Iceland — Meet in the Middle

“Meet in the Middle!” That’s Iceland’s slogan for promoting conventions. Geologically, it literally is the meeting point for Europe and North America — as this is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates do the bump. Reykjavik is technically part of America, the eastern half of the island is the edge of Europe, and the line down the middle is a fault with plenty of geological indigestion.

Tourists in Iceland are famously jet lagged. You can’t fly in here without having to deal with it. Europeans and Americans face several hours of jet lag, both coming and going. Flying from St. Petersburg to Iceland to Seattle, I was being dealt 4 or 5 hours of jet lag twice. While splitting it seemed like a clever idea, I think I’d rather have nine hours’ worth to adjust to once.

Most farming on Iceland is about raising animals, because grass is about all you can grow on the thin and poor soil. Icelanders are proud of their lamb, fish, dairy products, and horses. There are about 100,000 horses on the island — one for every three people. The Icelandic horse, which has been raised here for a thousand years without mixing with other breeds, is considered the oldest purebred horse anywhere. They’re exported for riding. Once one leaves the island, it’s not allowed to come back.
Most farming on Iceland is about raising animals, because grass is about all you can grow on the thin and poor soil. Icelanders are proud of their lamb, fish, dairy products, and horses. There are about 100,000 horses on the island — one for every three people. The Icelandic horse, which has been raised here for a thousand years without mixing with other breeds, is considered the oldest purebred horse anywhere. They’re exported for riding. Once one leaves the island, it’s not allowed to come back.
Iceland is encircled by the 850-mile-long Ring Road — also known as Route 1 — which was completed in 1974. Ninety-five percent of Icelanders live along this road and the coast. Iceland has peaks rising about 6,500 feet above sea level, and around 10 percent of the land is covered in glaciers.
Iceland is encircled by the 850-mile-long Ring Road — also known as Route 1 — which was completed in 1974. Ninety-five percent of Icelanders live along this road and the coast. Iceland has peaks rising about 6,500 feet above sea level, and around 10 percent of the land is covered in glaciers.
Nature rages powerfully in Iceland.
Nature rages powerfully in Iceland.
Comments

5 Replies to “Iceland — Meet in the Middle”

  1. So the Norse who first arrived in eastern Iceland actually discovered “America” without having to sail all the way to what’s now Nova Scotia!

    It’s sad to hear that Icelandic horces can never go back and visit the Old Country, but at least they’ll never be jet lagged.

    Happy travels.

  2. Western Iceland is on the North America plate, but it is not on the continent of North America.

  3. I was there as a geology graduate student on a field trip >20 years ago. I’ve always dreamed of going back with my family. It was wonderful! There were a some campgrounds with showers and facilities, but generally we camped off road. Are all lands in Iceland still open to the public? I remember we could camp almost anywhere – as long as you could not be seen/or see the road. True “leave no trace” camping. I’m wondering if it’s still that way?

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