Picture of the day - January 2, 2006

Colorful Reykjavik, Iceland

Today's picture features the colorful rooftops of Reykjavik, Iceland, a small, yet very beautiful, interesting and exciting city of approximately 115,000 people - about 40% of all the people who inhabit the island. Lying just south of the arctic circle, Reykjavik is farther north than any other capitol city on earth, and its average mid-summer temperature of just 58°F is a good indicator of just how far north it is! But Reykjavik has a lot more to offer her visitors than just a chilly vacation... Geologically and geographically, Iceland is one of the world's most interesting islands. For example, the island's far-northern latitude results in night skies that light up with aurora borealis during the winter and a sun that never sets in the summer! There is always something beautiful and interesting to see when you gaze at the night sky in Iceland! The Icelandic landscape is dotted with geysers and geothermal pools - commonly known as hot springs. In many places, heat from the earth's core extends close enough to the planet's surface to heat up any water located on the surface or just below it... resulting in geothermal pools and geysers. Iceland's naturally occurring steam and hot water are used for several purposes, but primarily for heating the island's buildings. In fact, about 90% of all the houses in the capitol city are heated by geothermal sources. Iceland's abundant supply of geothermal energy is also used to heat most of Reykjavik's swimming pools! There are so many interesting things to see in and around Reykjavik that an Iceland vacation should be on everyone's list of things to do at some point during their lifetime. The perfect combination of the island's natural phenomena, beautiful wintery vistas, and Reykjavik's world-renowned nightlife make Iceland an ideal vacation spot for any time of year!   Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo Interesting Articles