ICELAND OFFERS he traveller an adventure in a beautiful and rugged landscape. However, experience shows that the forces of Icelandic nature can be harsh and inhospitable , and traveller are well-advised to exercise caution and respect for the country’s natural environment. Icelandic nature can be wild and dangerous, especially for those unfamiliar with it and unused to travelling in uninhabited areas and rough country.
THE CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS that make up Duus hús are among Iceland’s most remarkable and historic man-made structures. Busy centres of commerce throughout their existence, their last role before their conversion was as a fish processing plant. With the oldest timber building completed in 1877 and the youngest concrete structure finished in 1954, they span together almost a century of Icelandic architectural history. Today, the complex includes three exhibition centres, which house the The Reykjanes Art Museum, The Reykjanes Heritage Museum and The Reykjanes Maritime Center.
BLUE LAGOON geothermal seawater is a part of a unique ecocycle where high technology and nature work in perfect harmony in Iceland's extreme environment, bringing us Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater, known for its active ingredients and healing power. The origin of the seawater is from 2000 meters beneath the surface. In its travels through porous lava, a blend of sea and fresh water undergoes mineral exchange and then near the surface, concentration occurs, due to vaporization, evaporation and finally, sedimentation.
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE is the name given to a 190 mile (300 kilometer) circular route which emcompasses many of Iceland’s most famous landmarks. The Golden Circle can easily be completed in one day, either by renting a car or going as part of a group (tours depart every day from Reykjavik). There are also hotels and campsites en route for people who wish to take longer. In addition to sites like the greenhouses at Hveragerdi, the huge pseudo-crater Kerid, and the church at Skalholt, the center of Christianity in Iceland from the mid-11th until the 18th centuries, there are three major points of interest on the Golden Circle.
THE PERLAN is one of those places that every traveller must visit. A magnificent view and impressive architecture is however not all that the Perlan has to offer. The Perlan building houses one of the most popular and high ranking restaurants in Iceland offering an international a la Carte menu. The Perlan is an exquisite restaurant where the chefs are regular guests on Icelandic teams taking part in international competitions, and who are members of the Chéf de Chéf society.
THE VOYAGE of the Icelander (Íslendingur) was conceived by Icelandic shipbuilder and captain Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, a direct descendant of Leifur Eiriksson. The Icelander is an exact replica of a ninth century Viking ship and was designed and built by Eggertsson in 1998. The Viking-ship the Icelander is an exact replica of an old Viking-ship called the "Gaukstad-ship" which was excavated from an ancient burial mound in Norway in 1882. The ship was very well preserved and scientists were able to date it back to 870 AD, the time of the settlement of Iceland.
WITH ITS 2.000 FARMS, Iceland has a proud agricultural heritage. Most farms are small and family-owned. Each farmer knows and marks his animals. Sheep-farming is as old as the human settlement of Iceland itself. And even today, farmers rear sheep in a way established by centuries of tradition, constantly improving the quality of their product. In an enviroment where consumers are increasingly conscious of their health, food must be safe to eat, pure and nutritious. For this reason Icelandic lamb is becoming recognized through out the world for its healthy nutritional value and unique taste.
SCUBA DIVING and snorkeling is really not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about Iceland. Snorkeling in a continental rift that has been created by earthquakes, and in water that is just about freezing, dosen’t sound very appealing at first glance. But dive into the matter and discover an adventure of a lifetime.
THE FIRST HORSES came to Iceland in the ninth century with the Viking settlers from Norway and the British Isles. Iceland was settled between 874 AD and 935 AD. The settlers came in open boats and brought their lifestock with them. Before that, Iceland's biggest mammal was the arctic fox. The settlers were very often indipendent people that didn't want to be ruled by the norwegian king, thus moving to this island without any
kings. The settlers couldn't take many animals with them when moving to
Iceland, their ships weren't big enough. So propably the chiefs only
took the best of their best when bringing horses to Iceland, and when
there were enough horses,import stopped.The nature molded the breed
there after.
LAUGAR is a high quality luxury health and spa resort. There you will find a European-style spa where the accent is on the relaxing and healing properties of natural geothermal water. In soothing
surroundings body and soul can be restored in oasis of peach and warmth.
In Laugar you can find; the most state of the art fitness centre in Iceland, a spa called Badstofa, Laugar Spa beauty and massage salon, Laugar café a restaurant, hair salon and a fitness sport store.