Iceland review - 2013, Síða 72

70 ICELAND REVIEW
highs and loWs

The average temperature in Reykjavík
in July is 10.7°C (51.3°F) and -0.6°C
(30.9°F) in January. The highest recorded
temperature in the capital was 25.7°C
(78.3°F) in July 2008 and the lowest
-24.5°C (-12.1°F) in January 1918.
In Akureyri, North Iceland, the aver-
age temperature in July is 10.9°C
(51.6°F) and -0.9°C (28.6°F) in January.
In January 1918 it dropped to -33°C
(-27.4°F), whereas the town’s heat record
lies at 29.9°C (85.8°F), set in July 1911.
ESA
meat and milk

According to the latest figures from 2011,
Icelanders consumed 23.9 kg (52.6 lb) of
chicken per person. Lamb came second
with 19.7 kg (43.4 lb), while pork was the
third most popular meat with 19.4 kg (42.7
lb) per person. Beef was a distant fourth
with 12.7 kg (28.0 lb) and last on the list
was horse meat, of which only 1.7 kg (3.7
lb) was consumed per person last year. We
washed this down with 41,919,197 liters of
milk. In total, not per person. PS
go east

There are 25 museums in East Iceland,
including one of the smallest houses in
the country, the church at Núpsstaður.
Constructed in 1657, it’s also third oldest
building in Iceland. It’s the perfect place to
get married, with room for five guests and
a minister. The surrounding environment,
on the other hand, is big.
As for other old houses in the region, visit
the turf farm Bustarfell in vopnafjörður
and the turf church at Hof, close to
Skaftafell. At Skaftafell, you will also
find the information center for Western
Europe’s biggest national park at the door-
step of vatnajökull glacier. If it’s culture
you’re interested in, Neskaupstaður should
be your first stop in East Iceland. It has
five museums; not bad for a town of 1,488
volleyball-playing inhabitants. PS
PHoToS By Páll StEfánSSon AND gEir ólafSSon
F a c t s &
F i g u r e s
f&f Lamb, vopnafjörður, 10.7°C, Akureyri,
DesignMarch, milk, Núpsstaður, -0.9°C,
beef, February 3, 12.7 kg, Food and Fun.
Winter Cheer

Although one might think Icelanders
were largely stationary during the cold
and dark winter months, this is the season
for cultural activities and winter sports.
Dark Music Days, contemporary music
festival. Reykjavík, January 31-February 3.
Winter Lights Festival/Museum
night, culture festival. Reykjavík,
February 7-10.
Food and Fun, culinary festival.
Reykjavík, February 27-March 3.
DesignMarch, design festival. Reykjavík,
March 14-17.
Aldrei fór ég suður, free music festival.
Ísafjörður, Easter.
AK extreme, winter sports festival.
Akureyri, April 4-7. ESA
Three simple steps
1. You place your order, at least
24 hrs in advance
2. You pick up your products at the
Departure/Arrival store
3. You pay for your products when
you pick them up
Take The Shortcut – Start Your Trip at Home
ORDER &
PICK UP
KEFLAVIK, ICELAND