ICELAND: Outdoor Scenery

So, to start our trip around the world, I would like to visit a country that has always intrigued me: Iceland. Iceland is an island country located in northern Europe. It was settled by the Nordics in the 9th century, and the official language, Icelandic, is still very similar to that spoken by the Vikings. Iceland has a population of about 320,000 people, and most of those who live in the country live near the coast. The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik; almost half of the population lives in this city and the towns surrounding it. 

Iceland has gorgeous scenery, and I would like to spend some of our time in this beautiful country exploring the unique outdoor adventures this nation has to offer. One thing that makes Iceland's environment unique is how much of the country is covered in glaciers. In fact, more than ten percent of the country is glaciated. We cannot leave Iceland without taking a glacier tour. These tours allow  tourists to explore the glaciers and see the beautiful scenery of Iceland.

Iceland is also well known for its volcanoes. This is especially true after the eruption of one of its volcanoes in 2010, which interrupted air travel in much of Europe due to the ash that was released. There are 30 active volcanoes in Iceland, and 13 of them have erupted in the past 2,000 years. Iceland is also well known for its hot springs; hot springs are bodies of water that are generally 6.5 degrees Celsius or more above air temperature. While we're visiting this beautiful country, we must take some time to bathe in the hot springs. Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's most well known hot springs, and many tourists enjoy swimming there while visiting the country. The volcanoes and hot springs, while a great part of Iceland's scenery and tourism, are also an important of the energy supply. Iceland harnesses the energy from volcanic energy, natural hot water supplies, and rivers, and it uses this clean and renewable energy to supply the island with about 80% of all its energy needs.

Iceland's scenery is gorgeous and very different from other countries we will be visiting. I hope you enjoyed our time relishing in the natural beauty this country has to offer!