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Financial Crisis
Interests Collide: Whalers and Whale Watchers at Odds
Iceland's outgoing Minister of Fisheries raised the country's whaling quota five-fold just before leaving office. In a country where environmentalism is strong and whale watching is growing in the tourism industry, the whale hunters believe that they are bringing back Icelandic tradition while helping a suffering economy.
A day on the North Atlantic: Fishing in Iceland after economic collapse
Fish are, and have always been a staple of the Icelandic economy. Every
day, hundreds of Icelandic men set out to catch their share of the fish
filling the waters around the tiny country. The highly regulated
industry is one of few that have been able to survive the recent
economic collapse without the mass layoffs that have characterized the
majority of the island’s other industries.
Farming From Boom to Bust
During Iceland's economic boom, farmers used their buying power to
transform traditional farms into high-tech agricultural operations. But
now they're struggling to pay the bills.
Crisis Toppled Government, Spawns New Political Faction
After Iceland’s financial collapse, a handful of activists sought to
return the government to its people and the nation to its roots of
fishing and farming, believing therein laid its salvation. But the new
movement had only four months to inspire a nation to believe in change.
The Aluminum Smelting Process at Alcoa Fjardaál
Learn about the energy-intensive process of aluminum smelting.
Voices from the Crisis
Icelanders narrate the crisis in their own words and how they are dealing with the prospect of an uncertain future.
Whale Watching Destinations of Iceland
This map shows where the major whale watching locations of Iceland are and how they overlap with the historical areas where whalers hunt. Click on location markers for photographs and to find out what types of whales can be found.
For ordinary Icelanders, a crash lesson in debt, coping and survival
Hildagunnar Hauksdottir, 43, lost her job at one of Iceland's largest banks Landsbanki and never knew how well she had it until it all collapsed. In October 2008, Iceland's financial system toppled, taking with it retirement savings, jobs, and hopes. Now, Icelanders struggle to move forward amidst rising unemployment and soaring prices. What happened?
Sustainability of Karahnjukar Dam in Question
Built as a means to create jobs in East Iceland, the Karahnjukar Dam was supposed to improve Iceland's economy. But global warming and a global economic crisis raises questions about the dam's sustainability.