I Can’t Sleep - Iceland | Peaceful Bedtime Reading for Sleep

Episode Date: September 29, 2025

Relax with this calm bedtime reading designed to ease insomnia and help you sleep. Drift off as you explore the serene landscapes and fascinating history of Iceland in this soothing episode. You’ll learn about the island’s volcanic origins, Nordic heritage, and modern culture, all at a gentle pace perfect for winding down. Benjamin’s peaceful voice guides you through the facts—no whispering, no hypnosis—just calm, educational storytelling to help you manage stress, anxiety, or sleeplessness. Press play and settle in for a restful journey through Iceland. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Iceland, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to a Glassbox Media podcast. What if I told you that most of the modern day self-help advice you've been hearing could actually make you worse? The key to a better life isn't about feel-good gimmicks that sound catchy. The Mentally Stronger Podcast gives you access to a licensed therapist who shares science-backed tools that will actually change your life. Hi, I'm Amy Morin, psychotherapist, mental strength trainer, and international best-selling author. In each episode, we cover research-back strategies, like how to stop relying on willpower and start creating habits for lasting change. And the five mental strength-building exercises you can do from your couch. I also speak to world-class experts like Dr. Nicole Kane, who shares how to permanently heal anxiety by addressing the root cause.

With over 200 episodes in our catalog, this podcast is for you if you're ready to crush self-doubt, conquer challenges, become stronger than ever with therapist-approved strategies that can change your life. Listen to Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast, where I help you drift off one fact at a time. I'm your host, Benjamin Boster. And today's episode is about Iceland. Iceland is a Nordic island country between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Atlantic. Ocean, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America.

It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the region's western most and most sparsely populated country. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavik, which is home to about 36% of the country's roughly 390,000 residents. excluding nearby towns, suburbs, which are separate municipalities. The official language of the country is Icelandic. Iceland is on a rift between tectonic plates, and its geologic activity includes geysers and frequent volcanic eruptions. The interior consists of a volcanic plateau with sand and lava fields,

mountains and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the seas through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite being at a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle. Its latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate. According to the ancient manuscript, Landnamapok, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD, when the Norwegian chieftain Ingolv Arnason became the island's first permanent settler. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent, other Scandinavians, immigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin. The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althink,

one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. After a period of civil strife, Iceland exceeded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. In 1397, Iceland followed Norway's integration into the Kalmer Union, along with the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden. coming under de facto Danish rule upon its disillusion in 1523. The Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism by force in 1550, and the Treaty of Kiel formerly ceded Iceland to Denmark in 1814. Influenced by ideals of nationalism after the French Revolution, Iceland's struggle for independence took form

and culminated in the Danish-Islandic Act of Union, in 1918. With the establishment of the Kingdom of Iceland, sharing through a personal union the incumbent monarch of Denmark. During the occupation of Denmark and World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly to become a republic in 1944, ending the remaining formal ties to Denmark. Although Altthink was suspended from 1799 to 1845,

Iceland nevertheless has a claim to sustaining one of the world's longest-running parliaments. Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid after World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations. In 1950, Iceland joined the Council of Europe. In 1994, it became a part of the European Economic Area, further diversifying its economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing.

Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries, as well as the highest trade union membership in the world. It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education. Iceland ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. It has the smallest population of any NATO member, and is a small population of any NATO member, and is the only one with no standing army, possessing only a lightly armed coast guard.

The Lennamabok names Nathoth as the first Norseman to reach island in the ninth century, having gotten lost while sailing from Norway to the Faroe Islands. He gave the island its first name of Snyland, in English its snowland. The second one to arrive was the Swedish, Garthar Svarbison, who circumnavigated the island and named a Garthar Sholmer after himself. The island's present name originated from Floki Villiersarsen, the first Norseman to intentionally travel to Iceland. According to sagas of Icelanders, Floki coined the name after he climbed a mountain,

despondent after a harsh winter and present-day Votensfurtur. and saw an ice cap. The notion that Iceland's settlers chose a name to discourage competing settlements is most likely a myth. According to both Lanhamabok and Icelandanegabok, monks known as the Papar lived in Iceland before Scandinavian settlers arrived, possibly members of a Hiberno-Skottish mission. An archaeological excavation has revealed the ruins of a cabin in highland, Hoffner on the Rakhineas Peninsula. Carbon dating indicates that it was abandoned sometime between 770 and 880. In 2016, archaeologists uncovered a long house in Stisier further that may date to as

early as 800. Swedish Viking explorer Garthars Farverson was the first to circumnavigate Iceland in 870 and established that it was an island. He stayed during the winter. and build a house in Hussavik. Garthar departed the following summer, but one of his men, Nauthferi, decided to stay behind with two slaves. Nautfaris settled in what is now known as Nautfarvik, and he and his slaves became the first documented permanent residence of Iceland. The Norwegian Norse chief in Ingolfo Arnerson built his homestead in present-day Reykjavik in 874.

inglifer was followed by many other emigrant settlers larger scandinavians and their thralls many of whom were irish or scottish by nine thirty most arable land on the island had been claimed the alt-think the legislative and judicial assembly was initiated to regulate the icelandic commonwealth the lack of arable land also served as an impetus to the settlement of greenland starting in nine eighty six the period of these early settlements coincided with the medieval warm period when temperatures were similar to those of the early 20th century. At this time, about 25% of Iceland was covered with forest, compared to 1% in present day. Christianity was adopted by consensus around 999 to 1,000, although Norse paganism persisted among segments of the population for some years afterward.

The Icelandic Commonwealth established in the 10th century faced internal strife during the age of, Stirlings, circa 1220 to 1264. This period was marked by violent conflicts among chieftains, notably the Stirling family, leading to the weakening of the Commonwealth's political structure. The culmination of these struggles resulted in the signing of the Old Covenant, in 1262 to 1264, bringing Iceland under Norwegian rule. Environmental challenges further impacted medieval Icelandic society.

Upon settlement, approximately 25 to 40% of Iceland was forested. However, extensive deforestation occurred as forests were cleared for timber, firewood, and to create grazing land for livestock. This led to significant soil erosion and a decline in arable land, exacerbating the difficulties of sustaining agriculture in Iceland's harsh climate. Agriculture during this period was predominantly pastoral, focusing on livestock such as sheep, cattle, and horses. While early settlers cultivated barley,

the cooling climate from the 12th century onwards made grain cultivation increasingly difficult. The little ice age beginning around 1,300, brought colder and more unpredictable weather, further shortening growing seasons, and making farming more challenging. The Black Death reached Iceland in 1402 to 1404, and again in 1494 to 1495, with devastating effects.

The first outbreak is estimated to have killed 50 to 60% of the population, while the second resulted in a 30 to 50% mortality rate. These pandemics significantly reduced the population, leading to social and economic disruptions. In 1830, Olaf II of Denmark became King of Norway on his father's death. Denmark and Norway were thus united and personal union and ruled from Denmark. This was further solidified in the formation of the Kulmar Union in 1397. Through this, Iceland, as a Norwegian possession, came to be ruled by Denmark. Around the middle of the 16th century as part of the Protestant Reformation,

King Christian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all of his subjects. Iceland became officially Lutheran, and Lutheranism has since remained the dominant religion. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Denmark imposed harsh trade restrictions on Iceland. Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and disease, contributed to a decreasing population. In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark, Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel. But Iceland remained a Danish dependency.

Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to grow colder, resulting in mass emigration to the new world, particularly to the region of Gimley, Manitoba, and Canada, which is sometimes referred to as New Iceland. About 15,000 people emigrated out of a total population of 70,000. A national consciousness arose in the first half of the 19th century, inspired by romantic and nationalistic ideas from mainland Europe. an Icelandic independence movement took shape in the 1850s under the leadership of Yon Sigritson, based on the burgeoning Icelandic nationalism, inspired by the fielnessmen and other Danish-educated Icelandic intellectuals. In 1874, poet and clergyman Matthias Yakkimsen wrote the lyrics of Lovsunger, which became the Icelandic national anthem. Composer is five,

Feinburence, Feinzen wrote the music. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule. This was expanded in 1904, and Hannes Hofstein served as the first minister for Iceland in the Danish cabinet. The Danish-Islandic Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark signed on the 1st of December 1918 and valid for 25 years. recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign and independent state in a personal union with Denmark. The government of Iceland established an embassy in Copenhagen and requested that Denmark carry out on its behalf certain defense and foreign affair matters. Subject consultation was the Altling. Danish embassies around the world displayed two coats of arms and two flags, those of the

of the Kingdom of Denmark and those of the Kingdom of Iceland. Iceland's legal position became comparable to those of countries belonging to the Commonwealth of nations, such as Canada, whose sovereign as King Charles III. During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. After the German occupation of Denmark on the 9th of April, 1940, the Altsinck replaced the king with a regent. and declared that the Icelandic government would take control of its own defense and foreign affairs. A month later, British Armed Forces conducted Operation Fort,

the invasion and occupation of a country violating Icelandic neutrality. In 1941, the government of Iceland friendly to Britain invited the then-neutral United States to take over its defense so that Britain could use its troops elsewhere. On December 31, 1943, the Danish-Isslandic Act of Union expired after 25 years. Beginning on the 20th of May 1944, Icelanders voted in a four-day plebiscide on whether to terminate the personal union with Denmark, abolish the monarchy, and establish a republic.

The vote was 97% to end the union, and 95% in favor of the new Republican constitution. Iceland formally became a republic on the 17th of June 1944 with Svein Burencen as its first president. In 1946, the U.S. Defense Force left Iceland. The nation formerly became a member of NATO on the 30th of March, 1949, amid domestic controversy and riots. On the 5th of May, 1951, a defense agreement was signed. with the United States. American troops returned to Iceland as the Iceland defense force and remained throughout the Cold War.

The U.S. withdrew the last of its forces on the 30th of September 2006. Iceland prospered during the Second World War. The immediate post-war period was followed by substantial economic growth, driven by the industrialization of the fishing industry and the U.S. Marshall Plan program. through which Icelanders received the most aid per capita of any European country. Vigdis Finn Bajotir assumed Iceland's presidency on the 1st of August 1980, making her the first elected female head of state in the world. The 1970s were marked by the Cod Wars,

several disputes with the United Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits to 200 nautical miles offshore. Iceland hosted a summit in Reykjavik in 1986 between United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, during which they took significant steps towards nuclear disarmament. A few years later, Iceland became the first country to recognize the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as they broke away from the USSR. throughout the 1990s, the country expanded its international role and developed a foreign policy oriented towards humanitarian and peacekeeping causes. To that end, Iceland provided aid and expertise to various NATO-led interventions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Iceland joined the European

economic area in 1994, after which the economy was greatly diversified and liberalized. International economic relations increased further after 2001, when Iceland's newly deregulated banks began to raise great amounts of external debt, contributing to a 32% increase in Iceland's gross national income between 2002 and 2007. In 2003-2007, following the privatization of the banking sector and the government of Davis-Odsen, Iceland moved towards having an economy based on international investment banking and financial services. It was quickly becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world, but was hit hard by a major financial crisis. The crisis resulted in the greatest migration from Iceland since 1887, was a net emigration of 5,000 people in 2009. Iceland's economy established under the government of Johanna Sigurthodir and grew by 1.6% in 2012.

The Center Right Independence Party was returned to power and coalition was the Progressive Party in the 2013 election. In the following years, Iceland saw a surge in tourism as the country became a popular holiday destination. In 2016, Prime Minister Sigmunderdavis Kunluxen resigned after being implicated in the Panama Papers scandal. Early elections in 2016 resulted in a right-wing correlation government of the Independence Party, Vithrazen, and Bright Future. This government fell when Bright Future quit the coalition due to a scandal. Snap elections in October 2017. brought to power a new coalition consisting of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and the Left Green Movement,

headed by Katrin Jakub's daughter. After the 2021 parliamentary election, the new government was, just like the previous government, a tri-party coalition of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and the left green movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrin Yacob's daughter. In April 2024, Bjarna Benedictson of the Independence Party succeeded Katrin Jakubstadir, his prime minister. In November 2024, Center-left Social Democratic Alliance became the biggest party in a snap election,

meaning Social Democratic Christian Frustodder became the next Prime Minister of Iceland. Iceland is at the juncture of the Arctic Ocean and the North, Atlantic Ocean. The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island of Grimsae off the main island's northern coast. The country lies between latitudes 63 and 68 degrees north and longitudes 25 and 13 degrees west. Iceland is closer to continental Europe than to mainland North America, although it is a large of the United States. Although it is closest to Greenland, an island of North America. Iceland is generally included in Europe for geographical, historical, political, cultural,

linguistic, and practical reasons. Geologically, the island includes parts of both continental plates. The closest bodies of land in Europe are the Faroe Islands, Jan Mayan Island, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides, both about seven, 740 kilometers, and the Scottish mainland and Orkney, both about 750 kilometers. The nearest part of continental Europe is mainland Norway, about 970 kilometers away, while mainland North America is 270 kilometers away at the northern tip of Labrador. Iceland is the 18th largest island in the world, and the second largest island in the world.

and the second largest island in Europe, smaller than Great Britain and bigger than Ireland. The main island covers 101,826 square kilometers, but the entire country is 103,000 square kilometers in size, of which 62.7% is tundra. Iceland contains about 30 minor islands, including the lightly populated Grimse and the Vesmene, or archipelago. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface, only 23% is vegetated. The largest lakes are Thoris Vaden Reservoir, 83 to 88 square kilometers, and Thing Vadlavatn, 82 square kilometers.

Other important lakes include Lagerfjord and Mi Vatan. Yerker-Sarlon is the deepest lake at 248 meters. Geologically, Iceland is a part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new crust. This part of the mid-ocean ridge is located above a mantle plume, causing Iceland to be sub-aerial above the surface of the sea. The ridge marks the boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate, and Iceland was created by rifting and accretion through volcanism along the ridge.

Iceland is the only large insular landmass in the world, which is located on a mid-ocean ridge above sea level. It is probably the only place in the world where the effects of two major tectonic plates drifting apart can easily be observed above sea level. The island sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian Plate and the North American plate are moving away from each other. A geologically young land at 16 to 18 million years old. Iceland is the surface expansion of the Iceland Plateau, a large igneous province forming

as a result of volcanism from the Iceland hotspot and along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the latter of which runs right through it. This means that the island is highly geologically active with many volcanoes. The volcanic eruption of Lockhe in 1783 to 1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a quarter of the island's population. In addition, the eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia for several months afterwards, and affected climates in other areas. Iceland has many geysers, including Gaysier, from which the English word is derived,

and the famous Stroker, which erupts every 8 to 10 minutes. After a phase of inactivity, Gaysier started erupting again after a series of earthquakes in 2000. Gaysier has since grown quieter and does not erupt often. With the widespread availability of geothermal power and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating, and electricity. The island is composed primarily of basalt, a low silica lava associated with effusive volcanism, as has also occurred in Hawaii.

Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types. composite and fissure, many producing more evolved lava such as rhyolite and antisite. Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes with about 30 active volcanic systems. Surzei, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland. Named after Sertr, it rose after the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions between the 8th of November, November, 1963, and June 5th, 1968. Only scientists researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the island. The country has approximately 30 active volcanic systems.

Within each are volcano tectonic fissure systems, and many, but not all of them, also have at least one central volcano, mostly in the form of a stratovolcano. sometimes a shield volcano with a magma chamber underneath several classifications of the systems exist for example there is one of thirty systems and one of thirty-four systems with the latter currently being used in iceland itself