The fire, frost and water symbolized by the red, white and blue of Iceland's flag are manifested by the ice and snow of its glaciers, the hot mud pools, geysers and glowing lava flows in the country's volcanic regions. The island's settlement dates back to 874 when a Norwegian named Ingolf Arnarson arrived at present-day Reykjavik. In 930, the settlers formed a legislature, the Alting, which was the beginning of the Commonwealth of Iceland. From the 10th to the 14th centuries, Iceland developed a literary form, the Icelandic Saga, which spread throughout the Nordic culture and into the English and German languages. It was used to spin stories of the gods, record historic events and glorify heroes.

Vestmannaeyjar, group of 15 small islands, c.10 mi (16 km) S of Iceland. In English they are known as the Westman Islands. The largest and most populous is Heimaey [home island]. The people live by fishing, fowling, and farming; great colonies of gannets and other waterfowl breed in these islands. The chief town is Vestmannaeyjar (1993 pop. 4,886) on Heimaey. In 1627, Algerian pirates ravaged the islands and carried nearly 300 people into slavery. In 1963 a volcanic eruption created the island of Surtsey. The eruption of a volcano on Heimaey in 1973 damaged Vestmannaeyjar and curtailed the fishing industry.

Djúpivogur is a small town and municipality located on a peninsula in the Austurland in eastern Iceland, near the island of Papey and on the fjord Berufjörður.

Orkney is an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland. The islands encompass Neolithic sites, tall sandstone cliffs and seal colonies. The 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' is a group of 5,000-year-old sites on Mainland, the largest island including Skara Brae, a preserved village with a reconstructed house, and Maeshowe, a chambered burial tomb incorporating 12th-century Viking carvings.

The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which experience a mild oceanic climate.

The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which experience a mild oceanic climate.

The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which experience a mild oceanic climate.

Oban is the principal settlement on Stewart Island / Rakiura, the southernmost inhabited island of the New Zealand archipelago. Oban is located on Halfmoon Bay, on Paterson Inlet. It has aircraft connections with Invercargill and a ferry service to Bluff.

Peel Sound is an Arctic waterway in the Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It separates Somerset Island on the east from Prince of Wales Island on the west. To the north it opens onto Parry Channel while its southern end merges with Franklin Strait.

Dublin has been the focal point of numerous predatory attentions over the centuries. The Bronze Age Celts settled on the banks of the Liffey, living peacefully until 9th century. Vikings greedily descended on the wealth of the Irish monasteries and destined Dublin to become an important trading post in their new world order. The year 1172 saw Henry II declare Dublin capital of his Irish kingdom after an indecisive victory, inaugurating centuries of British colonialism and Irish rebellion. Throughout the turbulent 18th century, calls for Catholic freedom and an end to the Protestant Ascendency led to skirmishes between the British Army and the native Irish. The formation of the "United Irishmen," with their doctrine of religious equality and the unity of the Irish people, reflected the rise of Irish national consciousness during this period. As Britain industrialized, it exploited Irish farmers, remunerating them poorly for their exported potatoes. The advent of potato blight in the mi…