
Click on the picture to watch an audio slideshow of a hike to Hraunsvatn lake in Öxnadalur valley in north Iceland, which lies at a height of 490 meters, interlocked between two steep mountains and a small glacier with a view of the majestic Hraundrangar peaks.
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Fjallabyggd (“Mountain Settlement”) is a skier’s dream. Its slopes are perfect for slaloming and there are also tracks for telemark skiing. Winter sporting enthusiasts can also go ice skating or rent snowmobiles. In summer, Fjallabyggd turns into a paradise for hikers. Read this special promotion about one of Iceland’s best hidden gems.
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The Icelandic Counseling and Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence (Stígamót) has openly protested against an adult film industry conference scheduled to be held in Iceland next month.
Stígamót sent a letter protesting against the event this week, signed by the organization’s spokesperson Gudrún Jónsdóttir, to the Icelandic government, the parliament, Reykjavík City Council, Reykjavík Chief of Police and the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. Ruv.is reports.
In the letter it says: “Dear persons of authority. In Iceland we have shown that if we do not want representatives of organized crime in our country, we can stop them. […] At Stígamót we do not believe this conference should be tolerated. We challenge you […] to prevent it.”
Stígamót became aware of the adult film industry conference, titled “SnowGathering,” through a press release from PR Adult News, which was issued on January 27. It is cited on Stígamót’s website:
“Freeones.com announced today the date for the second SnowGathering. It will be held in Reykjavík – Iceland, from the 7th till the 11th of March 2007. SnowGathering is a chance to conduct business, meet new people and discuss business developments […]."
In the press release, owner of Freeones.com, Maurice, is quoted saying: “This year we are aiming for approximately 150 attendees. […] We have chosen Reykjavík because of the possibilities of multiple in- and outdoor activities and its infamous nightlife.”
According to Stígamót, Freeones.com links to pornography websites such as Sleazydream.com, which among other things, contains information on how to access prostitutes in Iceland.
“Pornography is prostitution in pictures and prostitution is the reason human trafficking thrives. […]. Pornography is prohibited in Iceland,” the letter from Stígamót states.
Iceland’s cabinet met at the presidential residence Bessastadir at noon today where new ministers were announced: Gudbjartur Hannesson of the Social Democrats will lead a new Welfare Ministry and Ögmundur Jónasson of the Left-Greens a new Ministry for Internal Affairs.
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The average temperature of the three summer months, June, July and August, in Reykjavík this year was 12.2°C (54°F), which makes this the warmest summer in the capital since temperatures were first recorded in 1871, according to meteorologist Trausti Jónsson.
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The comedy sketch show Spaugstofan, which has been shown more or less continuously for 21 years on the Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, has now been relocated to the private television channel Stöd 2.
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The crew of the sailboat Santa Maria from Hamburg, Germany, called for assistance when they ran out of fuel 140 nautical miles west of Reykjavík last week. The guard post of the Icelandic Maritime Administration contacted ships that were nearby and as it turned out the whaling ship Hvalur 9 was located closest to Santa Maria.
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The second issue of the print edition of Iceland Review 2010 has just been published. Entitled “Under the Volcano” the magazine dedicates 20 pages, words and pictures, to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull glacier which made headlines all over the word. New subscribers will receive the book 2010 Eruptions as a gift and all subscribers are part of a draw to win a trip to Iceland. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
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Dadi Gudbjörnsson's art with its smiley faces, Aladdin's lamps, gleaming hearts, blue mountains and psychedelic flora of unearthly origin reminds me of the cheesy R.E.M. song “Shiny Happy People”. The sugar-sweet naivety fails to amuse me but I must admit it infects my mood with delirious joy.
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Former President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir turned 80 on 15 April this year and Mayor Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir—in making her an Honorary Citizen of Reykjavík to mark the occasion—observed that Finnbogadóttir’s life was interwoven with that of Reykjavík. In June 1980 Finnbogadóttir made history when she became the world’s first democratically elected female head of state.
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Today, August 30, and tomorrow is your last chance to visit the exhibition “Eau De Parfum” by Andrea Maack at the Spark Design Space in Reykjavík. In the exhibition space, Maack introduces three perfumes that are the result of her collaboration with French perfumery apf aromes & parfums.
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