Geography
Situated in a remote location in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is a mysterious and wonderful country of great contrast. It is a big island, extending almost 300 kms. (185 miles) north to south and 500 kms. (310 miles) east to west. Its coastline is deeply indented by fjords and bays and extends to over 6000 kms. in length. Put in basic geographical terms, Iceland is a plateau, averaging 610 metres in height (2000ft.), with vast icefields covering its highest parts. The largest of these is Vatnajökull in the southeast. The southern coasts are low-lying and without natural harbours. The high inland plateau is ringed with high mountains and peaks, the highest of which is Hvannadalshnúkur, at 2119 metres (6952ft.), in the southern glacier of Öræfajökull. The unusual landscape of this dramatic island is made up of volcanoes, hot springs, glaciers and tortured lava formations. Only in coastal regions has this harsh environment been softened by the activities of man. Here, in isolated pockets of settlement, there are pretty harbours, quaint houses and flower-filled pastures. With a population of fewer than 300,000 people and a land area of almost 40,000 square miles, Iceland is one of the least populated parts of Europe. Almost four-fifths of the country is uninhabited, the population being limited to a narrow coastal belt and to a number of valleys and lowland plains in the south and southwest.The interior of the country remains one of Europe’s great wilderness areas. More than 1000 years ago, Iceland was settled by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British Isles. It was the last European country to be settled. Both the language and culture of Iceland were purely Scandinavian from the outset, but there are traces of Celtic influence, in some place names and in some of the physical characteristics of the Icelandic people. Icelandic is the national language and it has changed very little from the original tongue spoken by the Norse settlers. Nowadays, English and Danish are widely spoken and understood. At the beginning of the 20th century a large proportion of Icelanders lived on the land and, indeed, there were very few towns at that time. This situation has steadily changed and today only a tiny percentage of the country’s population is rural. Fish and fish products constitute more than 70% of Iceland’s exports in goods and it is the most important industry. The continental shelf around Iceland provides extremely rich fishing grounds. Agricultural land in Iceland is mostly used for growing grass for the making of hay and silage as fodder for livestock, mainly sheep and dairy cattle. In the last 50 years or so, Iceland has prospered and now enjoys a high standard of living, comparable to that of the other Nordic countries. One very fortunate result of Iceland’s location (on a volcanically very active submarine ridge) is the fact that most of the country’s power requirements are provided by geo-thermal energy.

Time Zone
The time in Iceland is GMT + 0 hours.

Climate
Iceland’s climate is moderated by the warm ocean current known as the Gulf Stream. Summers are quite mild and winters rather cold. The maximum daytime temperature in Reykjavik varies beween 2 degrees centigrade (36º F) in December and January to 15 degrees centigrade (59º F) in July. Night time temperatures in the Icelandic capital fall to minus 3 degrees centigrade (37º F) in midwinter and 8 degrees centigrade (46º F) in July. From the end of May to the beginning of August, there is almost perpetual daylight in Reykjavk and in the north the sun scarcely sets during this season. Icelandic weather can be extremely variable and experiencing “4 seasons in one day” is a regular occurrence. Iceland receives only modest amounts of precipitation, with monthly total never more than 100 millimetres (4 inches). There is only modest snowfall in the winter and no obvious annual pattern to the rainfall. The summer months are slightly drier than the rest of the year.

Rough guide to temperatures July to August

Currency
The unit of currency in Iceland is the krona (plural kronur). As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£ 1 = KR 113
$ 1 = KR 65
€ 1 = KR 77

Sterling, US dollars and euros are easily exchanged in Reykjavik. Credit cards can be used widely and you will also be able to obtain currency at cash machines (ATM’s) at larger banks in the usual way.

Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity is required. Visas are not required by UK or EC passport holders. Other nationalities should check with the Icelandic Consulate in their own country.

Vaccinations
There are no specific innoculations or other medical requirements for Iceland. If you are uncertain about the state of your health, you should visit your doctor for a check-up prior to your proposed trip.
Travellers from the UK can obtain a Form E111 from the Post Office which will enable you to receive free or reduced-cost medical treatment whilst in Iceland.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
The Rough Guide to Iceland.
Lonely Planet. Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The Insight Guide to Iceland.
Iceland. Photo Book. Colin Baxter.

Maps
Iceland Fleximap. Insight Fleximaps.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com