Iceland is known as the "Land of Fire and Ice" because of its dramatic landscapes and diverse geographical features. On the one hand, it is a volcanic hotspot with lava fields, black sand beaches and active volcanoes, while on the other, glaciers and vast icy landscape offer contrasting geographical visual and experiential delights. It has something for the young, the old, the intrepid adventurer and the staid traveler.
Iceland is one of the five sovereign Nordic Nations, with the others being Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. 'Nordic' is ancient Scandinavian for 'the Northern Lands'. The Nordic geography extends beyond and includes the Scandinavian peninsula of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Iceland was inhabited in the 9th century AD by Norwegian sailors and Gaelic slaves. The territory was ceded to Denmark in the early 19th century. Iceland gained independence on 17 June 1944.
The flag of Iceland features a blue field with a red Nordic cross outlined in white. The design, which symbolizes Iceland's landscape, was officially adopted when Iceland became a republic in June 1944. The population of the country is less than 4 million in the country with 36 percent living in the highly urbanised capital city of the island nation, Reykjavik. The per capita GDP at PPP is about $70,000, with a balanced distribution of wealth. The Icelandic economy has diversified in the 21st century from the traditional economic activities of fishing and farming to manufacturing, finance and biotechnology.
73 percent of the population profess Christianity as their religion and 25 per cent do not identify themselves with any religion, which is a feature of the Nordic region. The currency is Icelandic krona (ISK); 1 INR is 1.53 ISK, and 1 USD is 129 ISK. On average, Iceland receives around 1.1 million visitors annually, which is more than three times the native population.
The country has no standing army but has a limited coast guard contingent. The official language of the country is Icelandic. Iceland is on a rift between tectonic plates, and its geologic activity includes geysers and frequent volcanic eruptions. About 85 percent of the total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources. Use of abundant hydroelectric and geothermal power has made Iceland the world's largest electricity producer per capita. The tourism sector is expanding, especially in ecotourism and whale-watching.
Iceland has a high level of car ownership per capita, with a car for every 1.5 inhabitants; it is the main form of transport. Iceland has 13,034 km of administered roads, of which 4,617 km are paved. The road speed limits are 30 and 50 kph in towns, 80 kmh on gravel country roads and 90 kmph on hard-surfaced roads. A great number of interior roads remain unpaved, mostly little-used rural roads. Therefore, while renting a car in Iceland it is essential to ensure that the windshield, windows, tyres and sand-ash protection insurance is taken. I did exactly that while reserving an automatic Toyota Aygo for 9 days from Reykjavik Cars.
The Ring Road in Iceland circles the entire country. As a major trunk route, it is considered to be the most important piece of transport infrastructure in Iceland as it connects the majority of towns together in the most densely populated areas of the country. Economically, it carries a large proportion of goods traffic as well as tourist traffic. The total length of the road is 1,322 kilometers, making it the longest ring road in Europe. The road was completed in 1974, coinciding with the 1,100th anniversary of the country's settlement.
Entry for holders of ordinary Indian passport is regulated by the Schengen Visa regime. As I am based in Gandhidham for professional reasons, I could avail of the VFS service in Ahmedabad. Getting an appointment was not difficult for Iceland, while some others like Portugal did not have slots for more than two months later. I timed the submission after 2024 Christmas and the following New Year holidays. I completed the online registration and paid sufficient attention to the checklist to ensure that the submission would be in order. I was done and dusted with the visa application submission within 30 minutes. Enroute to Gandhidham I even got a message that the application had been conveyed to Consulate in Delhi for further necessary action. I was totally unprepared for the Visa approval within 72 hours of submission of the application. The visa stamped passport reached me in Gandhidham in five days flat. I was completely floored, to say the least.
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