The curious parking techniques and fashion-forward outfits are just a few ways Iceland is sure to leave an impression on an outsider.
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Airline passengers who passed through Keflavík International Airport last month increased significantly compared to August 2009, by 11.7 percent. Last month, 274,600 people passed through the airport.
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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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Verne Holdings, a joint venture by General Catalyst and Novator, signed an agreement with National Energy Company Landsvirkjun, Farice and Keflavík Airport Development Corporation (KADECO) yesterday on establishing a data center by Keflavík International Airport.
Verne Holdings will put up ISK 20 billion (USD 306 million, EUR 203 million) and in return will be provided with electricity, data transfer, a building and a lot for the data center, which will be established this year and start operations in early 2009, Morgunbladid reports.
The data center has the potential to create about 100 jobs in the next few years and directly or indirectly have a positive economic influence for Iceland of up to ISK 40 billion (USD 611 million, EUR 406 million).
“Those of us who spearheaded this project believe entrepreneurs should definitely be responsible for directing world economy into green channels,” founder of Novator and one of Verne Holdings’ two owners Björgólfur Th. Björgólfsson said at the meeting yesterday.
Björgólfsson stated it is indisputable that CO2 emissions are causing negative changes to the earth’s entire ecosystem. Growing concerns about global warming, energy shortage and rising prices of electricity make Iceland’s green energy an attractive option for foreign companies in need of data centers.
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 Puffins 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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Future of Hope is an aptly named documentary directed by Henry Bateman about what some people are doing to shape the future of Iceland, hoping that above all, the crisis will ultimately strengthen the country.
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There can’t be many novels that are heralded as being “a purification for body and soul” recommended to “those who enjoy experimental cookery” (review of November Rain in DV newspaper) and “as beautiful as a painting from the golden age” (review of The Offspring by Danish newspaper Politiken). However, Reykjavík based writer, Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir, has attracted such attention not to mention literary prizes.
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Have a laugh this week by visiting Hafnarborg, the Hafnarfjördur Centre of Culture and Fine Art, where the exhibition “Humor in Icelandic Art” is currently running. The exhibition consists of works by contemporary Icelandic artists from different generations which deal with humor and irony.
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