Iceland are very creative and technologically advanced,
and they have managed to harness the energy of their
natural resources. They have built a power station
which collects and uses the natural geothermal heat
produced under the ground to meet the energy needs
of the island. The Icelanders have also used geothermal
heat for open-air swimming pools and spas, where
people can enjoy a dip in the relaxing thermal water.
Plus, these thermal spas are famous for their numerous
health benefits. So, who wouldn’t want to indulge in a
stay at one of them? Naturally, I had made a reservation
at one of the most popular spas, and it was an experience
I will never forget!
!
60
65
70
75
80
85
What I found most difficult to get used to was the lack
of daylight. You see in Iceland for two to three months
of the year, there is continuous daylight, but from
November to January there is an intensely dark period
with only 2 to 3 hours of daylight per day. However, the
breathtaking experience of seeing the Aurora Borealis,
or Northern Lights, made up for this state of almost
total darkness. This is a spectacular sight which you can
admire especially well in Iceland on cold, clear nights
from September to March. The sky lights up with many
different colours caused by the interaction of particles
from the sun with the earth’s magnetic field.
About four fifths of the population of Iceland live near
the capital, Reykjavik, and the surrounding coastal
areas. The Icelanders are not characterised only by
high standards of living and a high level of technology
and education. Their culture is very rich with strong
traditions in literature and art. Reykjavik has an annual
cultural event every third week in August which attracts
about 100,000 people from all over the world. This
event offers numerous exciting types of entertainment,
such as art exhibitions, fairs and fireworks displays. Of
course, throughout the year visitors can participate in
a variety of fun activities. I myself particularly enjoyed
riding on a famous Icelandic pony, river rafting, whale
watching and hiking on glaciers.
Iceland is a land of contrasts and quite a unique place
not only in terms of geographical features. The wild
Icelandic landscape invites the adventurous traveller,
and the Icelandic people set an example with their
environmentally-friendly policies.