In our recent meeting we decided to explore the theme country, Iceland, and our initial discussion explored the geography and geology of the region. Shaped by its location on the Mid Atlantic ridge, Iceland is constantly evolving and is one of the few places on Earth where sea floor spreading can be observed on land. The North American and Eurasian plates are moving apart at an average speed of 2.5cm every year and this pulling apart creates frequent fissures, earthquakes and volcanoes. Some of our group had previously visited the Thingvellir National Park and many of the photographs of geysers, waterfalls and geothermal areas were on display.
Among the other themes discussed were:
Names: There are strict rules on the naming of children and it can take up to 6 months to register your child’s name. Although everyone seems to be on first name terms.
Folk tales: featuring elves and the Elf Queen Ufhilde and the ‘hidden people’!
Silly facts: There are 2 sheep to every person; there is no McDonalds; the tallest tree is 25m high; there is a high summer suicide rate; an Icelandic App helps you check against incest.
Food: We did our best to offer up a selection of Icelandic dishes including salmon, rollmops, caramelised potatoes and skyr. An excellent spread, enjoyed by all.
