Similarities and Contrasts

 

 Both countries are rich in resources. Iceland is rich in natural resources; namely fish stocks, geothermal power, water and natural beauty. Fish, geothermal power and water do not need explanation but natural beauty should be explained. With natural beauty there is an ever increasing tourism opportunities. Canada’s natural resources are water, forests and minerals. To some extent we could say that Canada also has vast natural beauty as well, which helps its tourism industry greatly.

 Even though there was over 800 years between their settlements the similarity between Canada and Iceland is that both countries were settled almost exclusively by immigrants. The Norse settled Iceland because there was a lack of land in Scandinavia around 900. Iceland had lots of land and could easily support settlement. In the 17 and 1800s all of Europe was becoming crowded and unable to support the ever-growing population. North America was a vast open area with unlimited potential. It was more than just Scandinavians that settled in Canada but the reason was the same as the settlement of Iceland. Canada has continued to receive immigrants; Iceland on the other hand has only recently been open to immigration. Iceland is getting to be very multicultural like Canada.

 Life and lifestyles are similar in Canada and Iceland. Governments are similar in both countries. Federal parliament controls government with a Prime Minister who is the leader of a political party. The largest political party chooses the Prime Minister. The official head, in Iceland the President, in Canada, the Queen and her representatives are more figureheads. The only difference is that in Iceland the President is elected while in Canada the Governor General is a political appointment. Both countries have a social welfare system that is similar. There is public health care and public schools and with the exception of some fees they are basically free to all citizens and most residents. Elderly people are cared for, in publicly owned and/or supported facilities. Education is comparable, from preschool through to university. Lastly religion in both countries is similar. There is a few more religions practiced in Canada than in Iceland, Iceland would has a higher rate of practicing or at least baptized and confirmed members of Churches.

 Climate is both similar and very different. In Canada there are some areas that would be similar to the climate of Iceland. Both coastal areas would be similar but the East Coast would be a little colder in the winter and maybe a little warmer in the summer. Iceland benefits more from the Gulf Stream than does Eastern Canada. In terms of temperature, the West Coast of Canada would be the most like Iceland. Precipitation levels on both coasts and Iceland would be very similar.

 Geography can show both similarities and contrast. Iceland is a relatively new land compared with Canada. It is quite rough with many mountains standing above the fjords and ocean. Canada on the other hand has similar landscape to Iceland on the East Coast of Canada. Other areas of Canada are vastly different than Iceland though. Canada has the Rocky Mountains and the vast Prairies. Some of Iceland is said to be Tundra, treeless and barren. Most of Canada’s North is Tundra. Geographically speaking Iceland is said to be a Northern Country. Reykjavik is the northern most Capital City in the World. Canada also has vast land in the north but it is relatively uninhabited.

 The difference in land mass is a big contrast between Iceland and Canada. Iceland is 102,819 sq. km. while Canada is almost 90 times that with a landmass of 9,093,507 sq. km. Canada is the second largest country in the world next to Russia.

This map shows the contrast in size and also the northerly location of both countries. Please note that not all of Canada is shown.

 Vegetation varies greatly also Of Canada's 921.5 million hectares of land area, forests cover 417.6 million hectares, or about 45 percent. Thirty-seven percent of Canada's forested land area is open forests, composed of muskeg, marshes, and sparse tree cover.

 The easternmost point of the Iceland is Gerpir (13°30’W), the northernmost Hraunhafnartangi (66°32’N), the westernmost Bjargtangar (24°32’W; also the westernmost part of Europe) and the southernmost, Dyrholaey (63°24’N).

The total area is about 103.100 km². Lakes cover about 3% of the area, deserts (incl. lava fields) about 63%, glaciers about 11% and 23% are vegetated. There is just over 1% of that vegetation trees or forests.

Iceland is different from most other countries. It is mountainous and situated between Greenland and Norway. It is the second largest island of Europe and its guardian in the west with rather a sparse population. About 20% of its area are populated. The central highlands and parts of the northwest are uninhabited.

 

 In 2000 the population of Canada was 30.7 million. Iceland’s population is 287,000.

Canada has over 100 times the population of Iceland and over 900 times the land mass but still they are very much alike. Both are settled exclusively by immigrants, Iceland much earlier but still immigrants. Both countries have a similar way of life and government. Both are high on the UN list of best countries to live in. Both countries have large uninhabitable, vegetation free areas. Both countries are circumpolar, far north close to the North Pole.