About Iceland
Iceland is a geothermal hotspot with many volcanoes, such as, Hekla, Eldgjá, Herðubreið & Eldfell. It lies on the mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. In other words, Iceland is like a bridge between 2 continents. Iceland also has many geysers, including the famous Strokkur, which erupts every 8–10 minutes. The geothermal and hydropower provide all of Iceland’s electricity and about 85% of the total energy consumption. Tourism is the largest industry in Iceland, and it’s one of the most tourist-dependent countries on earth. So, I love supporting this industry with my tourism and Iceland Travel Guides below.
A wonderful way to explore Iceland is by the Ring Road or Route 1. This road encircles Iceland and connects with most the major towns and attractions. It’s approximately 1,332 km or 830 miles long.
Iceland’s climate is subarctic, with the North Atlantic Current keeping temperatures higher than most places at the same latitude. Moreover, the coasts remain ice-free in the winter months, with more snowfall in the north than south. Overall, the temperatures remain in the daytime highs of 30’s in the winter and 50’s in the summer. Reykjavik is the capital with about 150,000 people. The population of the entire island is about 350,000.
Iceland has three national Parks. Þingvellir National Park is just 45 minutes from Reykjavik, where the continental rift zones exist for the North American and Eurasian plates. It has lava gorges and a 10 km wide rift valley. Also, the Icelandic parliament was founded there in 930. Snæfellsjökull National Park is in the western part of the country. It is the only park that reaches the shoreline and holds the maritime history of Iceland since the time of settlement in Medieval times. Vatnajökull National Park is one of the largest national parks in Europe and includes Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.
