INSTRUCTIONS AND PROPHECIES OF THE Blessed MOTHER ALIPIA GOLOSEEVSKY, Kyiv...
Where it was said that the Icelandic government decided to pay 5,000 euros to each immigrant who marries a local girl, did not go unnoticed. So I wanted to learn more about this northern country.
1. Iceland (Isl. Ísland [ˈislant] - “country of ice” or “ice country”) is an island state located in the west of Northern Europe in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean (northwest of Great Britain). The territory of the state consists of the island of the same name with an area of 103 thousand km² and small islands around it. It is the northernmost state in Europe.
2. Back in 874, the first Norwegian and Celtic settlers landed on the southwestern coast of the island, led by Ingolf Arnarson. The first thing that appeared before their astonished eyes was the steaming hot geothermal springs. Therefore, the first settlement of migrants was named Reykjavik (Reykjavík), which means "Smoky Bay" in Norwegian.
3. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with about 320 thousand people living here, and before the Second World War the country's population was only 50 thousand. Its average population density is 3 people per square kilometer. km. 
4. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when parting or divorcing a couple always tries to keep a good relationship. Cases where an ex-boyfriend does not communicate with an ex-girlfriend or former spouses do not talk to each other are extremely rare, because in any case, they have almost all friends and acquaintances in common.
5. Instead of surnames in Iceland - patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “sleep” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if it is a daughter) is added to the name of the father, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia Palmars daughter, is added.
6. In the event that the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but by the name of the mother. 
7. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, the doors of houses here are often not locked, car keys are left in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or shop.
8. In Reykjavik, it is considered normal to go to the nearest grocery store in pajamas.
9. Residents of Reykjavik almost always pay for purchases with bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash is not accepted here.
10. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is unhealthy, so in winter everyone here sniffs, that is, sorry, they draw snot into themselves.
11. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent, even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems. 
12. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think, the temperature here rarely drops below -6 degrees.
13. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, on December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets already at 16.00. In the summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which the white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing, in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.
14. The lack of sunlight in winter is compensated to some extent by the northern lights, you can see it all the time, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to it.
15. Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all the inhabitants of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, take fish oil without fail, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules. 
16. Icelanders are active Internet users and almost the entire country is registered on Facebook. According to the latest data, it is an active country in the social network. They also have a national website, Íslendingabók, where you can track your exact genealogical tree and find out how distantly related you are to Björk.
17. There is an opinion that Björk means "birch" in Icelandic, but this is not true. Sometimes Björk is just Björk. 
18. Even if a resident of Iceland for some reason does not have a profile on Facebook, he can still be easily found on the network. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the website www.ja.is, where they indicate their first and last name, phone number, address and place on the map where their house is located.
19. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed towards you, he demonstrates this by touching you every now and then.
20. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local residents like to dye their hair a darker shade. 
21. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required, most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, including why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik so much.
22. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.
23. The most popular specialties in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter tries to get an education in a creative specialty, and at the same time plays in some kind of rock or folk group. 
24. For the reason described above, no one uses the services of designers, for example, in order to come up with the design of an apartment or a wedding dress. The inhabitants of Iceland are sure that each of them is an artist himself, therefore they prefer to invent the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress on their own.
25. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.
26. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, they take the competition of young performers very seriously here, and during the live broadcast the whole country is watching what is happening on TV.
27. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland, the latter closed in 2008 during the crisis. 
28. The most popular names in Iceland: male - Jon and female - Guvrun. Also, ancient mythological names are still common, for example, aðalsteinn, which means "main stone". The name for the unborn child is supposed to be chosen from the register of names. If you come up with a new one, then you must first agree with the authorities and enter it in the register.
29. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use Everyday life not full, but abbreviated versions of the names, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dabbi, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppi, Jon - Nonni, etc.
30. The language of Iceland has not changed much over the past 1000 years, so there are letters in it that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read the old Viking sagas in the original without any problems.
31. The local population in general is very fond of reading, today, according to some reports, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.
32. The cost of wine in Iceland is often determined not by the year of its production or quality, but by the strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost many times less than a 15-degree chatter.
33. Not in Iceland armed forces, their functions are performed to some extent by the Coast Guard. 
34. The police in Iceland do not carry weapons, they are not given pistols.
35. Residents of Reykjavik for the most part terribly park, they can throw the car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place do little to help.
36. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources, gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.
37. You don’t need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes, it is still poured from a water tap. This is water from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely drinkable. 
38. But hot tap water Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.
39. Taking hot thermal baths is a popular option for evening leisure in Reykjavik, the cost of visiting when buying a subscription is about 5 euros.
40. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a system central heating, which distinguishes the country from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each inclusion of the heater.
41. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic law allowed the inhabitants of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is because in the past, Turkish pirates often plundered Icelandic ships and coastal villages.
42. To this day, Icelandic law allows the inhabitants of the country to kill polar bears for food.
43. In Iceland, licorice is very popular, it is added to any dishes, plus chocolates with licorice filling are produced here. 
44. The national dish of Iceland - haukarl - rotten meat of the Greenland shark cut into small pieces. If you do not chew it and just swallow it, it is still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you will feel the “magic” taste of urea. The fact is that the Greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot for three months underground or in the basement. The creators of The Simpsons sneered at the taste of this dish, among other things, in one of the episodes of the animated series. They also eat sheep thighs in lactic acid.
45. In Iceland, they eat mostly fish, while all dishes are poured over the top with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of fish may not be recognized.
46. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, while Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and Coca-Cola is also very popular here.
47. Icelanders are long-livers. The average life expectancy for women is 81 years, for men - 76 years. At the age of 100–110 years, you will not particularly surprise anyone here.
48. The national clothes of Icelanders are woolen sweaters. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted jacket made of sheep's wool with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time. The wool of local sheep is unprecedentedly warm and soft, so it is exported in huge quantities every year.
49. It is forbidden to import horses into Iceland, and no one knows why. If the horse was taken from the island, then it cannot be returned back either.
50. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which leads to difficulties when building a house or a road. Before construction begins, local “witches” are consulted here to see if it is possible to move this or that stone, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, the Icelanders have to perform magical rites, for example, keep the stone in honey for some time. 
51. 2148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on the revival of Icelandic and Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to the traditional registration of marriage.
52. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus in Iceland, there are 15 Santa Clauses of different types, by and large they are all elves, in which the locals believe.
53. Every major store in Reykjavik has a playground.
54. Icelanders are proud that they have the oldest undisbanded parliament in the world, it is called Alþingi and was founded in 930.
55. Residents of Iceland are very trusting, when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous job, but simply take the newcomer's word for it. 
56. Iceland has plenty of refreshing hot springs. You must take a shower before visiting. However, unlike in other countries, here you must take off your swimsuit before showering and thoroughly wash yourself naked in a public place - unfortunately, many of these showers do not have doors to hide you from outside world. Of course, nudity is illegal in other public places, so you can't just take off your clothes and go for a walk down the street.
57. Milk product Skyr is one of the most popular foods in Iceland and is regularly eaten as a snack. Skyr looks like yogurt, but is actually a type of soft cheese. He is valued for a large number of protein and low fat.
58. Instead of Santa Claus in Iceland, there are yolasveinars. These strange guys have an interesting history - they are descended from trolls, and parents used to scare their little naughty children with them. However, in the 1700s, a decree was issued forbidding parents from doing this to their children, so that yolasveinars eventually became an integral part of Icelandic Christmas traditions. They have cute names like "Skyr Turkey", "Window Peeper" or "Mug Licker", and each of them has its own personality.
59. During June and July, Icelanders can enjoy the wonderful sunlight 24 hours a day. You can think of a thousand different activities for such a long daylight hours, but many Icelanders use them to play golf to their heart's content. Although the weather can sometimes be cold and rainy, this does not stop the most active players - they go to the field. Those who have played golf in Iceland during the midnight sun have described their experience as surreal and sublime. And while golfers are unlikely to encounter many trees along the way, they have other problems - lava caverns or angry birds whose nests they have accidentally disturbed.
60. Handball is the national sport in Iceland. When the Icelandic president made a press statement following his recent Olympic win, he explained how important the sport is to his country. Every Icelander knows the names of the players of the national team, and its success is extremely important for everyone. Handball can be described as a form of football, only players use their hands instead of their feet. In fact, it is an incredibly fast-paced and violent game, with rules that are much tougher than in football. 
61. Since 1950, Iceland has often been at enmity with Great Britain due to the fact that the British fish in their waters. In Iceland, the fishing industry is very important and acts as the main source of food. So it's perhaps not surprising that the "cod wars" began in 1958, when Iceland decided they needed to increase the exclusion zone around their territories - water areas in which other countries have no right to fish. Ultimately, Iceland increased its exclusion zone from 6.5 km to 320 km.
62. Iceland is full of active volcanoes. While some countries may be afraid to live in the middle of a ring of fire, Iceland has grabbed nature by the throat and learned to use it to her advantage. Approximately 85% of the energy in Iceland is produced from renewable resources, more than half of the energy is geothermal. There are also more than 150 public pools with hot water in the country - the water temperature is provided by real volcanic heat.
63. Iceland is known for being liberal with regards to intimate matters, so it may come as a surprise to foreigners that the country's government has voted to ban strip clubs. But the matter was not limited to this: the issue of banning online pornography has recently been considered. Icelanders pass such laws not because of a puritanical attitude towards sex, but because of feminism. Approximately half of government positions are now held by women - probably one of the most feminist countries in the world.
64. Most of all, Iceland is probably known for its strange gastronomic addictions.
Puffins are small adorable birds with black and white feathers and small beaks. The people of Iceland traditionally eat them - the raw puffin heart is considered a delicacy.
65. Drinks are no exception. In addition to the fact that Icelanders consume more Coca-Cola than anywhere else in the world, they have their own drink - brennyvin. This alcoholic drink is something like distilled potato schnapps with the addition of cumin. It tastes really nasty. Brennyvin is often washed down with the traditional Icelandic dish haukarl, which is rotten shark meat. Many Icelanders only drink brennywine when visiting the country to emphasize their Icelandic roots. 
In view of recent political events, more and more Russian and Ukrainian migrants are looking for life in a stable, peaceful country with a decent standard of living. As practice proves, life is getting better for them in beautiful and hospitable Iceland. Of course, this direction is poorly developed, since this island territory is very distant from its homeland, located near the Arctic Circle itself. In addition to climate change, visitors have to adapt to the complex local language.
Through the eyes of Russians, life in the northern state differs in many ways from their usual way of life. There is some similarity between the mentality of the locals and the Scandinavian way of life. Due to the great remoteness from the mainland, this nation, until the middle of the 20th century, was somewhat cut off from the outside world, which hampered its development. These are the descendants of the Vikings with conservative life principles, their own revered traditions.
Icelanders are distinguished by peacefulness, patience, hospitality and non-conflict. Thanks to these qualities local population There are almost no accidents on the roads. Drivers are in solidarity with each other, behave very courteously and respectfully towards each other and towards pedestrians.
Despite their pedantry, the locals love to take a walk. Their celebrations are noisy and on a grand scale. They cannot do without strong drinks, which are snacked on exotic dishes for Russian visitors. The haukarl delicacy, rotten shark meat, is popular in these parts.
Icelanders are a hardworking people. The main branches of their activity are fishing, mining, and agriculture. At the present stage of development, positive changes in the tourism sector have begun to be observed, and the service market is well developed today.
Most of of the population of Iceland, about 98% are indigenous people. They care not only for environment but also to the purity of one's own nation. In rare cases, he creates families with foreigners. This factor does not contribute to the increase in the number of emigrants. Anyone who arrives here for permanent residence has to comply with local rules and traditions.
Features of life
The standard of living in Iceland is quite high by European standards. About 80% of the population is employed here. The average family's annual income, after taxes, is about $26,000. One employee receives about $4,000 per month. Such profit makes it possible to purchase your own home and car.
Statistics of the average monthly salary in Iceland, Icelandic kroner per month
Various loyalty programs are being developed by the authorities to protect the vulnerable segments of the population, in particular the disabled, orphans, and the homeless. True, there is a small percentage of disadvantaged and unprotected people here, and all of them are under the control of social protection authorities.
Of people retirement age enough in the country. Due to the absence of a retirement age limit, you can retire at will. As a rule, people prefer to work until the age of 66. Education through the eyes of Russians is not very well developed here. About 70% of the population receives a certificate of secondary education.
Reading reviews about the features of life on the island, it becomes obvious that 85% of its inhabitants feel happy. Approximately the same is the indicator of civic engagement during the elections, the voter turnout is 80%. This level is achieved through the formation social model society, well-thought-out internal state policy, environmental cleanliness of the region, mentality, high development of health care.
Economic situation in the region
About 90% of the educated population and 80% of the total number of residents are employed in the state. Decent wages, a good family income contribute to the stabilization of trade, and therefore to an increase in economic indicators in the region.
The state takes care of all segments of the population. People can get a good job, regardless of age, gender and degree of education. Unemployment is familiar only to those who do not intend to find a job. The percentage of those who want to find a job does not exceed 13%. An income above the average, that is, above 3,300 thousand, is received by about 20% of all employed citizens.
Retirement here, most often, after 65 years. Since there is no clear age limit, you can go on vacation earlier. But not many want to leave their place of work, because they do not want to lose a decent income. The age category of pensioners is 65-69 years old, these are active, courageous and risky people. The level of pension benefits is about $1,500, which is also quite a lot by the standards of European countries.
Life in Iceland is hampered by high food prices. Products here are much more expensive than in the Ukrainian or Russian capitals. For example, you can buy bread or water here for $2, a bottle of wine for $17, and a kilogram of chicken fillet for $20.
As for gasoline, its cost exceeds $ 2 per liter. The minimum real estate prices in the Icelandic capital are from 2200 thousand, closer to the center the cost increases to 2800 thousand dollars. Renting a one-room apartment here costs an average of 880 dollars. on the outskirts and is about 1700 dollars. in the center, three-room apartments are not much more expensive - $ 1,800.
Russian-speaking residents
From the official statistics of the embassy, we can conclude that about one thousand immigrants from the CIS countries live in Iceland, about 300 residents are Russians. The Russian-speaking stratum of the population here was formed in the 90s of the 20th century, at the stage of labor migration. An increase in the size of this community is expected at the present stage of development, when the political and economic situation in the country is forcing Russians to migrate to other stable states.
The working life of Russians in Iceland is being improved in the sports field, a large percentage of immigrants from Russia are employed here as coaches in volleyball and gymnastics, basketball and handball. This category of the Russian-speaking diaspora is concentrated in the capital. Some foreigners find work in small settlements. They realize themselves in the construction industry, are employed at fish processing enterprises. A small percentage of visitors fill the vacancies of translators, doctors or teachers. The size wages will depend on working conditions. If, for example, you work in Iceland as a waiter or dishwasher, get free food and housing, then you can live comfortably and securely here.
Significant pros and cons of migration
Advantages of living in this country:
- High standard of living, low unemployment rate + decent wages.
- Low crime rate. The state is in the ranking of the safest countries. There is only one prison on its territory, which is more like a labor camp.
- Clean environment and incredible natural beauty. After watching the video review, you can see the local beauty with your own eyes.
- Friendliness, responsiveness of the Icelanders.
- Good education system.
- English is spoken by a large percentage of the inhabitants.
Disadvantages of moving for citizens from the CIS:
- Economic fluctuations, which in the long term can lead to a drop in income and an increase in prices.
- Tough immigration policy. Here the laws do not promote the growth of foreign citizens.
- Difficulty adapting to the northern climate.
- Long and expensive flight to the polar island.
- Measured, calm, devoid of mass gatherings and grandiose events, a life that a Russian person will find boring and monotonous.
- High price level.
- The lack of a railway system, moving around the country is possible only by road.
- Difficulty in finding employment for newcomers.
- Impossibility to buy land, foreigners can only rent it.
- High seismic activity of volcanoes, the eruption of which may affect residents within the state and beyond.
- The language barrier. The local dialect is difficult for the perception of Russian-speaking people.
- The unwillingness of local citizens to tie the knot with foreigners.
Equality and discrimination
There is no discrimination in employment and wages here. Across the country, for all social strata, an approximately equal price threshold is set. In each of the four colleges, children from Ukraine or Belarus can learn Russian and read books in their native language. Satellite TV receives some Russian-language channels.
Adaptation
It is quite difficult for visitors to adapt to a harsh climate, a new original language, and a shocking price level. But thanks to the kindness, responsiveness, patience of the local population, it is possible to overcome the language barrier quickly undergo social adaptation. It is better to solve the issue of employment and housing problems at the same time, choosing advantageous offers from employers.
For a stable life in Iceland, you need to learn the language, apply for a visa, find housing and work. Qualified specialists (seismologists are in demand here), sports coaches, medical staff are more likely to get a job. Without a high qualification and a scientific degree, it is better to try your luck in the tourism, fish processing, and construction industries.
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In 2000, Reykjavik (translated as "Smoky Bay") was declared the cultural capital of the world. The central part of the city - Old Reykjavik - is a huge space with large quantity lakes and lawns, which are replaced by old traditional buildings. In this place, and today there are stables and sheepfolds. Of course, they no longer contain livestock. Most of them have turned into cafes and shops. Reykjavik's most notable old buildings are the 18th century government building and the Parliament House built in 1881. Of the museums in Reykjavik, it is worth visiting the National Museum, the National Gallery of Iceland and the Reykjavik City Art Museum. In Reykjavik, a luxurious botanical garden is open to visitors.
Iceland has a large number of waterfalls. The most famous of them are Gullfoss, or the Golden Falls, Goudafoss, or the Waterfall of the Gods, Skogarfoss and Dehtifoss, or the Falling Waterfall.
The northern capital of Iceland is the city of Akureyri, which is located on the banks of the Eyia Fjord. Nearby is Lake Mivati, or Mosquito Lake, which never freezes.
Iceland is one of the centers of extreme tourism and sport fishing. Here you can go rock climbing or go hiking. A popular pastime here is a safari. You can go on a horseback trip, fish for salmon and trout in streams and lakes. Diving enthusiasts can dive into the depths of mineral waters.
All sights of Iceland
culture
Despite the fact that the culture of Iceland developed in such a harsh, remote area, it retained all the cheerfulness and independence laid down in it by the descendants of farmers and warriors who fled here from the tyranny of medieval Scandinavia. The development of this new and desert country began with the construction of strong settlements and farms, and the origins of its rich literary heritage are observed in the sagas - these are descriptions of battles, battles, conquests, heroic deeds and religious events based on real events. These sagas are considered the best examples medieval culture West. Iceland also gave the world such remarkable representatives of modern literature as Haldor Laxness, the most famous writer Iceland, which received Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955. Traditional Icelandic music is popular all over the world (usually shepherd songs and hysterical tunes); in particular, the ex-soloist of the group "Sugarcubes" Björk achieved a dizzying success.
Although Christianity is recognized as the main religion of Iceland, the ancient Norwegian religion known as Asatru is gaining more and more popularity, not as a new trend, but as an officially recognized sect. The revival of Asatru took place in the 70s of our century among sheep breeders; this religion is based on harmony with nature and on the power of natural forces, represented in the form of ancient deities.
Icelandic cuisine
The cuisine in Iceland is special, it is based on fish and lamb. Local delicacies are called "torramatur - þorramatur". A lot of vegetables are grown in geothermal greenhouses. The most neutral dish is “gravlax - graflax” (marinated salmon with dill). One of the main national dishes is "haukarl - hákarl" (rotten shark meat). The caught shark is buried for six months in the sand in order to achieve a certain degree of decomposition. Then they dig it out and hang it on ropes in special places for some more time, and then served with local vodka. Further without comment. Another national dish is "hrutspungur - hrútspungur". These are marinated testicles of a young lamb in a special way, pressed almost into cookies. Or "shvid - svið" - a boiled sheep's head with eyes, sawn in half. Less exotic dishes are harðfiskur (dried haddock, cod or ocean catfish), blakja (charred meat), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), skyr (Icelandic yogurt) and whale meat. The thinnest bread is called "leuvabrauise - laufabrauð". Only in Iceland they bake "volcanic" bread. For example, in the area of Lake Myvatn. The dough is placed in a metal container and left in the ground for a day, after which the finished loaf is taken out.
The drink in Iceland is mostly coffee. In coffee shops, they pay only for the first cup, and everyone else gets it for free. Beer, wine, and other spirits are expensive (a large mug of beer is about $8, a small mug is about $5). Until 1989, Iceland banned beer altogether for 75 years. Icelandic vodka - "Brennyvinn" - a drink made from potatoes, flavored with caraway seeds. The country has big choice European spirits and wines. Recommended restaurants that combine traditional Icelandic cuisine with European menus are Apótekið, La Primavera, Siggi Hall at Odinsveum, Tapas Barinn, Argentina Steakhouse. Vegetarian dishes are prepared at "Au naistum grösum - Á næstu grösum". The cost of lunch in a restaurant is on average $20–50 per person. Giving "tea" is not accepted.
Story
Coins of the Roman Empire dating back to the 3rd century have been found in Iceland. It is not known whether the Vikings brought them with them, or whether the islands were still visited long before the 9th century.
Iceland was settled in the 10th century AD. e. as a result of the unification of Norway under the rule of King Harald I. Many families that came into conflict with Harald were forced to flee in search of a new place to live. Those who reached Iceland at first freely occupied land on the coast - the sea was a source not only of food, but also of wood (fin), since there were practically no forests in Iceland. The noble Norwegian Ingolf Arnason, who settled in the area of modern Reykjavik in 874, is considered the first settler.
As people settled in Iceland, a state system was formed. In each region there was a ting (a meeting, an analogue of the ancient Russian veche), at which a court was held and disputes were resolved; to resolve the most important issues, representatives of the regions gathered at the Althing at the beginning of summer under the control of a law speaker.
The first Althing was convened in 930, and it is from this date that the era of democracy is counted. It is believed that the Icelandic democracy is the oldest surviving in the world. However, usually in a dispute at the Thing, the winner was not the one who was right in terms of laws (Old Icelandic law, like any ancient Germanic law, was common and precedent, akin to modern Anglo-Saxon), but the one who managed to enlist the support of a larger number of wealthy landowners. This was facilitated by the fact that the laws were extremely complicated, with many exceptions and special cases, and knowledge of the laws was a great art.
The history of Iceland is well known due to the large number of sagas that have come down to us. The usual Icelandic saga is a description of the life of one person (or an entire family) over many years, from detailed description major events. The population of Iceland was small, and therefore its history is a history of smaller or larger private affairs and conflicts.
The ancient Icelanders were skilled sailors and Vikings. Eirik the Red in 1000 reached the shores of America and settled in the "Grape Country" - Vinland (it is believed that it was Newfoundland or even New England). The literacy rate among Icelanders was very high, and Scandinavian mythology has survived to this day mainly thanks to the texts of the Elder (poetic) and Younger (prose) Edda found in Iceland.
In 1262, Iceland was forced to sign the so-called "Old Treaty" with Norway, according to which it recognized the supreme power of the Norwegian kings, and they, in turn, undertook to send the Icelanders annually several ships with timber, grain and other goods. In 1395, Iceland, together with Norway (which still owned Greenland and the Faroe Islands), came under the rule of Denmark under the Kalmar Union.
After the dissolution of the Danish-Norwegian union in 1814, Iceland (together with other island possessions of Norway) is “forgotten” to transfer Sweden along with Norway, and it remains part of Denmark.
In 1830, ideas of Icelandic nationalism were born among Icelandic students in Copenhagen. leader national movement was the philologist Jon Sigurdson.
In 1845, Parliament was recreated as a legislative body. It received the Old Norse name "althing".
In 1851, the convened constituent assembly was dissolved by the authorities for too radical demands, but already in 1854 the Danish trade monopoly in Iceland was completely abolished. In 1855 a law on freedom of the press was introduced.
In 1874, when the millennium of the settlement of Iceland was celebrated, the Danish king Christian IX visited the island for the first time in history and announced further reforms. He granted Iceland its own constitution, according to which the Althing, which had previously had advisory functions, received the rights of a local legislature. The taxpayers of the country elected 30 deputies to its composition. The king also appointed 6 more deputies. Executive power remained in the hands of a governor appointed by the Danish government, who was subordinate to the Danish Ministry of Justice. Iceland also received its own minister - a member of the cabinet, who, however, was a Dane, lived permanently in Copenhagen and was responsible only to the Danish parliament, and not to the Althing.
In the last decades of the XIX century. the first signs of the process of modernization in the economy and social structure began to appear. Patriarchal forms of management gave way to market relations: large cattle breeding farms and fishing enterprises arose. Since 1882, cooperation, marketing and fishing, began to spread.
In 1885 the Bank of Iceland was established.
As a result of more than a hundred years of peaceful struggle for independence, on December 1, 1918, Iceland was declared an independent kingdom in a personal union with Denmark.
During World War II, the German occupation of Denmark on April 9, 1940 severed the connection between Denmark and Iceland. A month later, the military forces of the British fleet sailed into Reykjavik harbor, violating Icelandic neutrality. The allied occupation of Iceland lasted throughout the war. In 1941, responsibility for the occupation was taken over by the US Army. On June 17, 1944, it gains full independence and becomes a republic. Since then, June 17 (Republic Day) has been a public holiday in Iceland.
On March 30, 1949, Iceland joined NATO. The post-war period was accompanied by significant economic growth which promoted the Marshall Plan, industrialization of the fishing industry and Keynesian government management of the economy.
In the 1970s, the so-called "cod war" took place - a diplomatic dispute with the UK over Iceland's expansion of its fishing spaces.
The last major event in the Icelandic economy was the country's accession to the European Economic Area in 1994.
In 2007, the UN recognized Iceland as the best country to live in the world.
Economy
Previously, Iceland was practically a monocultural country - the main source of income was fishing and fish processing (32% of the industry in 2001). However, in recent years there has been an intensive diversification of industry based on cheap renewable energy (mainly geothermal sources and hydropower). The Icelandic government has announced a massive program to build aluminum smelters. Biotechnologies, tourism, banking business, information technologies are also actively developing. In terms of employment structure, Iceland looks like an industrial developed country: in agriculture 7.8%, in industry 22.6%, and in the service sector 69.6%.
The global financial crisis of 2008 also affected Iceland. The rate of the Icelandic krone fell by 60%, the stock market fell very strongly. Serious problems began in the banking system of the country. The country was actually on the verge of bankruptcy. In 2009, the country's real GDP fell by 6.8%, which was due to a 50% drop in the total number of investments in such sectors of the economy as construction and services. The crisis has also seriously affected the situation on the labor market, as the unemployment rate reached a record 9.4%.
Accommodation
It is safest to book your accommodation before you arrive in Iceland, but if this is not an option, then you will have to act on the spot. For the first few days, you can always find a hostel, tourist base or hotel. The most affordable prices are at the Salvation Army House in Reykjavik and at the Tourist Base, which is also located in the capital. The minimum price for a room for one night is 33 €.
Since the real estate market in Iceland is vast and the purchase of apartments and houses makes up 75-85% of the housing stock, the rental property market is quite narrow. In Reykjavik, renting an apartment will cost you the most.
When renting a home, a monthly fee and a security deposit are paid. It is better to ask the landlord to provide you with a written rental agreement.
Every person over the age of 18 who rents housing under a contract for more than six months can receive monetary compensation. You can write such a statement to the social service bureau.
The average price for a room with kitchen and bathroom per month is ISK 40,000 per month. For a modest apartment, you will have to pay 70,000–80,000 kroons per month. In suburban areas average cost one square meter is 1200 kroons, in the capital - 1500.
Entertainment and recreation
The most important holiday for Icelanders is Independence Day. This holiday takes place on June 17th. At this time, bright theatrical performances are organized throughout the country under open sky and costume parades.
In the first week of June, you can get to the Ciomannadagurini festival dedicated to the sailors. On this day, tug-of-war, water rescue and swimming tournaments are held. June 24 is the Midsummer Midsummer Day. On the third Thursday of April, Sumardagurini Fursti takes place - a carnival holiday that is dedicated to the first day of summer. In August, you can get to another local festival called Pyodhatio Vestmannaeyar. On this day, Icelanders sing songs, make large fires, hold folk festivals and dances. In some areas of Iceland there is a holiday called Verslunarmannahelgi. It is held in August. On this day, it is customary to go hiking with an overnight stay with the family, to barbecue.
There are a lot of excursions in Iceland. The most entertaining of them take place in the following places:
- East Iceland
- Eastern fjords
- Westman Islands
- Valley of Geysers
- Thingvellir National Park
- Kaldidalur
- Glaciers
- snifetle
- Lake Muwati
- North Iceland
- Fjords of West Iceland
- Central Iceland.
Iceland - perfect place for organizing hiking, often extreme, trips. The most noteworthy places for hiking trails are in Latrabjarg, Landmanialaugar and Horistrandir. Well-equipped ski bases are located in Akureiri, Reykjavik, Hitarfjall and Blafjoll. On Mount Langjokull you can ride on a sled, in the caves of Hallmundarchraun you can try your hand at sports caving, plunge into geothermal springs and ride horses. Iceland also hosts the Arctic Open golf tournament (in Akureiri). The competition takes place on one of the nights of the polar summer, which is why it is called the “Midnight Sun Tournament”.
Purchases
The standard opening hours of Icelandic shops are from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 14:00 (less often - until 16:00) on Saturdays. Sometimes large shopping centers are open on Friday until 22:00. AT summer time All shops are closed on weekends.
Most of the goods in Iceland are imported, so the prices for food, real estate and transport services are very high. Iceland is second only to Japan in terms of cost of living. If you want to indulge yourself in anything, you will have to spend at least $ 500 per day.
Transport
Iceland's largest airline, Air Island, is the only air carrier that provides safe domestic passenger transportation in winter time. The Icelandic road network is one of the most underdeveloped in the European region, there are no railways at all.
At the same time, the bus company Bifritastood Islands does an excellent job of transporting passengers in very harsh conditions. The largest Icelandic ports are connected by ferries.
In Iceland, there are several state-owned companies that provide taxi services 24 hours a day. For 1 kilometer, a fee of approximately 100 kroons is charged, on holidays and at night the price rises by 10-15%. Taxis can be found at special parking lots, stopped on the street or called for free by phone.
Connection
There are still few places where you can find Wi-fi in Iceland. But everywhere you can use the services of Internet cafes.
Cellular communication standards in Iceland are GSM 900/1800.
Telephone communication is very well developed in Iceland. Telephone boxes are located on every corner. You can call them using coins of 10, 50 and 100 kroons or use a phone card worth 500 kroons. Phone cards can be bought at the telephone exchange or at the post office. The cost of a call, both local and international, depends on the day of the week and time of day. You will pay the regular price on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00. On weekends and weekdays from 19:00 to 08:00 you will be given a 25% discount.
Safety
If you are walking in mountainous areas, be very careful and attentive, as volcanic activity is possible in these areas. You run the risk of falling into a mud pit or “running into” a geyser eruption. When walking, it is better not to deviate from the tourist path.
In terms of crime rates, Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world in this sense. Reykjavik has recently become an exception: cases of petty theft have become more frequent here, and information about more serious offenses now and then appears in the news. Going to a nightclub, be prepared to witness a fight. Don't interfere - just call the police.
Business
If you come to Iceland temporarily or permanently to work, you need to register with the National Registry. You will be assigned an identification number and the State Department of Revenue will give you a tax card. You also need to have a work permit. You can consult the Employment Committee or the Immigration Office for its provision.
In Iceland, you can open a company of any form of ownership. If you are self-employed in Iceland, you will need to pay 38.58% of your profits to the treasury every month. The partnership is taxed at 26% of profits. Companies and their affiliates pay 18% of their profits to the Icelandic treasury. The most common choice when opening firms is the form of a closed limited liability company. This is due to the low tax rate and the ease of maintaining the company. The tax rate for such firms is 5%.
Real estate
The real estate market in Iceland is very wide. You can buy apartments in Iceland only if you have a residence permit. If you want to buy an apartment, you need to consult the State Financial Housing Fund or a local bank.
Reykjavik is one of the five most expensive real estate cities in the world. In the last decade, house prices in Iceland have been on the rise.
Iceland has enough real estate to sell and buy. visits the country every year great amount tourists, which stimulates the expansion of the real estate market. It is important that the influx of tourists to Iceland occurs throughout the year, which is also a prerequisite for the development of the housing market.
Iceland drives on the right. In winter, car traffic is hampered by snow drifts on the roads and strong winds. Drunk driving and other traffic fines traffic very high. But you will never have problems with parking in Reykjavik: several multi-storey car parks have been built here and a large number of surface ones. Parking is charged on an hourly basis. In a regular parking lot you will pay 80–150 kroons, in a parking lot - 50–100 kroons. You need to pay for parking at the machines at the entrance to the parking lot or at the parking lot employee.
It is allowed to import no more than three kilograms of food into Iceland. At the same time, it is forbidden to carry meat, dairy products, raw eggs. If you are over 20 years old, you can take with you up to 1 liter of spirits, 6 liters of beer and 1 liter of wine. Upon reaching the age of 18, passengers can also take up to 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco with them.
Icelanders do not have surnames in the traditional sense. The inhabitants of Iceland have only a first and middle name, to which the endings are added: "-son" is worn by men, "-dottir" by women, so you can often meet people with the same "surnames". For example, if the father's name is Ragnar and the son's name is Bjorn, then his full name will be Bjorn Ragnarson. Sometimes, for greater harmony, instead of a patronymic, a matronym is used - a form derived from the name of the mother. Icelanders address each other only by name.
Alcohol can be bought only in state special shops. Alcohol here is 5-7 times more expensive than in duty free at airports.
Near the most popular natural monuments there are areas for setting up tents. For an overnight stay in such an area, you will have to pay 2-3 dollars. In other places, pitching a tent is allowed only with the permission of local authorities.
Tipping in Iceland is only left to doormen in hotels and restaurants. In other situations, the tip is already included in the bill.
Visa information
Getting a visa to Iceland is not as difficult as it might seem. To do this, you will need to collect a standard package of documents, including: a valid passport, tickets to and from the country, copies of the required pages of the passport, confirmation of hotel room reservation.
The visa is granted within 8 working days. The consular fee is about 35 €.
The Embassy of Iceland is located at 121069, Moscow, Khlebny pereulok, 28.
You can get detailed advice by calling the appropriate phone number (+7 495) 956-7604. The Embassy is open throughout the working week from 09:00 to 17:00.
I will probably not expand on gastronomic and ethnographic impressions here. I'd rather focus on gender issues. Readers of this column will certainly be interested in how they are doing with “it”.
So, I'm in an Icelandic bar. Field expedition. I study habits. Incredibly beautiful girls flicker around. Feeling like I got to some Reykjavik Fashion Week. My friend, Henrik, shows a funny smartphone app called Inslendinga App. It allows you to find out if it makes sense for a man and a woman to start a serious relationship. Henrik explains that only 320,000 people live in Iceland. people, and many are relatives of one another of varying degrees of distance. And closely related marriages are known to increase the likelihood that children born will suffer from serious illnesses. So they released this useful program. It is enough for lovers to launch it and touch smartphones. After that, the application, using the genealogical database, calculates the degree of relationship and recommends entering into a relationship or abstaining from it. In case of danger of incest, a loud signal will sound.
Henrik works as a tour guide and movie star. No, really. I myself saw an illustrated story about him in a local secular weekly. He draws attention to the girl talking to the bartender. “This is Miss World (we actually have three), her name is Unnar. She is also a swimming instructor and kindergarten teacher. We all have two or three professions here. Even the coach of the football team has a dentist as his main specialty.” What surprises me is not the list of Unnar's versatile interests, but why that waitress over there did not become Miss World. Or that girl over there in the orange jacket. Elves, they are so similar to each other with their impeccable beauty.
One of my compatriot companions tightened his slack jaw a little, takes a sip of fennel vodka and is going to rush into battle - to get acquainted with local beauties. Henrik stops him, warning him that this is not the way to go. How then should it be? Everything is surprisingly simple: women here do exactly what men do in our area. That is, choose a partner. No, of course, and our fair sex is not far behind in this regard. But ours still allow you to take care of them.
As if to confirm Henrik's words, three people sat down next to us and asked if we had any chewing gum. And then they asked: “Where are you from? How are you here? Like? What about Icelandic girls? Well, thank you for the compliment, of course, but my friend says that I have a fat butt. No, don't you? Are you on Instagram? And let's be friends. This is me at the thermal spring. How do you like this swimsuit? What about black hair? I'm going to dye my hair brunette, because there are so many blondes here ... "
I can firmly state: never in my life have I been molested by such beautiful girls. This, of course, raises self-esteem. But - it didn't happen. Why? Will you be satisfied with the answer that I am married? Well, fine. Another thing is interesting: why in Reykjavik it is women who choose men? A new friend answered the question: “In harsh Iceland, there is no time for tenderness. The day is short, the night is long, everyone has two or three jobs. I now need to have time to deliver the mail, go to the university and help my parents gut or salt the fish. We don't have time for you."
The country of active volcanoes, hot springs and geysers - Iceland will captivate with the unique beauty of nature. This island-state is lost in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean near the Arctic Circle. It attracts tourists from all over the world with its natural attractions that you will not see anywhere else in the world.
(Total 15 photos)
1. In Iceland, there is practically no such thing as a surname; mostly citizens have them foreign origin(10% of the population). The analogues of the surname are the patronym (a form derived from the name of the father) or matronym (the form derived from the name of the mother) with the prefix son for men and dóttir for women. For example, Björk Gudmundsdottir (daughter of Gudmund) is a famous Icelandic singer and composer. In rare cases, there is a combination of patronymic and matronymic. (Ben Husmann)
2. Crime in Iceland is practically zero. The police here do not bother to carry weapons, and mothers leave strollers with children right on the street. Therefore, do not be surprised if you see babies sleeping in a stroller near cafes or shops. (Sveinn Joelsson)
3. Locals prefer to leave their babies outside so that they can sleep peacefully and breathe fresh air. (Cassiano Rabelo)
4. The Icelandic Parliament is the oldest in Europe. For the first time, the so-called Althing (from Icelandic “general assembly”) took place in 930 on the territory of modern national park Thingvellir is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meetings here continued until 1798. (Joe Michaels)
5. Now the Althingi Iceland building is located in Reykjavik. It is a unicameral parliament with 63 deputies. (Sergio Morchon)
6. Iceland is a country with a unique landscape. This is a volcanic plateau with peaks up to 2 km, hot springs, active volcanoes, geysers; 11.8 thousand km² out of a total area of 103 thousand km² are covered by glaciers. (Vincent Moschetti)
7. Despite the photos mountain peaks Iceland, which you could see, in fact, there is not a single full-fledged mountain in the country. If you look closely at the photographs, you can see that almost all the mountains and hills have a flat top, because they, like their valleys, appeared due to glaciers. Iceland has been literally "carved out" by glaciers that have formed deep valleys and high mountain ranges. The country is also home to a number of volcanoes that the uninformed observer might mistake for mountains. (Trey Ratcliff)
8. Iceland is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world. It is full of volcanoes, allowing the locals to use geothermal energy sources. In addition, Icelanders can also use abundant waterways as sources of energy. The country practically does not burn fossil fuels. (frigersson)
9. Iceland is one of two places on the planet where you can observe the divergence of plates (North American and Eurasian) not only under water, but also on the surface. Every year the gap between them increases by about 2 cm. Also, in the region of the northern coast of the country, divers have the opportunity to swim in the place of their fault. (Diueine Monteiro)
10. From 1915 to 1989, dry law was in effect in Iceland; at the same time, for the last 54 years, it has extended only to beer. Therefore, after the lifting of the ban, beer gained unprecedented popularity in the country. Beer Day is celebrated annually on March 1st. As part of the celebration, Icelanders consume a huge amount of this drink. It is also worth noting that beer can only be purchased at state-run liquor stores. Independent sellers are prohibited from selling alcohol in the country. (Didier Baertschiger)
11. In addition to beer, Icelanders are not indifferent to sauces and gravies, which are added to almost all dishes. (Chris Zielecki)
12. No matter what the temperature is outside, Icelanders barbecue. The grill here is not hidden in a closet even in winter, it is used all year round. And of course, grilled foods will be generously drizzled with your favorite sauces or gravies. (Mike)
14. Pause and talk out loud. You spoke on the exhale, right? Another thing that distinguishes the Icelanders is that they pronounce some words and even whole phrases not on the exhale, but on the inhale. This is typical of other Northern European languages as well. (Trey Ratcliff)
