Current and Future Issues

Whaling:
Whaling is a large problem for Iceland, and throughout the 20th century, Iceland has experienced periods of legal and illegal whaling. Currently whaling is legal, however groups like the INCA (Iceland Nature Conservation Association) are petitioning for whaling to become illegal. However the fisherman claim that Iceland's waters hold too many whales, and they get in the way of fishing.

Volcanoes:

Volcanic eruptions occur frequently in Iceland and in 2010 there was a massive eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.

Glacial Outburst Floods:

Glacier outburst floods occur when a subglacial lake is unveiled by the movement or melting of a glacier. These floods can reach outstanding speeds and have destroyed roads and bridges.

Desertification:
Believe it or not, Iceland has a growing desert region due to the soil erosion by glacial floods, volcanic ash, logging, and animal grazing. This desertification is leading to a shrinking amount of arable land.

http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/84?cid=59&terms=iceland

Econmic Activities(Including Level of Developments)

Currency: ISK
Unemployment: 16%
GDP per Capita: $38,000
73% Service
72.2% Industry
4.8% agriculure
Industries: Fish processing, aluminum smeltin,g geothermal/ hydro power, tourism,
exports- $5.3 billion
imports- $ 4.49 billion
Since there is no standing military of Iceland and strong Western European Influences Iceland was able to become one of the most developed countries.
Development of geothermal energy had reduced the usage of fossil fuels.
Increased in volcanic dusts had lead to desertification, leading to low percent of agriculture.

Government System

Iceland is a republic made up of 3 branches of government

Legislature Branch: The president and the Althing ( a unicameral Parliament) make all legislature decisions.

Judiciary Branch: Consists of a 6 panel Supreme Court which overviews the rest of the courts in Iceland.

Executive Branch: A president is elected every four years, and the president elects a prime minister to control all the executive decisions. The current president is Olafur Ragnar Grimmson.

http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/84?sid=1114718&cid=72&useConcept=False

http://koponen.photoshelter.com/image/I0000pY5yMrz5RGM

http://grapevine.is/News/ReadArticle/Supreme-Court-Rules-Loans-Pinned-to-Foreign-Currency-Illegal

http://chillitsiceland.yolasite.com/iceland-government.php

Human Environment Interaction

The geothermal energy is one of the cleanest energy one can use. Because Iceland is sitting on hot spots it can easily achieve geothermal energy.
The use of fertilzers had lead to pollution in water. Since there is only .07% of the Iceland is arable, the use of fertilzer is very important. However, the excess usage of the feritilizer had lead to pollution of the water.
The fishing industry also had changed the enviroment. Fishing industry is one of the main industries of Iceland, and the over fishing caused fish populations to drop significantly around the island. Moreover, since most of the industry is in fishing, the governmnet also started whaling again, which can lead to significant decrease in whale population.


http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbnid=N601nhoXFuAPxM:&imgrefurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/22/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy&docid=d-lf-I-cQZPnHM&imgurl=http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/04/16/iceland276.jpg&w=460&h=276&ei=jKG6T7GcNIawsgK_7b2LDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=778&vpy=106&dur=125&hovh=174&hovw=290&tx=138&ty=95&sig=108565150333402062818&page=2&tbnh=97&tbnw=161&start=18&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:18,i:138
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbnid=lqU0LLLaEZYAxM:&imgrefurl=http://www.dominionpaper.ca/international_news/2003/08/23/iceland_re.html&docid=Q20IgYJKIkDq5M&imgurl=http://www.dominionpaper.ca/img/news/whaling.jpg&w=450&h=296&ei=3KC6T-akKsKXsALpo6SLDA&zoom=1

Demographics

Lutherean Church of Iceland
Population:313,000 people
Growth rate:.674%
93% Urban
Infant mortality: 3.18

Life expectancy: 81 years

Literacy: 99%

16% Unemployment

Iceland has the largest desert in Europe. Since there is a small amount of arable land most people live in urban environments. Moreover, since it is one of the more developed countries of the world, there is a high literacy rate, a high life expectance, and a low infant mortality rate.

http://en.sjalfbaerni.is/austurlandsverkefnid/sjalfbaernimaelingar/samfelag/i1.11i-demographics-in-eastern-iceland/

Ecosystem

Iceland has a mostly tundra ecosystem with some coniferous forest. Iceland is limited to these colder ecosystems due to its high latitude which provides difficult conditions for plant growth.




The cool ocean current, high latitude, and the high altitude resulted in cooling of temperature. It had lead to devepment of tundra ecosystem.

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbnid=VWPmX_9RdwU6aM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iceland_satellite.jpg&docid=QLfJSvTcYn0eXM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Iceland_satellite.jpg&w=2600&h=2000&ei=y8S_T_vNFqbJsQKYtITbCQ&zoom=1

Culture

Culture:
Icelandic was settled by scandinavian and celtic settlers who traveled to Iceland in the 9th Century. A viking settler known as Floki Vilgerdarson, who must have had quite the sense of humor, named Iceland and Greenland despite the fact that Iceland has more greenery and Greenland has more ice.

Icleand was controlled by Denmark throughout the colonization period, it wasn't until the 19th century that a independence movement began. Jon Siggurdson is considered the "father of Iceland" because he was the main promoter of autonomy for Iceland. They would reach independence in June 1944.

Icelanders have a very large pride in their culture, heritage, and country. A symbol of their nation is
Fjallkonan the Lady of the Mountain; she was said to be the purest and most genuine Icelander to ever exist.

Iceland's main faith is toward the National Church of Iceland. And in Iceland they speak Icelandic a North Germanic language which descended from Old Norse.

http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/84?sid=1114760&cid=45&useConcept=False
http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/jonas/Heilsa/Heilsa-Arnason.html
http://www.hrafnseyri.is/?pageid=55