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Background:
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants
during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts
the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,
established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland
was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from
the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy
and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century,
20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada
and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in
1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy,
longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world
standards.
Economy
- overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic,
yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing
subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution
of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except
for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily
on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings
and employs 12% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive
to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world
prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum,
and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the
budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing,
containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies,
diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries.
The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily
because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their
fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying
into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade,
and new developments in software production, biotechnology,
and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector
is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and
whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001
at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment
of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and inflation
dropped back from 5% to 2%.
For more
information please visit:
CIA
World Factbook
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Articles:
Thingvellir
Iceland's only World Heritage Site
by Seb Jay
Thingvellir
- Iceland's only World Heritage Site
Situated
on the floor of a giant geological rift in the Southwest corner
of Iceland is Thingvellir National Park. Taking the form of
a natural amphitheatre, Thingvellir is a stunningly beautiful
place that sees the North Atlantic Ridge carve its way northwards
across the island. But it is not only on the strength of the
area's outstanding natural beauty that Thingvellir is listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No, there's a lot more to Thingvellir
than meets the eye!
The
World's First Parliament
In
930AD the people of Iceland chose this protected location as
the venue for a gathering of Icelandic chieftains. The gathering
resulted in the establishment of the world's first parliament
where tribal representatives came to settle differences through
diplomacy and (mostly) peaceful initiatives. Named as the Althing,
this open-air assembly ran for a two-week period every year.
Representatives would journey from all over Iceland to put their
cases forward to the Althing, helping to shape the laws of Iceland
through the ages.
Fragments
of stone and turf booths on which representatives took their
places can still be seen within the park today. To get a good
overview of the area where the assembly once gathered visitors
should climb the nearby cliff of Logberg. It is from here where
some of the most influential members of parliament would have
addressed the assembly.
Getting
to Thingvellir
Thingvellir
is 31km east of the capital Reykjavik. International travellers
should fly into Reykjavik airport and pick up a hire car. From
the airport it is advisable to travel eastwards on route 41
towards Reykjavik and then pick up route 36 towards Thingvellir
National Park. Car hire can be booked in advance for pick up
from the airport at http://www.your-carhire.com
About the Author
Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination
of web content for
http://www.your-carhire.com
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