Atlantica - 01.06.2006, Page 109

FACTS ABOUT ICELAND
LAND Iceland is an island of 103,000 km2 (39,756 square miles),
with an average height of 500 m above sea level. Its highest peak, Hvanna-
dalshnúkur, rises to 2,119 m, and over 11 per cent of the country is
covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe.
ENERGY Situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is a hot spot of
volcanic and geothermal activity: 30 post-glacial volcanoes have erupted in
the past two centuries, and natural hot water supplies much of the popula-
tion with cheap, pollution-free heating. Rivers, too, are harnessed to provide
inexpensive hydroelectric power. The electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz.
PEOPLE Out of a population numbering over 300,000, and 75 per cent
live in the capital, Reykjavík, and its neighbouring towns in the southwest.
Keflavík International Airport is located about 50 km from the capital. The
highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most centres of
population are situated on the coast.
LANGUAGE Iceland was settled by Nordic people in the 9th century
– tradition says that the first permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, a
Norwegian Viking who made his home where Reykjavík now stands. The
Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings, although modern Icelandic
has undergone changes of pronunciation and, of course, of vocabulary!
Iceland is alone in upholding another Norse tradition, i.e. the custom of
using patronymics rather than surnames; an Icelander’s Christian name
is followed by his or her father’s name and the suffix -son or -dóttir, e.g.
Gudrún Pétursdóttir (Gudrún, daughter of Pétur). Members of a family can
therefore have many different “surnames,” which sometimes causes confu-
sion to foreigners!
CHURCH The National Church of Iceland, to which 88 per cent of
the population belong, is Evangelical Lutheran. In addition to the many
Lutheran churches in Reykjavík, there is one Roman Catholic Cathedral
in Reykjavik.
TIME In spite of its mid-Atlantic location, Iceland is on Greenwich
Mean Time all year round.
HISTORY In 930, the Icelandic settlers founded one of the world’s
first republican governments; the Old Commonwealth Age, described in the
classic Icelandic Sagas, lasted until 1262, when Iceland lost its independence.
In 1944 the present republic was founded. The country is governed by the
Althingi (parliament), whose members are elected every four years. Four-
yearly elections are also held for the presidency; President Ólafur Ragnar
Grímsson was elected in June 1996 to succeed Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.
The head of state plays no part in day-to-day politics. Prime minister is
Mr. Geir H. Haarde (2006).
ECONOMY The economy is heavily dependent upon fishing. Despite
efforts to diversify, particularly into the travel industry, seafood exports
continue to account for 60 per cent merchandise exports earnings. Yet less
than 10 per cent of the workforce is involved in fishing and fish process-
ing. The travel industry makes up the second-largest industry in Iceland.
The standard of living is high, with income per capita among the best in
the world. The financial sector has been liberalised in recent years. The
economy is service-oriented: two thirds of the working population are
employed in the service sector, both public and private. Iceland is a member
of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic
Area (EEA).
HEALTH Life expectancy, at 81.8 years for women and 77.4 for men,
is one of the highest in the world, and a comprehensive state health-care
system aims to keep it that way.
JULY / AUGUST 2006
HOLLYWOOD MOVIES
V For Vendetta
Date Movie
Ice Age 2
Match Point
The Brothers McMullin (edited)
Take the Lead
Firewall
16 Blocks
Something New
Curious George

TV SHOWS
Dharma and Greg - A Fish Tale
Malcolm in the Middle - Academic Octathalon
The Simpsons - Bart After Dark
The Simpsons - Homer Badman
Murder One - Chapter 23
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Doublemeat Palace
Absolutely Fabulous: Poor
The Office: Judgement
CARTOONS
Baby Looney Toons -- The Sandman is Coming
Disney’s The Little Mermaid - Charmed
Aladdin -- Plunder the Sea

MUSIC VIDEOS
Selected Music Videos
+ SEVERAL AUDIO SELECTIONS
Pop, rock, alternative, children’s, classical,
country, jazz, and top 40.

[Only available on flights to and from Orlando
and San Francisco]
The digEplayer is a convenient handheld device which uses
video-on-demand technology to deliver a spectrum of in-flight
entertainment choices. Get your pick of 8 movies, 4 short subjects,
cartoons, music videos and a range of music from classical to rap.
Unlike traditional in-flight entertainment systems, the state-of-the-art
digEplayer literally puts the choice of what to watch or listen to in
the hands of customers in the form of a device about the size of a
portable DVD player, but with superior audio and video quality.
The digEplayer is only available on San Francisco and Orlando flights.
The player may be rented for $15 in Economy class.
We have limited space onboard so please accept our apologies if
we cannot supply you with a digEplayer.
.
DigEplayer SELECTIONS
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