic of Iceland started negotiations about a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). MORE
ONE-LEGGED FRENCHMAN STARTS EXPEDITION THROUGH GREENLAND
The 42-years old Franck Bruno starts his 570 kilometers tour on ski in the greenlandic town of Kapisillit. He will be accompanied by three other men. MORE
NORWEGIAN AIRFORCE SUPPORTS ICELAND
Norwegian aircrafts will carry out military manoeuvres over Iceland and also use the military airport in Keflavik, which has been abandoned by US troops last year.Furthermore there will be a cooperation on behalf of the sea surveillance. MORE
GREENLAND: NEW FLIGHT CONNECTION TO NUUK
The icelandic airline Iceland Air has announced to establish a flight connection between Reykjavik and Nuuk from 15th June to the end of August. There is already airservice to Kulusuk in Eastern Greenland.
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GREENLAND: WORLDCHAMPIONSHIP IN ICEGOLFING
This is without any doubt the most extreme golf tournament in the world. It takes place 600 kilometers north of the polar circle from the 22nd to the 27th March. Upon the frozen sea and amidst gigatic icebergs everybody can participate who's handicap ist under 36 (and who can stand the temperature of 20 degrees below zero).
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ICELAND:GOLFING AROUND THE CLOCK
Thanks to the midnight sun putting is possible the whole night through at the Arctic Open Championships. This tournament takes place from the 20th to 23rd June in Akureyri, on the northernmost 18 holes golfcourse in the world. About 120 golfers from all over the world will participate.
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ICELAND: THE MOST EXPENSIVE BIG MAC IN THE WORLD
Since 1986 the british newspaper The Economist is calculating the so-called Big Mac Index in order to compare the purchase power in different countries. The newest edition shows that the cheapest Big Mac can be bought in China (1 Euro 7 cent) and the most expensive in Iceland (5 Euro 66 cent). This is an indicator for the high living standard in Iceland (and may be also a hint for tourists to better spend their money for fresh icelandic fish or marvellous lamb dishes.)
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ELTON JOHN IN REYKJAVIK
On January the 20th Olafur Olafsson, the owner of the Samskip shipping company, was celebrating his 50th birthday in Reykjavik. It was a big surprise when the stage was entered by the british pop star Elton John who gave an one hour performance in favor for the top manager. MORE
ICELANDAIR WINTER 2006/2007
During winter time Icelandair will offer flights to 17 destinations: Amsterdam, Baltimore, Boston, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Helsinki, London, Manchester, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando/Florida, Oslo, Paris, Salzburg, Stockholm, Washington. MORE
GRAND HOTEL REYKJAVIK OPENS NEW ROOM COMPLEX
In April 2007 the Grand Hotel Reykjavik will open a new hotel complex und increase its room capacity from 108 to 315. MORE
REYKJAVIK ARTS FESTIVAL 2006 WAS A BIG SUCCESS
The Reykjavík Arts Festival started at the 12th of May in the City Theater und ended on June the 2nd with the opera "Freischütz" in the National Theater of Iceland. The Reykjavik Arts Festival exists since 20 years. Most of the concerts have been sold out. MORE
THE STARS ABOVE ICELAND
In the night from the 28th to the 29th of September the lights in Iceland have been turned out.Undisturbed from artificial light the icelanders could watch the starry sky. MORE
US ARMY LEAVES ICELAND
On the last day of September the United States of America ended their military presence in Iceland. MORE
ICELAND WANTS AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA ABOUT VISA FREE TOURIST TRAFFIC
Iceland and Norway want to take steps to a visa free tourist traffic with Russia. This declaration has been included to a document about the "project northern dimension", which has been signed at a summit of the presidents and prime ministers from the EU member states, Russia, Norway and Iceland on 24th November 2006. MORE
HOW ICELAND DRIED UP THE NILE
The explosion of the icelandic vulcano Laki in 1783 had big effects even in Egypt. MORE
MISS WORLD 2006 COMES FROM ICELAND
She is 22 years old and her name is Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir. MORE
GEIR HAARDE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF ICELAND
In June 2006 the former Foreign Minister Geir Harde became the new Prime Minister of Iceland. MORE
ICELAND HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF INTERNET USERS
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NOW WE ARE 300.000!
According to an information given by the Icelandic Office for Statistics the 300.000th Icelandic citizen has been born. MORE
NEW CONGRESS CENTER IN REYKJAVIK
In 2007 a new congress center in the heart of Reykjavik with 2000 seats will open.
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RADISSON SAS 1919 HOTEL
The luxury hotel Radission SAS 1919 Hotel has been opened in the historic building of the Icelandic shipping company Eimskip. MORE
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