Icelandic definition, of or relating to Iceland, its inhabitants, or their language. Patronymic last names are based on the first name of the father, while matronymic names are based on the first name of the mother. [121], Iceland was the neutral host of the historic 1986 Reagan–Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of the Cold War. Smaller stations exist, many of them local. Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. Iceland's principal historical international disputes involved disagreements over fishing rights. Náttfari settled in what is now known as Náttfaravík and he and his slaves became the first permanent residents of Iceland. You can complete the translation of Iceland given by the English-French Collins dictionary with other dictionaries such as: Wikipedia, Lexilogos, Larousse dictionary, Le Robert, Oxford, Grévisse. This article is about the country. [192], The original population of Iceland was of Nordic and Gaelic origin. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responsible for the policies and methods that schools must use, and they issue the National Curriculum Guidelines. Lamb is by far the most common meat, and it tends to be either smoke-cured (known as hangikjöt) or salt-preserved (saltkjöt). [145] An assessment by the OECD 2011[146] determined that Iceland has made progress in many areas, particularly in creating a sustainable fiscal policy and restoring the health of the financial sector; however, challenges remain in making the fishing industry more efficient and sustainable, as well as in improving monetary policy to address inflation. Nevertheless, according to the Economist Intelligence Index of 2011, Iceland has the second-highest quality of life in the world. [149][150] In October 2008, the Icelandic parliament passed emergency legislation to minimise the impact of the financial crisis. Consequently, "it is arguably the world's oldest parliamentary democracy. Pop: 8 407 248 (2003 est). It is now one of the most developed countries in the world. IceLand Meaning In English Check pronunciation: Iceland. They are also responsible for ensuring that the curriculum is suitable so as to make the transition into compulsory education as easy as possible. According to a study published in 2001, 23% of the inhabitants were either atheist or agnostic. The school year lasts nine months, beginning between 21 August and 1 September, ending between 31 May and 10 June. Beginning on 20 May 1944, Icelanders voted in a four-day plebiscite on whether to terminate the personal union with Denmark, abolish the monarchy, and establish a republic. It has become a very popular programme for children and adults and is shown in over 100 countries, including the Americas, the UK and Sweden. The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, where she won the Best Actress Award. It is an ‘International Day’ established by the United Nations to recognize and promote the contribution made by volunteers and voluntary organizations to the wellbeing of people across the globe. In recent times, Iceland has produced many great writers, the best-known of whom is arguably Halldór Laxness, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955 (the only Icelander to win a Nobel Prize thus far). Generally speaking, the south coast is warmer, wetter, and windier than the north. Though this is not an English-Icelandic dictionary, you can search for English words in entries by selecting "Entire entry" from the dropdown menu next to the search box. [207] Consequently, Icelanders refer to one another by their given name, and the Icelandic telephone directory is listed alphabetically by first name rather than by surname. [17] Iceland ranks high in economic, democratic, social stability, and equality, ranking third in the world by median wealth per adult. The largest town outside Greater Reykjavík is Reykjanesbær, which is located on the Southern Peninsula, less than 50 km (31 mi) from the capital. The English word geyser (a sprouting hot spring) derives from the Icelandic hot spring Geysir. Traditional dishes also include skyr (a yoghurt-like cheese), hákarl (cured shark), cured ram, singed sheep heads, and black pudding, Flatkaka (flat bread), dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally baked in the ground in geothermal areas. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to grow colder, resulting in mass emigration to the New World, particularly to the region of Gimli, Manitoba in Canada, which was sometimes referred to as New Iceland. a republic including this island and several smaller islands: formerly Danish; independent since … Iceland is closer to continental Europe than to mainland North America, although it is closest to Greenland (290 km, 180 mi), an island of North America. Geothermally heated outdoor pools are widespread, and swimming courses are a mandatory part of the national curriculum. Your wit from back home likely will not be appreciated everywhere else in the world. Reykjavík is by far the most populous municipality, about four times more populous than Kópavogur, the second one.[71]. About 85 percent of total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources. [241], The national anthem of Iceland is Lofsöngur, written by Matthías Jochumsson, with music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson. [45] In the years following the eruption, known as the Mist Hardships (Icelandic: Móðuharðindin), over half of all livestock in the country died. km). On 31 December 1943, the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union expired after 25 years. Following Naddodd, the Swede Garðar Svavarsson arrived, and so the island was then called Garðarshólmur which means "Garðar's Isle". Gluggaveður (noun) When the weather seems great, when you’re looking through a window from inside, but is actually cold and not so great when you step out without a jacket. A national consciousness arose in the first half of the 19th century, inspired by romantic and nationalist ideas from mainland Europe. Independent music is strong in Iceland, with bands such as múm and solo artists. [143] There is also a value added tax, whereas a net wealth tax was eliminated in 2006. [135] Another Capacent Gallup poll conducted in February 2012 found that 67.4% of Icelanders would reject EU membership in a referendum. Then came a Viking named Flóki Vilgerðarson; his daughter drowned en route, then his livestock starved to death. Iceland is also one of the leading countries in ocean rowing. [210], A considerable portion of the government budget is assigned to health care,[210] and Iceland ranks 11th in health care expenditures as a percentage of GDP[211] and 14th in spending per capita. [242], Iceland's largest television stations are the state-run Sjónvarpið and the privately owned Stöð 2 and SkjárEinn. The vote was 97% to end the union, and 95% in favour of the new republican constitution. Rifle shooting became very popular in the 19th century with the encouragement of politicians and nationalists who were pushing for Icelandic independence. [202], Emigration of Icelanders to the United States and Canada began in the 1870s. The country subsequently became officially Lutheran and Lutheranism has since remained the dominant religion. [31][32], The Norwegian-Norse chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson built his homestead in present-day Reykjavík in 874. [100] Known as the Women's List or Women's Alliance (Kvennalistinn), it was founded in 1983 to advance the political, economic, and social needs of women. According to a 2013 Eurostat report by the European Commission, Iceland spends around 3.11% of its GDP on scientific research and development (R&D), over 1 percentage point higher than the EU average of 2.03%, and has set a target of 4% to reach by 2020. [251], CCP Games, developers of the critically acclaimed EVE Online and Dust 514, is headquartered in Reykjavík. An OECD assessment found 64% of Icelanders aged 25–64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, which is lower than the OECD average of 73%. Iceland's best-known classical works of literature are the Icelanders' sagas, prose epics set in Iceland's age of settlement. It views the database, called Íslendingabók, as a valuable tool for conducting research on genetic diseases, given the relative isolation of Iceland's population. The major towns are the capital city of Reykjavík, along with its outlying towns of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, and Garðabær, nearby Reykjanesbær where the international airport is located, and the town of Akureyri in northern Iceland. [citation needed] Despite the ongoing financial crisis the first new patrol ship in decades was launched on 29 April 2009. Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. (102,820 sq. Area: 126 387 sq km (48 798 sq miles), a group of over 100 islands in the S Atlantic: a UK Overseas Territory; invaded by Argentina, who had long laid claim to the islands, on 2 April 1982; recaptured by a British expeditionary force on 14 June 1982. An island in the Atlantic Ocean north of England. The regent had, for all practical purposes, the position of a president, and Sveinn would later become the country's first president in 1944. Historically, due to cultural, economic and linguistic similarities, Iceland is a Nordic country, and it participates in intergovernmental cooperation through the Nordic Council. Compulsory education, or grunnskóli, comprises primary and lower secondary education, which often is conducted at the same institution. ", "Iceland passes gay marriage law in unanimous vote", "Icelandic parliament votes for EU membership", "Icelanders to get a referendum on joining the EU", "Iceland has a new government, and it could result in the country joining the EU", "2011 Global Peace Index – Methodology, Ethodology, Results & Findings", "Guinness Records Book website (requires log in)", "World's largest Electricity Producer per Capita", "Trade and Economy, Embassy of Iceland, Undated. Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! [56] It was quickly becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world, but was hit hard by a major financial crisis. Iceland is the only country in the world to have a population under two million yet still have a floating exchange rate and an independent monetary policy. [90], The only native land mammal when humans arrived was the Arctic fox,[89] which came to the island at the end of the ice age, walking over the frozen sea. She retired from office in 1996. [201] People from Greenland attempted to set up a settlement at Vinland in North America, but abandoned it in the face of hostility from the indigenous residents. The governments of Iceland have always been coalition governments, with two or more parties involved, as no single political party has ever received a majority of seats in the Althing throughout the republican period. Iceland lies just south of the Arctic Circle, and only about 20 per cent of the land area is habitable. Retrieved 19-6-2012", "Index of Economic Freedom 2008 – Iceland", "Bank default worries slam Iceland's currency", "Nordic countries provide Iceland with new loan", "Iceland's central bank chief David Oddsson is forced out", "Althingi – Report of the Special Investigation Commission (SIC)", "Iceland's special investigation: The plot thickens", Let Banks Fail Is Iceland Mantra as 2% Joblessness in Sight, "Driving in Iceland: Iceland Driving Tips for Visitors – How to Drive in Iceland – Driving Tips for Iceland Travelers – Driving Cars in Scandinavia", "Keflavíkurflugvöllur, Komur og brottfarir, Flugáætlun, Ferðaveður, Bílastæði við Keflavíkurflugvöll – Kefairport.is", "Brottfararstaður Flugstöð Leifs Eiríkssonar", "Airport Shuttle from Keflavik Airport, Iceland - Keflavik International Airport - Kefairport.com", is:Listi yfir ferjur í strandsiglingum á Íslandi, "Gross energy consumption by source 1987–2005", "Statistics Iceland – Statistics " Manufacturing and energy " Energy", "Kárahnjúkar HEP – WEC Executive Assembly 2009", "The GeGaLo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition", "Iceland has the highest per capita CO2 emissions from the economy", "Highest score by the Environmental Sustainability Index (country)", "Iceland Opens First-Ever Offshore Licensing Round", "The United Kingdom and Icelandic Electricity", Gaining from the European Green Drivers|Askja Energy – The Independent Icelandic Energy Portal, "ReadArticle / Mayor Does Not Feel School Should Be Mandatory", "What Students Know and Can Do: Student Performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science 2010", "Research and innovation in Iceland, country profile", "UNESCO science report, 2010: the current status of science around the world; 2010", "Estimating Scandinavian and Gaelic Ancestry in the Male Settlers of Iceland", The eruption that changed Iceland forever, "Iceland: Migration Appears Here Too – IPS", "Europe | Iceland faces immigrant exodus", "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census", "Select a Race, Ethnic, or Ancestry Group", Surnames – Nordic Names Wiki – Name Origin, Meaning and Statistics, The Icelandic Phonebook Surprise|Travel Wonders of the World, Information about the Icelandic Health Care System, World Population Prospects, the 2010 Revision, World Population Prospects The 2006 Revision, "Populations by religious and life stance organisations 1998–2018", "Religion < People and Society < Iceland.is – Gateway to Iceland", "Hvert norðulandamálanna fimm líkist mest frumnorrænu? Garðar departed the following summer but one of his men, Náttfari, decided to stay behind with two slaves. About 8,000 Poles now live in Iceland, 1,500 of them in Fjarðabyggð where they make up 75% of the workforce who are constructing the Fjarðarál aluminium plant. ], in Iceland; several provisions of the constitution appear to give the president some important powers, but other provisions and traditions suggest differently. Polish people make up the largest minority group by a considerable margin, and still form the bulk of the foreign workforce. During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. Many Polish immigrants were also considering leaving in 2008 as a result of the Icelandic financial crisis.[199]. English is widely understood and spoken, while basic to moderate knowledge of Danish is common mainly among the older generations. [144] There was a currency crisis that started in the spring of 2008, and on 6 October trading in Iceland's banks was suspended as the government battled to save the economy. The ridge marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plates, and Iceland was created by rifting and accretion through volcanism along the ridge. [134], A poll released on 5 March 2010 by Capacent Gallup showed that 31% of respondents were in favour of adopting the euro and 69% opposed. The head of government is the prime minister who, together with the cabinet, is responsible for executive government. Learn more. The highest elevation for Iceland is listed as 2,110 m (6,923 ft) at Hvannadalshnúkur (64°00′N 16°39′W). High School precinct in Akureyri. First settled by Norse colonists in the 9th century, Iceland was under Norwegian rule from 1262 to 1380, when it passed to Denmark. [48] A month later, British armed forces conducted Operation Fork, the invasion and occupation of the country, violating Icelandic neutrality. [240] The best known rímur poet of the 19th century was Sigurður Breiðfjörð (1798–1846). [78], With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating, and electricity. The country's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine, Icelandic literature, and medieval sagas. [136], Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, including software production, biotechnology, and finance; industry accounts for around a quarter of economic activity, while services comprise close to 70%. Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Geysir has since grown quieter and does not erupt often. There are a total of 103 registered airports and airfields in Iceland; most of them are unpaved and located in rural areas. [258] Puffin is considered a local delicacy that is often prepared through broiling. Situated at the north end of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it is volcanically active. Capital: Raleigh. English - Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 What you need to know: Certificates regarding COVID-19 that are accepted at the border in Iceland; Instructions for persons under quarantine related to COVID-19; Appropriate housing while in quarantine (17.12.2020) Instructions for persons under isolation related to COVID-19 (04.11.2020) [e][13] The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Lack of arable land also served as an impetus to the settlement of Greenland starting in 986. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. [27], According to both Landnámabók and Íslendingabók, monks known as the Papar lived in Iceland before Scandinavian settlers arrived, possibly members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission. This stage of education is governed by the Upper Secondary School Act of 1996. Iceland has also produced many chess masters and hosted the historic World Chess Championship 1972 in Reykjavík during the height of the Cold War. Contemporary Icelandic painting is typically traced to the work of Þórarinn Þorláksson, who, following formal training in art in the 1890s in Copenhagen, returned to Iceland to paint and exhibit works from 1900 to his death in 1924, almost exclusively portraying the Icelandic landscape. In 1996, the Icelandic parliament passed legislation to create registered partnerships for same-sex couples, conferring nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage. Area: 891 198 sq km (344 092 sq miles), a country in the SW Pacific; consists of the E half of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the W Solomon Islands, Trobriand Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Woodlark Island, and the Louisiade Archipelago; administered by Australia from 1949 until 1975, when it became an independent member of the Commonwealth. Iceland (Icelandic: Ísland; [ˈistlant] (listen))[d] is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, with a population of 356,991[6] and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. [226], In contrast to other Nordic countries, Icelanders place relatively great importance on independence and self-sufficiency; in a public opinion analysis conducted by the European Commission, over 85% of Icelanders believe independence is "very important", compared to 47% of Norwegians, 49% of Danes, and an average of 53% for the EU25.

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