The word "Iceland" ("Ice Land") was given by a Norwegian viking Flouki
who was among the first visitors of the island. He climbed one of the
mountains in the northern coast, saw icebergs in the fiord and started
to call the new country "Iceland".
Iceland formed as a result of volcanic eruptions that had occured the
last 60 million years. Only Arctic foxes had lived here, later people
broght here deer and cattle. 80 kind of birds nest on the island. So one
of the most popular types of rest in Iceland is watching birds.
In Iceland the farmed land occupies less than 1% of the total country
area and only 5% of active population work in agriculture. The country
has about 6 thousand farms, 80% of them belong to private persons. Sheep
breeding has always been the main field of animal husbandry: in 1996
sheep in Iceland numbered 450 thousand. In summer sheep graze in
pastures of the mountains, in autumn they are gethered in sheep pens,
sorted according to the marks of owners and some of them are
slaughtered. Such a system has been forming during long centuries.
Mutton is the most usual meat in Iceland. It is also exported together
with wool and leather of sheep. Though Icelandic farms have other
animals too.
A little cascade
A cosy place for leisure, in a forest tables for picnics are hidden.
Iceland has few forests, though. There are some reserves Icelanders are
very proud of, almost each tree has a sign with information about it.
Almost no traffic, you may drive for hours and meet nobody...
Bigger waterfall
The sky here is wonderful! It changes very frequently.
Do you see a house with a red roof? Imagine the scale?
Hay on the fields is rolled up in polyethylene, half of the country is studded with such white "peas".
Such transported houses are very popular in Iceland. This one if for 4 persons.
These animals will never come too close to you.
via crimson-zeus
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