Reflections on Iceland

When a new year approaches, it is appropriate to reflect on the year passing by. The year 2007 has been a good year in the sense that, generally, there has been almost zero unemployment and we have been free from major natural disasters. The earth shakes every now and then, but that is something that we, Icelanders, have grown up with as habitants of this beautiful country.

National elections took place last spring and the result is a new and strong government controlled by two of the country's largest political parties and supported by large majority of voters. Strong government is important since there are signs of volatile times on the global economic landscape. One might ask why that is important to Icelanders. Iceland's economy is largely dependent on exports of fish and fish products, aluminum, financial services, tourism and foreign investments. Therefore, the global economic landscape is a large part of the Icelandic economic landscape as well.

The travel industry saw new records in the number of foreigners visiting our beautiful country. New types of travel services are becoming increasingly popular such as the young whale watching industry and sea angling in the Westfjords.

Iceland's largest dam, the Karahnjukar Dam, recently started to generate electricity for a new aluminum factory in Reydarfjordur. A volume of ongoing small earthquakes in the dam's surrounding area is making some Icelanders nervous with concerns it might have something to do with the dam and the large man made reservoir, but that is scientifically hard to prove. Looking at the reflections above the year can be summarized with the words "a little shaky, but a good year for Iceland".

Posted on: Nov 23 2007 in My Iceland