Iceland is not distinguished by a large species diversity of the animal world. In many ways, this was facilitated by the isolated position island nation. The same fact determined the characteristics of the flora. The latter occupies about a quarter of the country's territory. Among the species diversity, there are both introduced plants and endemics.

The diversity and growth patterns of plant and animal populations are also affected by:

• climate;
• relief;
• short daylight hours in winter (about 5 hours).

Flora of Iceland

Due to the sufficiently cold climate and the landscape, which is dominated by high mountain plateaus and lava fields, the leaders of the flora of Iceland are mosses and lichens. They grow everywhere, on rocks, stones and near geysers.

Also found:

• fern plants;
• club moss;
• seaweed;
• mushrooms;
• various herbs, etc.

The list of plants also includes flowering herbs: polar poppy, round-leaved bellflower, forest mariannik, wild lupins, etc. Lupins have become a real disaster for the Icelandic ecosystem. The plant grows very quickly and its entire fields are no longer a rarity. Wild lupins, in parallel with the growth of their population, are also actively crowding out other plants, threatening mosses and lichens with extinction.

Forests in Iceland are rare. Trees grow on only 1% of the entire territory of the country. Most of them are birches, but birches are a bit unusual. Strong winds affect them, bending the trunks, and forcing them to grow at a great slope.

Coniferous trees are also found in Iceland. They do not belong to naturally growing plants. Local residents planted them on their own, according to the decision made by the local administration.

Animal world of Iceland

During the period of settlement of the territory of Iceland by people, the arctic fox was the only animal that lived on these lands. Subsequently, deer were brought to the territory of the island. This event took place at the end of the 18th century. Around the same time, cows, sheep and horses came to the lands of the island state for the needs of the local population. They are bred and kept as a household to this day.

Small animals and rodents also came to the island from the mainland: minks, rats, mice and foxes.

The world of birds in Iceland is distinguished by a large species diversity. In total there are about 80 species. On the territory of the country in its different regions you can meet: geese, swans, waterfowl, terns, puffins, gulls, etc. Iceland is the only one European country, in which the Barrow duck and Harlequin meet.

Two species of whales and seals are found in the waters off the coast. There are also many species of fish, river and sea, in Iceland. These are trout and salmon, cod and halibut, haddock and sea bass. Rich in water and seafood, such as shrimp.

There are also insects in Iceland, but it is almost impossible to notice them while walking around the island. Hiding from strong winds, they live in secluded places.

The main attraction of Iceland is its nature. Therefore, if you are traveling on your own, it is best to rent an SUV to see as many beauties as possible of this country, charming with its originality.

Acquaintance with the country for most tourists begins with the capital and largest city islands - Reykjavik. You should not spend a lot of time exploring the city's attractions, as the main beauties are located outside the city. One or two days is enough to get to know each other. What to see in Reykjavik? The Lutheran church of Hallgrímskirkja definitely deserves attention (and this is far from the most difficult name in the Icelandic language). The church strikes and at the same time attracts and commands respect with its simplicity. There is no pomposity here. You can just come, sit on a bench and think about something high. There is also the opportunity to attend an organ concert. The organ is also a kind of attraction. The instrument weighs 25 tons and is 15 meters high. For an additional fee, you can climb the church bell tower, from which, at a glance, you can see the city.

After visiting the Lutheran church, take a walk along the northern embankment. From the embankment opens beautiful view Mount Esja, one of the most popular Icelandic female names. Fans of mountain climbing can go to Esya. There are routes of various difficulty levels.

Walking along the embankment, pay attention to an unusual sculpture called the Solar Wanderer. Although the sculpture outwardly resembles the skeleton of a warlike Viking ship, but according to the idea of ​​its creator, it symbolizes progress and movement forward.

Being on the waterfront is impossible not to notice concert hall Harpa - perhaps the most unusual building Reykjavik. The building is somewhat reminiscent of a beehive, its walls are made in the form of multi-colored glass honeycombs.

In the area of ​​​​the same northern embankment, Nautholsvik Beach is located - the only beach in Iceland where you can swim. Don't miss the opportunity to take a dip in the water Atlantic Ocean! This small piece of coast is fed by hot water from a geyser, due to which the water temperature near the coast reaches 14-18 degrees. After seeing all the beauties of Reykjavik, hit the road towards glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and volcanoes. As you move from one attraction to another, stop at one of the moss-covered lava fields. You can take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the moss. Feelings are incredible! It's like walking on a huge quilt, warm and very soft.

On your way, you will surely meet more than once herds of sheep grazing on their own. Summer in Iceland is short, so with the start of the season, the sheep are released to pasture so that they gain weight. Incredibly, it is a fact that there are several times more sheep on the island than people. There is also a high chance of meeting horses. True, there are not as many of them in the country as sheep. Icelandic horses are a special breed, characterized by small stature, stockiness and high endurance. It is worth noting that the Icelanders are very protective of this breed and do not allow it to mix with others. There is even a law according to which it is forbidden to import horses of other breeds into the country.

Glaciers of Iceland

Iceland is quite adapted for independent tourism. Along the road you will see a lot of signs pointing to any natural attraction. By the end of the title, you can guess what awaits you ahead. For example, "jokull" is a glacier. The Mirdals glacier, where my friends and I found ourselves, just turning off the road following the sign with the name ending in “jokull”, turned out to be completely different from the glaciers that my imagination had drawn. From afar, it looked like just a gray-black mountain. The fact is that in 2010 in Iceland there was an eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, and because of the settled volcanic ash, the glaciers acquired such an unusual “dirty” color. However, if you go into the crevice of the glacier, you can please the eye with amazing color transformations: from gray at the top to white, turning into pale blue, at the bottom. It's worth seeing.

Three of the most interesting waterfalls

Iceland has countless waterfalls. I will focus on three of them, truly majestic and beautiful:

1. Gullfoss (translated as "Golden Waterfall"). Stunningly beautiful two-level waterfall. Powerful streams of the Khvitau River fall with a roar from a height of 32 meters (11 meters upper level and 21 meters lower) into a canyon, the depth of which reaches 70 meters.
2. Seljalandsfoss. This 60-meter handsome man is located on the picturesque slopes through which the Hamragardar River flows. It is known for the fact that due to the indentation in the rock, the waterfall can be seen from all sides.
3. Skogafoss. Located on the river Skogau. This is one of the largest waterfalls in the country. Its height is 60 meters, width - 25 meters. To the place where the river begins its fall, is laid hiking trail, having descended from which (of course, observing all precautions) you can take fascinating photos on the edge of a cliff against the backdrop of a waterfall.

Most famous place in Iceland, where you can see geysers - the Haudakalur valley. There are about forty of them here, including the famous Geysir (translated as “Big Geyser”), from which the name of all hot springs came from. In our time, Geysir erupts less frequently than before, only a few times a day, and may even calm down for an indefinite period. Other famous hot spring valleys of geysers - Strokkur geyser. It erupts every five to ten minutes. If you are wearing good waterproof clothing, even standing behind the fence, at a safe distance, you can experience the power of falling on the ground and already slightly cooled streams of water spewed by this geyser.

Vicinities of Krafla volcano

The center of volcanic activity in Iceland is Krafla volcano. A hiking trail has been laid along the foot of the volcano, from which you can see pools of bubbling mud and “enjoy” the warm sulfuric aroma that they exude. As for the landscapes in the vicinity of the volcano, they are simply unearthly: turquoise-milk puddles of water on the cracked earth in all shades of yellow and brown.

Iceland in some unthinkable way combines on its territory the cold of glaciers, the melt water of which feeds waterfalls, and the heat of volcanoes and geysers. I told only about a small part of the beauty of this wonderful country because beauty is synonymous with the incredible, pristine nature of Iceland.

Iceland is a small capitalist state in the northwest. Europe. Occupies the island of Iceland, located in the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of 960 km from Norway, 820 km from Scotland and 260 km from Greenland (Denmark Strait). Coordinates extreme points: 63°23` and 66°33` N. latitude, 13°W1` and 24°30` W. e. The area of ​​Iceland is 103 thousand km2. Population 150 thousand people. The capital is Reykjavik.

Total length coastline Iceland ca. 6 thousand km. On S.-W. (Northwestern peninsula), north and east coasts are high, fjord-like (the bays of Hunaflowi, Eyjafjord, and Seydisfjord); in the south, low-lying lagoons; at 3. the large bays of Faxaflow and Brady Fjord (the latter with skerries) protrude. Fjords and large bays are formed by faults and the work of Quaternary glaciers.

The surface of Iceland is a plateau 400-600 m high, almost from all sides abruptly breaking off to the sea shores. Higher plateaus and rows of conical and shield-shaped volcanic rocks rise in ledges on the plateau. mountains 1200-2000 m high.

Landforms in Iceland

In geological terms, Iceland is a young country, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions over the past 60 million years (which corresponds to the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods in the history of the Earth). The most ancient parts of the country are located in the west, north and east. It is predominantly a plateau composed of ancient basalt lavas. The plateau-like character of the surface is best preserved in the northwest, while in the east and north of the central part of the island, the relief acquires an alpine appearance. A vast zone stretches across the country from north to southwest, mainly filled with palagonite tuffs and breccias, which were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.

A large number of volcanoes are confined to this zone, as well as to the Snaefellsnes region in the west, of which 20 erupted after the settlement of the country. Almost every type of volcano found on Earth is represented in Iceland. The most characteristic are the chains of craters that arose as a result of eruptions along cracks and faults. In 1783, during the eruption of a volcano of this type, Laki, located southwest of Vatnajökull, the largest lava flow observed on Earth in historical times was formed. It covered an area of ​​570 sq. km. To the southwest of Vatnajökull is the volcano Hekla, which erupted in 1947 and 1970. As a result of an underwater eruption, the small island of Surtsey appeared off the southwestern coast of Iceland in 1963. In 1973, during a volcanic eruption on the island of Heimaey, the population of the city of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated.

Hot springs are closely related to volcanic activity and are dispersed throughout the country (there are more than 250 of them). Fields of sulphurous fumaroles (solfatars) are confined only to areas of young volcanism. Of the gushing springs, the most famous is the Big Geyser, whose name has become a household name for all such formations. Energy is widely used in Iceland thermal springs. 85% of the population lives in houses heated by their waters. Besides, warm water served in numerous greenhouses and swimming pools.

The coastline of Iceland is approx. 5 thousand km. In the northwest, north and east, the rocky shores are dissected by numerous bays, fjords and islands. Hook-shaped pebble spits enter the inner parts of many fjords, which protect natural harbors from storms blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal cities and towns are often located on such spits. Southwestern and southern shores Iceland - sandy, leveled; there are no natural harbors.

Ice caps and other glaciers cover an area of ​​11,900 sq. km. The largest of the ice caps, Vatnajökull with an area of ​​8300 sq. km, located in the southeast of Iceland. Here is located highest point the country of Hvannadalshnukur (2119), which is the raised edge of the caldera of the Eraivajokull volcano. Other major ice caps are Hofsjokull and Langjokull in the interior of the island and Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull in the south (covering active volcanoes).

Due to the abundance of precipitation in Iceland, there are many rather large rivers, but they are not navigable. To the south of Vatnajökull, the rivers branch into branches, often changing their position. This is a major barrier to transport. During subglacial volcanic eruptions and when ice dams on periglacial lakes break, huge masses of melt water cause rapid floods on rivers. The largest lakes in Iceland are Thingvadlavatn and Tourisvatn.

Geological structure of Iceland

The geological structure of Iceland is determined by volcanic. the origin of the island. The most ancient rocks are basalts, which erupted in the middle of the Tertiary period. Somewhat later, huge masses of palagonite volcanics formed. breccia. During the entire Quaternary period, the outpouring of basaltic lavas continued. In some places there are layers of clay with the remains of Tertiary plants and numerous petrified tree trunks, indicating the existence of large forests on the island in the Tertiary period. Pliocene marine deposits are known in the north. large area(6700 km) are occupied by lava (basalt) fields, including the lava desert Oudadah-rhein (3400 km2). In Iceland, there are more than 140 volcanoes of various types (crater series, shield, stratovolcanoes, mud, underwater, etc.), of which 26 are active.

Rectilinear rows of volcanic are characteristic. cones and domes associated with large cracks in the earth's crust. The Laki fissure, which opened in 1783 and erupted huge masses of lava, has a length of over 30 km. Most of the volcanoes are located in a wide strip extending from the southwest. in the north-east, in the middle of the country. The largest and famous volcanoes Iceland: Hvannadalshnukur (2119 m) on the glaciated massif Eraiva-Jokul in the southeast. islands; Hekla (1447 m), one of the most active volcanoes in the country; Askya (1412 l") with a huge crater to the east. outskirts of the lava desert Oudadahrein. Earthquakes are quite frequent in India. Volcanic eruptions eject a lot of loose volcanic matter. material. Volcanic. the ashes are carried to the shores of Scotland and Scandinavia, and the meadows valuable to Iceland fall asleep on the island. Especially a lot of ash is thrown out during the explosions of subglacial volcanoes, when massive melting of glaciers occurs and mud flows rush to the neighboring plains, carrying huge blocks of ice to the sea. From volcanic activities are also associated with gas outlets, hot springs (sulfuric, carbonic, etc.) and mud lakes. The most famous is the Big Geyser.

Climate in Iceland

The climate of Iceland is cold maritime (Cfc classification), according to Alisov it also qualifies as maritime subarctic. However climatic conditions softened by the North Atlantic current, passing along the southern and western coasts of the island. The weather is influenced by air masses from the Arctic and oceanic waters from the tropics and subtropics. The climate of Iceland is also influenced by arctic drift ice, which often accumulates near the northern and eastern shores islands in winter in early spring, bringing a decrease in temperature and a decrease in precipitation.

The weather is windy, changeable all year round, drizzle and light rains are frequent, snow often falls in winter and spring. Thunderstorms and heavy showers are rare. Annual rainfall ranges from about 500 mm in Akureyri to over 1500 mm on the Vestmannaeyjar Islands. Wind speed in Iceland averages 18-20 m/s, in a storm it can exceed 50 m/s. Winter in Iceland for 60 northern latitudes is mild, average temperature around 0°C. In summer, the average temperature is about +10 °C. In the mountainous inland regions, it is much colder at any time of the year. Due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, the island has nights in summer and days in winter are extremely short.

Soils and flora of Iceland

The soils of Iceland are partly mineral, of the loess type, partly marshy, enriched in mineral material derived from volcanic ash, and partly eolian silty and sandy. Less than 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with vegetation (against 2/3 during the settlement of the country 1100 years ago). The vast interior plateaus are almost completely devoid of vegetation. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and grasses. Woody plants until recently occupied only 1% of the area. These are mainly birches, usually having twisted trunks due to strong winds. In recent years, significant plantations of coniferous species have been created in places.

Animal world of Iceland

The species composition of the Icelandic fauna is poor. During the settlement of the country there was only one species of land mammals - the arctic fox. At the end of the 18th century reindeer were introduced. In addition, mice, rats and mink were accidentally introduced to the island. In Iceland, approx. 80 kinds of birds. On the mountain lakes and the rivers are inhabited by many swans, ducks and geese, and on the sea coast, gulls, terns, etc. are common. Trout is found in the lakes, and salmon in the rivers. Two species of seals and some species of whales are found in coastal waters. There are places for feeding and spawning of fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut, and shrimp.

Population of Iceland

The self-employed population is 106 thousand people, of which 36% are employed in the village. x-ve, 21% - in fishing, 18% - in industry and crafts, 15% - in trade and transport, 10% - others. National composition homogeneous: St. 90% of Icelanders are descendants of Scandinavians who speak Icelandic. Danes, Norwegians and others also live in the country. The average population density is approx. 1.5 people per 1 km2. About 60% of the inhabitants are concentrated in the southwest. parts of the country.

Settlements are located arr. along the coast and deep in the fjords. In the central part of the island there are only single "yards" (20-30 people each); the majority live in cities and fishing villages. In the capital of Iceland - Reykjavik, approx. 1/3 of the population of India, other significant points are Akureyri, Hafnarfjordur, Siglufjordur, Kuypstadur (Vestmannaeyjar).

Translated from the Old Norse "Iceland" means "ice country". So the island was called by the first settlers who moved here from the Scandinavian Peninsula in the middle of the 9th century.

But contrary to its name and geographic location Iceland is located at the very Arctic Circle - it is by no means an Arctic country.

The Icelanders are lucky - the coast of their country is washed by the Gulf Stream, which carries warm tropical waters from the Gulf of Mexico to the north.

But eternal ice Iceland still has it. Ice fields cover central regions islands occupied by a plateau that rises almost two thousand meters above sea level.

There are many fans to ride on this Icelandic off-road. They even created their own club. Christian is one of its members.

Christian:
- We all have four-wheel drive jeeps. We modernize them - we strengthen the suspension, put wheels with variable tire pressure. I put a lot of effort and money into mine until I brought it to the right conditions.

SUV lovers have their own base. The chairman of the club, Arn, showed me a modernized car capable of driving through the deepest snowdrifts.

Arn:
- On such cars they put very large wheels. The air pressure in the chambers is very low. With such wheels, an SUV presses on the snow much weaker than a person with their feet.

Arn suggested that I see for myself. It turned out that for this you need to put your hand under the wheels of the jeep. I really didn't feel any pain.

The glaciers of Iceland, of course, are not only a huge testing ground for various exotic equipment. They feed the mountain rivers.

And besides, not a single European country can boast of such an abundance of waterfalls - there are several hundred of them in Iceland.

Iceland has only three sunny days a year. Therefore, only when the golden threads of the rainbow appear above the Goldfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall, you begin to understand why it was called that.

The sea and mountains, glaciers and waterfalls - the Icelanders inhabited all this with the spirits of nature, aesir gods and formidable giants.

Icelanders remained faithful to their ancient gods longer than other Scandinavian peoples. But in the thousandth year, the Norwegian king, whose power extended to the island, demanded that they accept Christianity. Supporters of the old and new faiths could not agree with each other. Then they decided that it would be as the wise law-speaker Thorgeir would say.

He retired to a solitary place, where he spent the day in meditation. Returning, Thorgeir announced that Iceland should adopt the Christian faith. He himself was immediately baptized, and threw the statues of pagan gods into a waterfall on the nearest river.

At the end of the 10th century, the pagans symbolically said goodbye to their ancient religion by throwing columns with images of the gods into the waterfall. Time and water swallowed up another story, and the waterfall acquired a name - Divine.

Since the 17th century, Lutheranism, one of the varieties of Protestantism, has been established in Iceland. The interior decoration of Protestant churches is characterized by simplicity, bordering on asceticism... No wall paintings and icons, the veneration of which Protestants consider idolatry...

The only luxury is an organ or harpsichord, to the accompaniment of which the faithful perform psalms in chorus during the service.

But on the other hand, the architectural appearance of Icelandic churches is striking in its diversity. There are also modest wooden buildings, as if descended from a 17th-century painting. And absolutely free modernist fantasies ...

Recently, traditional Lutheranism has a rival: a new paganism - Asatru. The modern Icelandic pagans chose the place for the performance of their rituals not by chance.

Thingvellir is a cult and historical Center Iceland. The first meetings of the Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, were held here. This parliament can be considered the first in Europe.

In modern prosperous Iceland, the worship of ancient pagan deities is rather a hobby after all. It is unlikely that even among the newly-minted pagans there are those who believe that a volcanic eruption or an earthquake is a punishment sent by angry gods.

And shakes here often. Iceland is a tectonic fault, so it is characterized by high volcanic activity.

In 1996, the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest in Europe, exploded. Liquid magma and boiling water rushed to the sea, carrying huge blocks of ice with them and crushing everything in their path.

Picturesquely protruding from the stones, a mangled piece of metal is by no means a figment of the fantasy of a modern Icelandic sculptor. This is all that remains of the bridge that once connected the banks of the Skivirau River.

Iceland's glaciers are several hundred thousand years old. They are moving - slowly sliding towards the sea. It's warmer here than upstairs, so the ice starts to melt.

The dark gray coating on the ice floes is by no means industrial soot. In terms of ecology, Iceland is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. This is the volcanic ash that has settled on the ice fields during numerous eruptions.

Huge pieces of ice, breaking off from the glacier, form icebergs. They, of course, are far from giant ice blocks, whose birthplace is Antarctica or Greenland. But still, they go under water about thirty meters. Looking at the surface, it's hard to believe.

Volcanoes cause more than just trouble for Icelanders. The earth here in many places is so hot that you can, for example, bake bread in it. You bury a form with dough in a shallow hole - and you don’t need to do anything else. After a couple of hours, the loaf is ready.

One of the manifestations of volcanic activity is geysers. There are a lot of valleys and fields of geysers in Iceland. The very word "geyser", by the way, is of Icelandic origin. It is derived from the verb meaning "gush".

Today, the most active on the island is the Strokkur geyser. At intervals of six to eight minutes, a column of water, steam and sand breaks out of it to a height of twenty meters. Many streams flow from this geyser, the water in the streams smells of sulfur, however, like all the water here.

Icelandic geysers are not only a fascinating attraction for tourists. Geothermal sources - the main thing natural wealth countries. Eighty-five percent of Icelanders live in houses heated by them. This means that there is no need to burn oil products. From which both the treasury and the environment benefit greatly.

This unique thermal plant heats the whole of Reykjavik - the city where almost half of the population of Iceland lives. Pipes with gratuitous, coming from the bowels of the earth, steam and boiling water stretch to it along the hills.

They are sent to special heat exchangers, where they give off heat to ordinary tap water. She comes into the house.

Underground heat is also used for numerous greenhouses and greenhouses. The most exotic flowers and fruits are grown in them. And this is at the very arctic circle.

Iceland, for example, does not import bananas - its greenhouses are quite enough. Some greenhouses are essentially parks. One of these parks with tropical plants is called "Eden". Residents of the capital come here to breathe in the warm southern air and stay among the greenery for at least a short time. Indeed, outside the greenhouse, even in summer, you will not see it everywhere. There are practically no trees in Iceland.

Once forests covered three quarters of the island, but now - barely one hundredth of it. The first Icelandic settlers are to blame for this. When their fields were exhausted, they burned new areas of the forest and sowed barley on them. Gradually, the forests on the island disappeared, and today soil erosion is one of the main problems of the country.

But the lack of forests worries mainly the Icelanders themselves. To the eye of a visitor, the moss-covered hilly wastelands with formidable rocks towering above them are wonderfully beautiful.

2.9k (53 in a week)

The unusual and harsh nature of Iceland can fascinate any tourist. Here you can find a lot of exciting things - active volcanoes and powerful waterfalls, raging geysers and endless glaciers. Weather conditions can be very varied. During the day you can see all four seasons, which succeed each other. Here you can meet huge icebergs and glacial lakes, rain and sun, wind and snow. Not without reason, Iceland is considered the arena of the eternal struggle between heat and cold.
The nature of the island is extremely vulnerable, therefore locals she is protected in every way. Rare bird species that can only be seen in Iceland live in close proximity to people. The vast expanses of the islands are empty, so for the birds there is real freedom and expanse. Even some species of birds fly from the south pole of the earth almost to its northern part, which indicates favorable conditions for them on the island, which makes the inhabitants of the state very happy. For almost three decades, birds have chosen one of the islands - Surtsey, which rose from the bottom of the ocean. Thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the territory of the island is covered with grass, many representatives of the animal world live there, and bird nests are also located. This amazing area has been declared nature reserve which is not allowed to visit. Unfortunately, this unique place decreases in size due to its absorption by the ocean, but no one knows how long it will continue to exist. Among the representatives of other animals of Iceland, on the island you can meet reindeer and polar bears that live in the vast expanses of glaciers.
The Scandinavian island has practically no forests, but nevertheless, its nature is charming and beautiful. The vegetation of Iceland is not distinguished by its diversity, most of the territory is occupied by stony placers, large lichens and mosses. Extensive meadows covered with cereal crops are common, you can find beautiful birch groves and peat bogs.
The wildlife of the island is carefully protected. For this four national parks, many natural monuments and reserves. Agricultural territories occupy a small area, most of them are defined as pastures.

Estimate!

Rate it!

10 0 1 1 Read also:

Comment.

	10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0
Your name (optional):
Email (optional):