ICELANDIC TOURIST BOARD                                                                              DATELINE MAY 2008
Have you ever seen a waterfall flow upside down? Neither had we until we saw Hraunfossar (see below, and try saying that after a few glasses of Reyka). Speaking of interesting things to see, Iceland will soon be revealed as the setting for a Hollywood summer blockbuster based on a Jules Verne novel, and we have vacations just for you to see the amazing place where it was partially filmed. Iceland comes to America in another form at the Museum of Modern Art in New York through the end of June thanks to artist Olafur Eliasson. Check out the specifics on that and much more in this issue of Dateline.

Receding Glaciers Reveal New Landscape

Iceland is providing visitors with an up close and personal look at the effects of global warming. Warming temperatures are causing Iceland�s glaciers to recede more rapidly than in the past centuries. Scientists recently discovered a new glacial river and a majestic waterfall where Br�arj�kull, a branch of Vatnaj�kull, is receding in the eastern highlands.

The waterfall, which is called N�ifoss, is 229 to 262 feet wide and about 50 feet high, but it does not have much water volume. Glacial rivers rarely have much water in winter. Br�arj�kull is, however, known for moving back and forth every 100 years or so, which means that it is constantly revealing and hiding the same landscape. Therefore, scientists expect the glacier to swallow the new river and waterfall again at some point in the future.

�There are many curious things there to observe and study,� said glaciologist and geologist �var �rn Benediktsson, a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland.

Create Your Own Personal Saga

The Icelandic Sagas are renowned throughout the world. Now you can tell a few stories of your own and save money in the process. Reykjavik Excursions is offering 20 percent off on a Saga Tour that takes you to the settings of the most famous events in Icelandic history � follow in the footsteps of the Viking warrior and poet Egill Skallagrimsson and others in Borgarfjordur.

The trip visits the Icelandic Settlement center exhibition in Borgarnes. From there, head to Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, the most significant Nordic poet and historian of the Middle Ages, and Snorrastofa, a cultural centre and an institution for research in medieval studies, situated in Snorri Sturluson�s ancient homestead at Reykholt.

Next stop are the odd Hraunfossar waterfalls (see below) and the largest hot spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Deildartunguhver. The 20 percent discount expires June 30. (For more information: www.re.is � click on tour RE-08).

Upside Down Waterfall

Most waterfalls run straight down. But this being Iceland, we do things a bit differently. The Hraunfossar waterfall in western Iceland near Borgarnes is a strange, Icelandic kind of waterfall, in which the clear, cold spring bubbles up from the lava beds. Then it changes its mind and goes downhill in falls and rapids into the Hv�t� River. There are cabins, campsites and old farmhouses nearby where you can stay while soaking up this little oddity in a strange land. (www.husafell.is)

Iceland Comes to New York

New Yorkers go to Iceland all the time, so it�s only fair that we return the favor. Danish-American artist Olafur Eliasson reinterprets aspects of Iceland�s landscape in a large-scale installation using fog, ice, mirrors, light, moss and stone, among other materials, at the Museum of Modern Art, through June 30. The result is a thoroughly engaging, borderline interactive artistic experience and a deep reflection on the artist�s physical and emotional relationship with the natural world. (For more information: http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/exhibitions.php?id=3991).

It�s Only Rock and Roll �

�But we like it. Results of the annual Icelandic Music Awards are in. As voted by an academy of accomplished music scholars working in the field, as well as the Icelandic public, the 2007 results can be seen at www.icelandmusic.is. The site also has podcasts and songs and music videos to enjoy. Here�s no surprise: Bjork wins for both Performer of the Year in the Diverse Music category, and Female Singer of the Year. It�s all great music to download as you wing your way to her homeland.

Sailing, Sailing

Cruise Iceland was established in 2004 to combine the resources of all those involved in receiving cruise ships to help promote the island as an exciting destination. Today 22 companies are members of Cruise Iceland, including nine ports that provide easy access to every area of the country. Other members include bus companies, shipping companies and tour operators that have an abundance of both diverse and exciting shore excursions to offer.

Cruise companies providing trips to Iceland from the U.S. are:

Abercrombie & Kent
Clipper Cruise Line
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
Silversea Cruise

(For a description and selection of photos from each port, download the 2008 cruise brochure here: http://www.cruiseiceland.com/images/stories/brochures/CruiseIcelandNet.pdf)

Seriously Good for Your Health

You�ve got to take warnings seriously these days. Seen on a recent brochure from Iceland Spring Natural Icelandic Spring Water:

Icelandic Government Health Warning � Drinking Iceland Spring May be Seriously Good for Your Health

Iceland Spring originates in the prehistoric Blue Mountains, high above Iceland Spring�s source, as pristine rain or snow that fell centuries ago. Filtered through inert layers of lava rock (nature�s best filtration system), the water trickles deep into the ground over decades picking up a minimum of soluble minerals. It then emerges in a government protected natural spring, in an ancient lava field, in the heart of an isolated nature reserve called Heidmork. Among its fans are Brandi Chastain, U.S. Womens Soccer Olympic champion. (www.icelandspring.com)

They Said It

Learn Some Lessons � �(Iceland) lacks coal reserves, and is endowed with massive glaciers, which produce huge volumes of water that can be harnessed to generate electricity. It also happens to sit atop a rift in the earth's crust that keeps significant reservoirs of heat bubbling near the surface. To a large degree, it is the polar opposite of the United States. Yet we�and other developed nations�can learn some valuable lessons from Iceland about what happens when a society commits to the systematic development of renewable energy.�

� Daniel Gross, Newsweek, April 14, 2008

�Ice-olation� � �Black ash and scoria deserts, green and turquoise mosses, orange hills giving way to rhyolite peaks � the Technicolor landscape surrounding Landmannalaugaris as surreal and saturated as Dorothy�s Oz. � Just out the door (of Landmannalaugar�s austere mountain hut), glacial waters and volcanic springs feed the natural pool that gives the place its name: �hot springs of the people.��

� Ryan Bradley, National Geographic Adventure, March 2008.

Praise from RFK, Jr. � �Iceland was 80 percent dependent on imported coal and oil in the 1970s and was among the poorest economies in Europe. Today, Iceland is 100 percent energy-independent, with 90 percent of the nation�s homes heated by geothermal and its remaining electrical needs met by hydro.
�The International Monetary Fund now ranks Iceland the fourth most affluent nation on earth. The country, which previously had to beg for corporate investment, now has companies lined up to relocate there to take advantage of its low-cost clean energy.�

� Robert F, Kennedy, Jr., �The Next President�s First Task, Vanity Fair, May 2008


Travel Deals of the Month

Take A �Journey� Tour Of Iceland

Jules Verne's science fiction novel Journey to the Center of the Earth helped draw attention to the exotic Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This part of West Iceland contains Snaefellsjokull volcano-glacier, which Verne speculated was the trailhead leading into the Earth's center. This summer, the story comes to the big screen with Journey to the Center of the Earth. Icelandair is proud to offer two new tours of the real-life places depicted in the book and film.

The first is a two-night tour which starts after breakfast your first day in Iceland. The Wonders of Snaefellsjokull Tour takes you to the peninsular national park on a guided walk in the vicinity of Snaefellsjokull to get a closer glimpse of the area's volcanic geology and history, including the stone structure honoring Bardar Snaefellsas, the Viking shaman who sensed the energy and power said to radiate from the glacier. You will also see Arnarstapi harbor with its unique basalt columns, and more. Note: Some easy walking involved.

Departures through Sep 12, 2008. Two nights in Iceland from $955* For more information, click here. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/adventure/detail/store65/item196509/

Travelers in a more adventurous mood may take a three-night Super Jeep tour of West Iceland, starting their stay with a relaxing dip in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon immediately after landing at Keflavik airport. The rest of the day is open to relax and enjoy the unusual setting of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Head first to Skalholt, an ancient bishopric site where many of Iceland's Viking sagas were transcribed. Then visit Gullfoss, a double ledged waterfall that many believe is the nation's most beautiful. Also visit the Geysir hot springs area, and Thingvellir - the site of the original Icelandic parliament more than 1000 years ago.

The tour then heads into the highland wilderness, home of Langjokull glacier and Hraunfossar falls, and ends at Deildartunguhver - Europe's most powerful hot springs. Have dinner and spend the night in Borgarnes, a charming town in West Iceland. Wake up to tour the fabled Snaefellsnes peninsula, the region called "Iceland in a Nutshell" since it displays so many of the landscapes and geological features that make Iceland famous, and Arnarstapi at the foot of Snaefellsjokull Glacier, the supposed entrance to the center of the Earth. The night is open for you to explore the lively city of Reykjavik at your own pace. Friday departures, June 6 � Sept. 12, 2008 from $2,755* For more information, click here. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/adventure/detail/store65/item196453/


Hidden Worlds of Iceland: Ghosts, Elves and Trolls

Iceland has always been touched by the supernatural, with tales of ghosts, elves and trolls. Visit places in Old Town Reykjavik and in South Iceland where both ancient and modern encounters have taken place between Icelanders and the "hidden folk." See the new Northern Lights Center where you can learn how Northern Lights are formed and watch footage of recent sightings in a special "Ice Room."

Departures through Oct 31, 2008 from $925* For more information, click here. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/lifestyle/detail/store65/item196621/

*Prices quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges by destination of approximately $100-$270, per person including the Sept. 11th Security Fee.

For information on other exciting activities in Iceland, be sure to visit: