5 Videos On Urban Areas and Hot Spots In Iceland
Wednesday, 4th December 2019

In the study of urban geography, Iceland may not be the obvious choice. Iceland is probably most recognised for its rugged outdoors, with 80% of Iceland being uninhabited. Yet Iceland’s urban areas should certainly not be ignored. 99% of the country’s population live in urban areas, proving the popularity of Iceland’s dynamic cities and growing towns.
We have five fantastic videos for you to use in your classroom…
- Hveragerdi (point 12 on the GIS map)
A detailed case study on how the town of Hveragerdi has developed and grown, and used its natural surroundings to aid this.
- Reykavik (point 5 on the GIS map)
Reykavik provides a case in difference compared to most European cities, with rural-to-urban migration prominent through recent decades.
- Akureyri (point 32 on the GIS map)
The second largest city in Iceland and the capital of the north, with a population of around 19,000 people.
- Húsavík (point 39 on the GIS map)
Discover how the popularity of whale watching has drawn tourists to the area and boosted to economy of the small town.
- Efsti-dalur (point 23 on the GIS map)
This small farm has been family run for generations but in recent years has welcomed tourists to its onsite café and farm tours. Plus, is a national business, providing ice cream across Iceland.
More on Hveragerdi…
If you are interested in discovering more on the fantastic ‘Changing places: Hveragerdi’ case study then in addition to the video, we have a range of further resources including lesson ideas and resources and answer guidance.
More from GIS Iceland…
You may have seen our innovative teaching resource “GIS Iceland”. The resource showcased the unique landscape of Iceland with the use of 41 videos filmed across the whole of the country. These videos help to bring the sights and sounds of the Land of Ice and Fire, right to the classroom.
If ‘Urban geography’ isn’t your current focus then check out more videos from GIS Iceland, plotted on an interactive GIS map. Topics include;
- Volcanic features and landforms
- Glacial Features and Landforms
- Coastal Areas and Landforms
- Rivers and Waterfalls.