Images and Stories from Iceland

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Images and Stories from Iceland

• David Bruce
• April, 2007

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Iceland - Overview

• 305,000 people
• 200,000 live in Reykjavik, the capital
• 98 urban
• Growing number of foreign workers
• Fisheries, banking, IT, public services, minerals
  (aluminum), tourism

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Housing in Reykjavik

• Higher densities
• Lots of mix, old and new, large and small
• Building boom, especially in the suburbs

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Points of Interest

• Churches Lutheran 98, Catholic 2
• City Hall
• Parliament
• National Art Gallery
• The Lake
• Canadian Embassy

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Lutheran Cathedral
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Catholic
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Reykjavik City Hall
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Parliament
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National Art Gallery
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Canadian Embassy
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Prices

• Twice as much as Canada
• Wine 26 (Little Penguin)
• Bananas 4/kg
• Can Fruit Cocktail (420g) 3.50
• Lunch buffet 24
• Gas 2 per litre

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Natural Hot Springs

• Lots of hot springs and mineral waters
• Blue Lagoon and other spas
• Pumice rock formations
• Evidence of land ripping apart

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Traffic Calming

• Measures to keep traffic speed down
• One-way streets
• Narrow
• Risers
• Cut-outs
• Roundabouts

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West Fjords

• Small region of 7,500
• Declining population
• Heavy reliance on fishing
• Most isolated
• Largest town is Isafjordur
• Large number of foreign workers in fisheries
• Avalanche country

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Flateyri about 1,000 people
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Sudureyri about 350 people
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Municipal Building
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Hospital
Seniors Housing
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Avalanche protection A-shaped deflector
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Avalanche protection Mini deflectors
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Tunnels in the Mountains

• In 1996 they built tunnels from Isafjordur to two
  other communities
• 6km to Flateyri
• 3km branch to Sudureyri (one-lane!)
• Replaced windy and dangerous mountain roads, has
  made commuting possible

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The Original Fishing Village

• Effort to revive local economy
• Sudureyri, village of 350 people or so
• 80 employed in fishplant and extended operations,
  co-owned by 4 interests
• Integrated product / marketing campaign
• Fishplant tours
• Boat excursions
• Restaurants, art galleries, etc
• Bobby the Fisherman

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Agriculture!

• Long history of agriculture
• Sheep
• Cattle
• Very little activity today
• Dairy farm on outskirts of Sudureyri

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Iceland.. Surprises!?

• Warmer than I thought, north of Yellowknife!
• Everyone speaks English
• Streets were very clean!
• ALCAN presence of bauxite aluminum production
• Post-secondary education is virtually free
• High incomes, high standard of living
• Icelanders love to travel abroad!