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The Warm, Green Place Called Iceland
In the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, explorers
from Norway discovered two islands. The larger one
was covered in
ice. ___1___, while icy in the middle,
was green and fertile on the coast.
Oddly enough,
the one with the ice became known as Greenland,
while the greener one was called Iceland. ___2___ its
unfriendly name, this beautiful island of only
100,000 square kilometers has drawn explorers,
tourists, and immigrants throughout its history.
Iceland was originally
settled around 874 by Viking
explorers. They founded Reykjavik, the city that is
still the nation's capital. Scandinavian monarchies
then ___3___ Iceland until it became an independent
country in 1944. Over the years, more settlers,
mostly from Northern Europe and Ireland, have
added to
Iceland's ___4___, which reached about 311,000
in 2007.
Iceland is one of the globe's most geologically
active regions. As a result, Iceland is able to
provide most of its own energy from geothermal
power, ___5___ hydropower from its waterfalls and
rivers. With the addition of hydrogen technology, it
is Iceland's goal to provide all of its own energy
from domestic, renewable resources by 2050. If this
goal is ___6___, Iceland will become the world's first
developed country that is able to do this.
From its unique power sources to its fertile
grasslands, Iceland has
made the most of its tiny
landmass. Though ___7___ from the nearest land by
almost 300 kilometers of ocean, it has managed to
thrive.
With its new plan for energy independence already
set in motion,
Iceland should have a bright, prosperous future to
match its past. |
