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Quiz about The Land of Fire and Ice
Quiz about The Land of Fire and Ice

The Land of Fire and Ice Trivia Quiz


I have just returned from an amazing holiday in this magnificent country and would like to share a little of what I learned there with you.

A multiple-choice quiz by Briseis. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Briseis
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
328,716
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
362
Last 3 plays: Guest 94 (6/10), Coachpete1 (10/10), Guest 47 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. What is the name of the Norwegian who is recognised as the first settler in Iceland? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The amazing Hallgrimskirkja parish church stands above the city of Reykjavik. In which century was it constructed? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What is the currency in Iceland? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. On 17 June 1944, Iceland proclaimed its independence and finally broke away from which country? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Many Icelandic place names end in "-foss". What natural feature would you expect to find in these places? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Iceland has about 18 "active" volcanoes - that is to say, volcanoes which have erupted since the land was settled in 871 AD (+/-2). The one called Eyjafjallajokull erupted in 2010. Its name does not actually mean volcano; what does "jokull" mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "Bláa Lónið" is a popular tourist attraction on the Reykjanes Peninsula. What could you expect to do there? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The native puffin is a familiar sight around Iceland; where would you most likely see one in the centre of Reykjavik? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Near the car park at the top of the trail leading up the Volcano Laki, there is a small triangular-shaped wooden building; what is it? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The modern church at Kirkjubæjarklaustur is dedicated to the memory of Pastor Jon Steingrímsson (1728- 1791). What did he do to merit this recognition? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 94: 6/10
Mar 15 2024 : Coachpete1: 10/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 47: 10/10
Feb 11 2024 : angostura: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is the name of the Norwegian who is recognised as the first settler in Iceland?

Answer: Ingolfur Arnarson

Ingólfur Arnarson originally came ashore at the point on the south coast now known as Ingolfshofdi (Ingolf's Head). However, he declined to settle there, preferring to throw his family totem poles into the sea and found his settlement where they were washed up - in what is now Reykjavik.
2. The amazing Hallgrimskirkja parish church stands above the city of Reykjavik. In which century was it constructed?

Answer: The Twentieth

Guðjón Samúelsson is said to have designed he Hallgrímskirkja to resemble the basalt lava flows which are typical of the country. Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church.
3. What is the currency in Iceland?

Answer: Icelandic Crown

In common with Sweden and Norway, the Icelanders use crowns (króna) as their national currency. The modern Icelandic króna was established in 1981.
4. On 17 June 1944, Iceland proclaimed its independence and finally broke away from which country?

Answer: Denmark

Back in the 13th century, Iceland became a part of Norway. Later, when Norway joined forces with Denmark in 1814, the Danes took over Iceland. On December 1, 1918 Denmark officially recognised that Iceland was a "sovereign state", but the date the Icelanders celebrate as being that of their independence is actually 25 years later, during the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany.
5. Many Icelandic place names end in "-foss". What natural feature would you expect to find in these places?

Answer: A waterfall

Some places which have spectacular waterfalls are simply called "Foss", but perhaps the most famous waterfall is at Gulfoss, part of the Golden Circle. One waterfall I visited in Iceland was Hundafoss - the Dog Falls, so called because this is where the farmers' dogs used to get regularly swept down over the falls into the deep pools beneath them, when their masters were crossing the river.

The dogs would then simply jump out, shake themselves off and trot home.
6. Iceland has about 18 "active" volcanoes - that is to say, volcanoes which have erupted since the land was settled in 871 AD (+/-2). The one called Eyjafjallajokull erupted in 2010. Its name does not actually mean volcano; what does "jokull" mean?

Answer: Glacier

Glaciers cover around 11% of Iceland. The largest glacier in Iceland is Vatnajökull in the southeastern part of the country. The highest point of Eyjafjallajökull is 1666 metres above sea level.
7. "Bláa Lónið" is a popular tourist attraction on the Reykjanes Peninsula. What could you expect to do there?

Answer: Bathe

"Bláa Lónið" is better known as the Blue Lagoon and is a spa where the workers have to cool the water down before it is safe for visitors to bathe in it. It is just south of Keflavik, the airport for Reykjavik.
8. The native puffin is a familiar sight around Iceland; where would you most likely see one in the centre of Reykjavik?

Answer: On the menu

I apologise to the animal lovers and vegetarians among you, but this is what the guide on our tour told us: the two places in the area where you can be certain to find puffin are on whale-watching expeditions and on the menu!
9. Near the car park at the top of the trail leading up the Volcano Laki, there is a small triangular-shaped wooden building; what is it?

Answer: A toilet

I didn't realise what this building was at first, and then when I did find out and pushed the door open, it was with some trepidation. In fact, it was a perfectly clean compost toilet complete with an ample supply of toilet paper! Full marks to the Icelanders for avoiding the need to crouch behind a rock to relieve the call of nature (there are no trees on the volcano to go behind anyway!).
10. The modern church at Kirkjubæjarklaustur is dedicated to the memory of Pastor Jon Steingrímsson (1728- 1791). What did he do to merit this recognition?

Answer: Preached a sermon which is reputed to have stopped the flow of lava which threatened to engulf the village.

The Lakagígar Volcano eruptions of 1783 were responsible directly or indirectly for the deaths of some 9000 people in Iceland - more than 20% of the country's population at the time. Jón Steingrímsson is remembered for preaching the "eldmessa" (Fire Sermon) which is said to have brought the lava flow which threatened to engulf the village to a halt.

However, the deaths were not restricted to Iceland: just like during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, a cloud drifted over Europe during the weeks and months following the 1783 eruptions - in this case carrying sulphur dioxide which caused smog which proved fatal to many thousands of people. The cloud reached Britain on June 22, 1783, and it has been estimated that 23,000 Britons died as a result of inhaling its fumes; other European countries had similar death rates.
Source: Author Briseis

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