Reasons for the changeable weather in Iceland

Economic situation (1) Basic economic situation

Iceland's economy mainly depends on marine fisheries. Fishing provides 60% of Iceland's export income and employs 8% of the working population.

In 2005, residents' final consumption increased by 1 1.9%, and fixed assets increased by 34.5%, which was the main reason for GDP growth. Imports increased by 28.4%, resulting in a current account trade deficit of 654.38+062 billion kronor (US$ 2.43 billion), accounting for 654.38+06.3% of GDP, which seriously affected GDP growth.

In 2006, Iceland's GDP was1141700 million kronor (18 1 100 million USD), with an annual growth rate of 2.6%, and the per capita GDP exceeded 60,000 USD, reaching 60,370 USD. Compared with the annual growth of 7.5% in 2005, it has dropped significantly. In 2005, the growth rate of gross national income exceeded 6.7%, mainly due to the improvement of trade and the decrease of net expenditure on basic income. Iceland became the first bankrupt country in the world because of the financial tsunami.

agriculture

According to the statistics of 1980, the output of raw fish is 1 500,839 tons, hay is 3.879 million cubic meters, potatoes 1 ton, radishes are 902 tons, sheep are 827,927, and horses are 52,346.

industry

1, energy industry

Iceland has unique hydropower and geothermal resources, and its energy industry is very developed, with sufficient electricity and low prices. Geothermal utilization and development technology is unique in the world.

2. Metallurgical industry

Energy-consuming industries such as aluminum smelting and steelmaking have developed rapidly in Iceland. At present, there are three aluminum smelters with annual output of 6.5438+0.78 million tons, 70,000 tons and 90,000 tons, and silicon steel mills with annual output of 6.5438+0.2 million tons. Iceland's Reydarfjordur aluminum plant is currently under construction (with an annual output of 320,000 tons), and Grundartangi aluminum plant is being expanded (with an annual output of 654.38+070 tons). By 2008, the annual output of aluminum in Iceland will reach 760,000 tons. Iceland will become one of the largest aluminum producers in the world, accounting for 5% of the world's aluminum production (1300-140,000 tons).

banking

Since the privatization of banking in 2000, Iceland's financial industry has grown rapidly, and the country's economic development has leapt to the advanced ranks in the world. At the same time, the rapid and aggressive development has brought great hidden dangers to Iceland's future economic development. The subprime mortgage crisis that started in the United States in the second half of 2007 spread to Iceland, causing its economy to fall into an unprecedented predicament, and Iceland is paying the price for its economic progress.

Pharmaceutical industry

Iceland's biopharmaceutical industry has developed rapidly in recent years, and now it ranks fourth in the world and has become one of Iceland's main economic pillars. This is mainly due to the progress and development of biomedical and genetic research in Iceland.

Building materials industry

Cement, thermal insulation materials, aluminum corrugated boards, paints and coatings can not only meet domestic demand, but also be exported in large quantities.

Automobile modification industry

We have patented technology and equipment, which can convert ordinary jeeps into high-power and large-size unicycles to drive in glaciers, mountains, lava and other areas.

Computer software industry

Games, commerce, anti-virus and disinfection, teaching and laboratory software are developed, and it is one of the major software exporters in the world.

tourism

Iceland Aurora Iceland has three national parks:

1. National Park is the former site of Parliament, located in the southwest of Iceland, 50 kilometers east of the capital. In 930 AD, early Icelandic immigrants held the first National People's Congress here, and established the world's earliest elected parliament and the first Icelandic Constitution. It has beautiful scenery and is famous for its fractured valleys in Europe, Asia and the United States and its pure and deep parliamentary lake. This park is also a world cultural and natural heritage scenic spot.

2. Skav tafel, located in the southeast of Iceland, is the largest national park and nature reserve in Iceland. The park integrates glaciers, volcanoes, canyons, forests and waterfalls, with spectacular scenery.

3. Glacier Canyon River National Park (J? Kullsargljufur), located in northern Iceland, is the largest waterfall and one of the longest canyons in Europe, and is the habitat of birds.

(B) Iceland under the economic crisis

Iceland financial crisis

The financial crisis in Iceland in 2008 was a series of events related to the global financial crisis, which directly affected the entire Icelandic economy and banking system. The three major banks in Iceland were affected, and the control rights were turned into state-owned one after another.

In late September 2008, the Icelandic government announced the nationalization of Glitnir Bank. The following week, the control of the Icelandic National Bank (Landsbanki) was also handed over to the Icelandic Financial Supervisory Authority. Soon after, the Financial Supervisory Authority took over Kaupthing Bank, Iceland's largest bank.

Iceland faces national bankruptcy.

Iceland's financial industry suffered heavy losses in the global credit crisis. The exchange rate of the Icelandic krona against the euro has shrunk by 30%, the foreign debt has exceeded US$ 6,543.8+03.83 billion, and the GDP is only US$ 6,543.8+09.37 billion. Iceland is in danger of "national bankruptcy".

On June 7, 2008, the Icelandic government announced that it would seek a loan of 4 billion euros from Russia to tide over the difficulties. Political and economic analysts in western countries believe that it is "rare" and "geopolitical" for NATO members to ask Russia for help. Physical geographical area103,000 square kilometers. It is the westernmost country in Europe, located in the middle of the North Atlantic, near the Arctic Circle. Iceland is covered by glaciers, covering an area of 8,000 square kilometers. Iceland's geothermal wonder is the second largest island in Europe. The coastline is about 4970 kilometers long. The whole Iceland is a bowl-shaped highland, surrounded by coastal mountains and with a plateau in the middle. Most of them are platforms, and the height of the platforms is between 400 and 800 meters. Individual peaks can reach 1.300 to 1.700 meters. The highest peak in Iceland is Mount Huanada Snook (265,438+0,654,38+0.9 meters). The lowland area is very small, and there are marine plains and ice water alluvial plains in the west and southwest, accounting for about 7% of the whole island area. The coastline without glaciers is irregular, with many fjords and bays. Other coastal areas are mainly beaches, and sandbars off the coast form lagoons.

Iceland has more than 100 volcanoes, which is called "polar fire island". There are 200 to 300 volcanoes and 40 to 50 active volcanoes. The main volcanoes are Laki Volcano, Huanadals Volcano, Haikela Volcano and catra Volcano. Shennuk Mountain in Huanada is the highest mountain in China, with an altitude of 2 1 19 meters. Almost the whole country of Iceland is built on volcanic rocks, and most of the land cannot be cultivated. From 1963 to 1967, volcanic activity in the southwest coast formed an island of about 2. 1 square kilometer.

Iceland has the largest number of hot springs in the world, so it is called "the country of ice and fire". There are about 250 alkaline hot springs on the island, and the largest hot spring can produce 200 liters of spring water per second.

Iceland has many fountains, waterfalls, lakes and fast-flowing rivers. Sijursao, the largest river, is 227 kilometers long. Iceland has a cold temperate maritime climate with changeable climate. Dettifoss is influenced by the North Atlantic warm current, which is milder than other places in the same latitude. The sunshine time is long in summer and extremely short in winter. Aurora can be seen in autumn and early winter. Iceland is called "Volcanic Island", "Kirishima", "Frozen Soil" and "Island of Ice and Fire".

Geothermal resources are abundant and hot springs are widely distributed.

The climate of Iceland

Located at high latitude, the south belongs to temperate maritime climate and the north belongs to tundra climate.

Influenced by the North Atlantic warm current, it mainly flows out from its south, and there is a branch around its west and north. Therefore, although it is located near the Arctic Circle, the temperature is not low in winter and between 7- 12℃ in summer.

Located near the center of low pressure in Iceland, the weather is changeable. Cyclones have brought abundant precipitation to Iceland. The annual average precipitation in southwest and west is between 1000 ~ 2000mm, and it is less in north and northeast, which is 400 ~ 600 mm. Rain and snow weather may occur in any season.

Hydrology in Iceland

Rivers radiate from the central plateau. The main rivers are: Fyodlesme Glacier, etc.

Iceland is not only the center of the Quaternary ice sheet, but also modern glaciers are distributed on the plateau, mainly shield-shaped ice cap glaciers and a few ice bucket glaciers, accounting for 1 1.5% of the total island area. There are Vatna Ice Sheet, Lange Ice Sheet, Hoves Ice Sheet and Mida Glacier. Among them, the Vatna ice sheet covers an area of 8,450 square kilometers and its thickness is between several hundred meters and 2 kilometers. It is the largest glacier in the world except Antarctica and Greenland.

Icelandic vegetation

Tundra is widely distributed, with grassland area accounting for 24%, and animal husbandry is relatively developed. The forest area accounts for about 65,438+0.37%, which is distributed in the leeward and sunny slopes and valleys, mainly birch shrubs. In recent decades, many cold-resistant conifers and cypresses have been introduced from Europe and America and grow well.

Geological landform

Since the late Early Miocene, it has been formed by the accumulation of upper mantle materials spilled from the rift valley in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, belonging to a volcanic island. The rocks that make up Iceland are all volcanic rocks, and the most widely distributed are basalt, andesite, rhyolite and so on.

There are many volcanoes on the island, which are called "Polar Fire Island". There are 200 to 300 volcanoes and 40 to 50 active volcanoes. The main volcanoes are Laki Volcano, Huanadals Volcano, Haikela Volcano and catra Volcano. Volcanic activity in the southwest coast from 1963 to 1967 formed an island of about 2. 1 square kilometer. Iceland has the largest number of hot springs in the world. There are about 250 alkaline hot springs on the island, and the largest hot spring can produce 200 liters of spring water per second.

From the basic topography, Iceland is a bowl-shaped highland, surrounded by coastal mountains and with a plateau in the middle. Most of them are platforms, and the height of the platforms is between 400 and 800 meters. Individual peaks can reach 1.300 to 1.700 meters. The highest peak in Iceland is Mount Huanada Snook (265,438+0,654,38+0.9 meters). The lowland area is very small, and there are marine plains and ice water alluvial plains in the west and southwest, accounting for about 7% of the whole island area. The coastline without glaciers is irregular, with many fjords and bays. Other coastal areas are mainly beaches, and sandbars off the coast form lakes.

Geothermal resources are abundant and hot springs are widely distributed.

Sightseeing group

Iceland's geothermal wonders Iceland is an ideal place for most adventurers. The number of explorers from the United States is now twice that of 10 years ago. In 2003, the total population reached 300,000, more than twice the total population of this country. The most convincing is the local Icelandic adventure equipment tourism company Foga Rabac, which discovers new adventure routes at an alarming rate every year. For example, some green swamps and tundra areas in the Olafi Desert, Alaska Crater and Westminster Islands, which are hot in spring, have a large number of birds known for their kindness. Near the southern coast where Iceland's residents are concentrated, 80% of the volcanic islands are mixed with glaciers, lakes and cave lava, which are overgrown with weeds and seem to never get out.

Major city

The main cities in Iceland are Reykjavik, Chirieri, Hafnaoui Dole, Kevlavik and Copawal.