ith their volcanic victory clap andViking brand of football, the tiny nationof Iceland has entered the hearts ofeveryone who has ever rooted for ‘thelittle guy’. With a mere 330,000inhabitants, the chances of ending up inthe national league for males between20 and 40 years old are a striking one in2,000! But what else can the Nordicnation be proud of, other than theirrecent football exploits? Well, several ofnature’s most spectacular exhibitions,

one of the world’s highest rankings ingender equality and a global example ofsustainable energy.In fact, Iceland had already featured inthe media in 2008 due to its disastrousfinancial breakdown. But even that tooka rapid turn for the good, with bankersbeing jailed, having been heldresponsible for their irresponsibleactions, and an enviable economicrecovery others could only dream off.

Jailed bankersIceland may be a faraway and sparselypopulated country, but it is to beadmired for being the only nation toever put top financial executives behindbars. Spending their days doinglaundry, working out in the jailhousegym, browsing the Internet and goingfor walks amidst stunning scenerymight not be a tough life, but it’s a far

cry from the giddy days when theKaupthing bankers hosted parties forclients aboard luxury yachts in StTropez and Monte Carlo.Kviabryggja Prison in western Icelanddoes not need walls, razor wire, or guardtowers to keep the convicts inside. Alone

on a wind-swept cape, the oldfarmhouse is bound by the frigid NorthAtlantic on one side and fields of snow-covered lava rock on another. To the eastlooms Snaefellsjokull, a dormantvolcano blanketed by a glacier. There isonly one road back to civilisation. »

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ICELANDWith love for the heroic Euro 2016 underdogs exploding across social media like the infamous Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano,it would seem that Iceland has come in from the cold isolation of the Arctic Circle. Dini Martinez explores...

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Top: Glacier lagoonAbove: The spetacular aurora borealis (Northern Lights)Left: The glaciers in Vatnajökull

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«Stunning SceneryFor most visitors, Iceland is not a destination, it is anadventure. In geographic terms, it is a vast mass of basalt lavathat has erupted from a hotspot lying below the Mid-AtlanticRidge. The plates of the crust are moving apart beneath theisland, causing the eruption of many volcanoes and geysers.Landscape-wise this translates into roaring volcanoes, moss-covered lava fields, barren highlands, monolithic glaciers, icymountains and deep, dramatic fjords. The glaciers in

Vatnajökull and Snæfellsnes national parks are popular for iceclimbing, hiking and snowmobiling.Otherworldly vistas of the aurora borealis can often be seenin winter. In summer, the midnight sun shines over the islandof Grimsey, off the northern coast, while the remainder of thecountry experiences a twilight period including two weeks ofcontinuous daylight! In brief, this spectacular Nordic island isa Mecca for photographers and it is no surprise that it hasbecome a favourite filming spot for Hollywood movies! »

Sustainable energyA small country by any standards, Iceland has a highstandard of living, extensive political freedom, and hastaken an active role in sustainable development andcommitment to the environment. Iceland’s presidentOlafur Grimsson travels the world extolling the virtuesof geothermal power which heats the entire capital ofReykjavik and the vast majority of the island’shouseholds. In fact, the sparsely populated country isnow the leading exporter of geothermal expertise tothe rest of the world.A striking 99 per cent of the country’s electricitycomes from renewable sources – a third fromgeothermal and two-thirds from dams. With suchcheap, widely available energy and widespread internetconnection, it is no secret that both Google andMicrosoft have looked at Iceland to feed the enormouspower needs of their massive data centres. Moreover,current efforts are aimed at using the island’s vastsupplies of renewable energy to power its fishing fleetand motor vehicles through conversion to hydrogenfuel.Geothermal waters also promote wellness and energyat one of Iceland’s most visited attractions, the BlueLagoon – an expansive spa landscape with sauna,pools, restaurants and accommodation located in theheart of a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula only 20km from the international airport.

Fishing and WildlifeOther popular tourist activities are fishing andwhale-watching. Historically, Iceland’s economydepended heavily on fishing and whaling and althoughboth still play an economic role, they are declining inimportance. Nevertheless, most rural towns are stillbased on the fishing industry. Closer to land, onemight spot grey seals, harbor seals, puffins, skuas andeven the occasional polar bear visiting on a floatingiceberg from Greenland.

A fewmore peculiaritiesMost Icelanders don’t have a last name.It is most common for everyone to bathe togethernaked in pools and the ocean – even during team-building work events and similar occasions.

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«Rugged cultureIcelandic culture has also been shaped by isolationand the extreme forces of nature. These conditionshave created a resilient people whose family ties areclose, sense of tradition strong, and bond with natureuniquely tight.Cultural enthusiasts will be surprised by thewidespread love of literature in a country whoseliteracy rate is among the highest in the world.Storytelling began as far back as the 10th and 11thcentury with the esteemed Icelandic Sagas, whenEuropean settlers first started to populate the country.Museums around the country celebrate Iceland’s richcultural heritage and tradition. The capital, Reykjavik,offers a renowned nightlife scene as well as the Vikinghistory museums. There are also four active folk danceensembles in the land of fire and ice; strong traditionsin weaving, silver-smithing and wood carving – not tomention its utterly unique and unforgettable cuisine.This includes pickled ram’s testicles, putrefied shark,singed sheep head jam and Brennivin, an Icelandicliquor made from potatoes and caraway.

Top: Volcanic basalt columns in Grimsey Above: The grey seal Below: Puffins

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Top: Snæfellsnes national parks Above: The capital city, Reykjavik Below: The volcanic gem of farmland and wilderness Below right: The island of Grimsey

Despite the cold, the Icelanders love their BBQ yearround.The last mayor of the capital was a stand-upcomedian and had zero political experience prior toassuming office. The current mayor of Reykjavik is adoctor.The national team’s goalkeeper is a filmmaker whodirected the video for the country’s 2012 EurovisionSong Contest entry.And – ending on another football fact after all –almost 10 per cent of Iceland’s population went toFrance to watch their team compete in the 2016 EuroCup.In summary – if there is one – the land of light anddarkness simply defies any kind of definition!

99 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY’SELECTRICITY COMES FROMRENEWABLE SOURCES