Iceland
Wonder of Nature
By A Rahman
It is said Iceland - the land of ice and fire - is Gods latest creation. It is the newest landmass probably formed some 500 million years ago by volcanic activities at the juncture between North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The island is still volcanically and geologically very much active. The latest volcanic eruptions in 2010, which lasted nearly a week, caused the largest disruption in air traffic in Europe since World War II.
As the island is between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans (just south of the Arctic circle) and the nearest landmass is Greenland, some 290 km to the north-west, and the British Island of Shetland, about 750 km to the south, it remained uninhabited until as late as 870 AD. The Norwegian Vikings were the first settlers but could not survive in the vast deserts of ice. What Vikings could not conquer, the Catholic preachers from Norway holding Bibles managed to do so some decades later. The earliest church here was built in the 9th century.
Iceland is the only country in the world that meets all its electricity requirements from renewable sources. Hot springs of boiling water produced by geothermal activities provide not only enough energy to produce electricity for the whole country, but also enough hot water which is pumped hundreds of kilometres away to populated areas to heat homes, shops and factories, as well as hundreds of greenhouses, where vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber, onions and leeks are grown. After running the turbines, the hot water is reused for irrigation, and even for drinking purposes with suitable chemical treatment.
Interestingly, the word geyser _ hot water and steam that spurt out intermittently from the ground _ comes from the name of the place, Geysir, where such a phenomenon was first detected in this country.
The other renewable source of energy here is the waterfall, which is used to produce hydroelectricity. Although at the moment there is no wind turbine, there is plenty of wind energy available, too. It is claimed that Iceland uses hydrocarbon fuels like petroleum for transport purposes only and nothing else. Thus, the countrys carbon footprint is extremely low and may even be the lowest in the world.
Another wonder in Iceland is the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis dawn of the north. These lights occur when electrically charged particles from the Sun bombard the Earths atmosphere. At the magnetic North Pole (as well as at the South Pole) the incoming charged particles ionise oxygen and other gaseous particles at the upper atmosphere making them glow. It is amazing to see various colours of light forming various shapes dancing in the dark night sky. There are large number of myths and legends around these lights from Gods show of anger to His mercy to man; from invasion of evil spirits to the return of dead souls to Earth.
Iceland has one of the highest literacy rates and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world over 42,000 dollars per person per year. The countrys largest foreign exchange earner is the fishing industry. But tourism is fast catching up.
There are so many things to see from northern lights to blue lagoon, from hot springs to waterfalls - tourists are spoiled for choices. However, the cost of a holiday is quite high in Iceland. A reasonably good meal in a Reykjavik restaurant will cost you around $70 per person.
Living in harmony with nature does not mean sacrificing comfort, modern luxuryor the quality of life. The standard of living in Iceland is comparable to any advanced country in the world. Medical services covering all needs are provided free of charge by the state. Safety and security is high. Violent crimes are almost unheard of here.
Now, it seems the contrast between Iceland and Bangladesh could not be sharper. Whereas Bangladesh is over burdened with population, having one of the highest density in the world with over 1,100 people per square kilometre, Iceland, with a population of 330,000, has the lowest with just over 3.2 people per sq km. Whereas Dhaka is perennially clogged up with traffic jams and pollution is endemic, Reykjavik, Icelands capital, has no traffic congestion of any description and the air quality is excellent.
There is one risk though in Iceland in the winter months for the uninitiated visitor. When a pavement or road is uneven with ice, it is perfectly fine as rough surfaces give sufficient grips. But when it is smooth that is when you should worry, the road is enticing you to skate rather than walk and fall flat on your face. So be warned! And I am saying it from my own bitter experience.
The writer is a retired nuclear scientist and a columnist, living in Manchester, UK.
