Iceland review - 2014, Page 6

4 ICELAND REVIEW
When the odometer was exactly at 300 km (186
miles) I met the third car of the day since starting
my journey from Egilsstaðir, East Iceland, heading
north, in mid-December. What I had seen was
white land, icy roads, and no one—for five hours.
In mid-winter, Iceland is alien land with less
than four hours of daylight; twenty of darkness.
I always forget how dark Iceland is in December,
even though the darkness arrives at the same time
every year, with no exceptions.
And the light comes back in late January with
the migrated tourist; one million people are
expected to visit Iceland this year.
Half a century ago, tourists numbered less than
20,000 per year; the year this magazine was
founded, (see page 44).
Two centuries ago, there were almost no tourists,
except for one English botanist, neither noble nor
wealthy: William Jackson Hooker, who came here
in the summer of 1809, and encountered a
remarkable dress, (see page 30).
Eighty years ago, another Englishman, the noble
poet W.H. Auden, traveled to Iceland and wrote an
account of his visit. It seems that nothing has
changed; at least when it comes to how we behave
and how we manage our economy, (see page 40).
Today, we have to look further than a wall of an
ice cave, with its walls made of snow that fell on
Vatnajökull glacier 800 years ago, (see page 22).
We have to look further up, all the way to the
Arctic region, where Iceland’s next great
opportunities might lie, (see page 36).
Or just do as I did; head to Northeast Iceland,
have a glass of water and find something different.
A lone road, a single bird and the northern Arctic
Ocean, blue as a black night.
Páll Stefánsson
ps@icelandreview.com
AnnuAl subscription (worldwide) usd 50 or equivalent in other currencies.
The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Submissions should be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope
and an international money order to cover postage, if return is required. No articles in this magazine may be reproduced elsewhere
in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher. ISSN 0019-1094. Iceland Review (ISSN:0019-1094) is published
five times per year by Heimur hf. in Iceland and distributed in the USA by SPP 75 Aberdeen Road Emigsville PA 17318-0437.
Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville PA. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Iceland Review P.O. BOX 437 Emigsville PA
17318-0437.
publisher Benedikt Jóhannesson
Head office
Heimur hf.
Borgartún 23, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tel: (+354) 512 7575
icelandreview@icelandreview.com
Printed in Iceland by Oddi
EDITOR
Páll Stefánsson
DEPUTY AND
fEATUREs EDITOR
Ásta Andrésdóttir
DEsIGN
Erlingur Páll Ingvarsson
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERs
Deb Smith
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir
Goddur
Halldór Lárusson
Haraldur J. Hamar
Harpa Björg Birgisdóttir
Heiðar Guðjónsson
Júlíana Björnsdóttir
Mica Allan
Zoë Robert
CONTRIBUTING
PhOTOGRAPhERs
Áslaug Snorradóttir
Helgi Arason
Howard Coster
Ólafur Magnússon
RAX
Valgarður Gíslason

WEB EDITORs
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir (on leave)
Zoë Robert
COPY EDITORs
Julie Ingham
Zoë Robert
PRODUCTION
Erlingur Páll Ingvarsson
COLOR PRODUCTION
Páll Kjartansson
ADVERTIsING sALEs
Helga Möller
Sunna Mist Sigurðardóttir
Sverrir H. Geirmundsson
Advertising Sales sunna@heimur.is
For daily news from Iceland:
icelandreview.com
Iceland
RevIew
atlantIca
From
the editor p
h
o
to
B
y
R
A
X
Hotel Rangá is the only four star luxury resort in
South Iceland and the perfect base to explore the area’s
many attractions and natural wonders all year round
Aurora Adventure Events Gourmet Luxury Romance
Hotel Rangá 851 Hella Tel. +354 487 5700 Fax +354 487 5701 hotelranga@hotelranga.is www.hotelranga.is
Hotel Rangá offers 51 luxurious and cozy rooms, including the seven uniquely designed
and decorated World Pavillion suites. Renowned gourmet restaurant on site.
Only 96km from the Reykjavik capital area.