Iceland

For the first time in history there are mosquitoes in Iceland. And it was assumed that they couldn’t get there

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Iceland is being invaded. Not just for touristsbut because of something perhaps more undesirable: insects that had never been seen on the island. For the first time in their history, at least since records have been kept, Icelanders have encountered one of the bugs most undesirable and hated for all of us who have to sleep with the windows open in summer: mosquitoes. They have been few, but they can represent the advance of a full-fledged colonization. Unwanted guests. Bjorn Hjaltason is an amateur entomologist who was hunting for insects last week when he found something strange. On the wine-soaked rope he uses to catch moths and being able to observe it, three insects fell that have nothing to do with moths. They were mosquitoes, specifically two females and a male, but at first, Hjaltason described them as “some strange flies.” And as they count in BBCthe event was such that the local media opened with the news. Because yes, it is more serious than it may seem (and not because of the bites). Shelter. Iceland has remained one of the world’s mosquito-free bastions, one of only two mosquito-free havens. The other is Antarctica, and the reason is that these insects they don’t handle the cold well. Being cold-blooded, they need environmental heat to carry out their activity. When air temperatures are around 10º, their metabolism slows down so much that they become dysfunctional. Not only can they not fly, but they also cannot reproduce. In warmer climates, this is the time when they enter a kind of hibernation, looking for shelters in which to weather the storm until the heat returns. In Iceland it was not necessary because the average temperature was below 10º. BUT. Climate changethere is no more. Records from the Reykjavík observatory show that in the last 30 years there has been a gradual increase of temperatures, with average values ​​that have past from 2.4º to 4.1º. The average temperature has increased by 0.5º in the last decade, almost double of the planet average and there are areas that have broken all records. They are also occurring extreme episodeslike the 26.6º that in Córdoba would be pleasant and to go out with a jacket in the morning, but that in May of this year must have felt like real hell in Egilsstaoir. There were episodes like this before, but reports indicate that these events that were anomalies are becoming more common. You have to wait. Mosquitoes, of course, are at ease with those temperatures, but the big question is where they came from. Hjaltason found them in Kjós and speculates that they may have come on a freighter that landed at Grundartangi. The two cities are in western Iceland and the insect enthusiast points out that unusual ‘bugs’ usually come in those freighters. Another entomologist, Matthías Alfreodsson, to whom Hjaltason sent the mosquitoes confirmed that, although they belonged to a species that tolerates low temperatures somewhat better –Culiseta annulata-, they should not be in Iceland and we will have to wait until spring to check if the species has really established itself on the island. But Hjaltason is clear that if three of them went directly to his garden, “there will probably be more.” I feel sorry for you, fellow Icelanders. Images | Enzo Guidi In Xataka | The Japanese method to get rid of mosquitoes at home during the summer: katori senko

The eruption of a volcano was synonymous with danger 100 years ago. Today has made Iceland a theme park

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Exactly one year ago, Iceland took a unexplored path In his fight against mass tourism: in essence, tell the truth to the visitor. Thus began a marked campaign For a slogan: “No one will save you if you fall”, which unequivocally came to confirm the hordes of the dangers of getting too close to an erupting volcano. Today, Iceland wonders if it was worth “opening” both the world. The awakening that changed everything. In 2010, when Eyjafjalajökull volcano interrupted air traffic European with an ash cloud that paralyzed the continent, Iceland went from being a remote island and evoked in Nordic sagas to become a global stage. The images of glaciers, black beaches and hot springs spread by international chains aroused the curiosity of the world in a country that had just suffered the blow of The financial crisis. With the campaign Inspired by Icelandthe government and tourism industry They took the moment. From then on, the landing of low -cost airlines and Viral phenomena In social networks (including a Justin Bieber video clip between waterfalls and aircraft remains) they catapulted the island to essential destination. Mass tourism. In just fifteen years, the number of visitors went from less than half a million to More than 2.3 million annuallymultiplying the local population several times during the high season. Tourism revitalized villages, generated employment and transformed the economyto the point of becoming the Main motor of the country. Locations Like Vikonce agricultural, they saw how the stables gave way to guest houses, improvised coffees in school bus and attractions of adventure. Immigration accompanied This boom: in some municipalities, foreigners are already a majority, and the arrival of new residents has even caused an unexpected “baby boom”. For many mayors and local businessmen, current problems are preferable to the decline of peoples that previously seemed condemned to abandonment. The identity dilemma. However, obviously not everything is good news. Tourism has contributed economic vitality, employment and infrastructure, but also tensions. Farmers complain about visitors who enter their lands or feed horses without permission, even causing deaths of animals. In Vikthe massive arrival of foreign workers has altered the social and urban fabric, with prefabricated homes that change traditional aesthetics. Even in schools they have had to Put posters to prevent tourists from photographing children. In the environmental plane, basic systems as the sewer They have been overwhelmed. Many Icelanders recognize the prosperity that tourism has given them, but they wonder how much local culture can resist without diluting. Iceland as theme park. More than a decade later that Eyjafjalajökull Cover the European sky with ashes and put the country on the global map, many critics argue that the island has run the risk of becoming in a “volcanoes theme park.” The geysers, glaciers and mountains of fire are today part of an itinerary Almost prefabricated, driven by low -cost airlines and Instagram selfies, which concentrates crowds in a handful of iconic landscapes while other regions remain outside. What was previously perceived as an indomitable and mysterious territory has become a tourist decoration subject to the logic of rapid consumption, where the eruption that attracted the world was transformed In advertising claim permanent. For many Icelandic, the paradox is evident: the volcano that saved the economy now threatens to devour the essence of their country. The future. Thus, academics and analysts propose Diversify the routes and offer deepest experiences linked to the history and culture of the country, to prevent tourism from reduced to a handful of “postcard places.” Regions such as Western Fjords or Fisheries North are still relatively on the sidelines, although the opening of direct flights could change the situation. The issue, according to many Icelanders, is not to close the door to visitors, but rethink the model: Attract those who want a longer and more conscious experience, instead of fast visits dictated by social networks. The national phrase Þetta Reddast (“Everything will work out”) reflects the resilient optimism of the country, although now faces the most uncomfortable question: Can Iceland continue to receive the entire world without sacrificing what made it unique? Image | Pexels, Berserkur In Xataka | “No one will save you if you fall into the volcano”: Iceland reopens one of its greatest claims with the best anti -tourism slogan In Xataka | In Barcelona, ​​the anti-tourism movement is adopting a radical tactic: harass tourists down the street

The first time Spain displays combat airplanes in Iceland

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In a context marked by the War in Ukraine and Moscow’s growing aggressiveness in airspace of the North Atlantictogether with the progressive militarization of their Strategic routesSpain has first assumed the most active role in the defense of NATO’s northern flank. A historical step. Yeah, for the first time In its history, Spain has deployed combat planes in the nation of northern Europe as part of the NATO Air Police Mission. The operation, baptized as Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) Stinga (“Sting” in Icelandic), represents a milestone for the Army of the Air and Space (EA), which until now had concentrated its participation in the east flank of the Atlantic Alliance, especially in the Baltic countries. With this movement, the Spanish government intends to demonstrate Your commitment With all NATO defense scenarios, including the Arctic strategic, which gains relevance to the growing military activity Russian in the North Atlantic. Keflavik: The new Spanish advanced position. The detachment will operate from the Keflavik air basesouth of Iceland, considered a critical installation for its location in the North Atlantic, key to the control of intercontinental air traffic and for the routes between North America and Europe. Iceland, country No Air Force Own, trust Rotations of NATO allies to guarantee the integrity of their airspace. To the 44 aviators They arrived as advanced to prepare the operation, will add up to 122 Spanish military (among pilots, maintenance technicians, specialists in armament, logistics and security personnel), responsible for operating six F-18 fighters They arrived on July 22. The mission will officially begin on the 28th and will run until mid -August. Permanent alert in the north sky. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco, the Stinga detachment will be in fast reaction alert (QRA), or in other words, will be prepared to Intercept any aircraft That violates the standards of allied airspace, whether flying without a flight plan, without radio contact or with the transposeor off, a usual practice in air intimidation maneuvers by Russia. This is precisely the reason why NATO launched in 2014 (After the Crimea Russian Annexation) a series of air surveillance deployments that have been expanding their territorial presence throughout Europe. “Hostile” training. Plus: Unlike other air police missions already carried out in Estonia, Lithuania or Romania, Iceland presents different operational challenges. Not only because of latitude and weather conditions, but by lack of previous experience of the Spanish army in that theater. That is precisely the reason why, according to The world pointedan intense preparation in simulatorsrecreating specific scenarios for the Arctic environment. In addition, training flights in the region have been scheduled to consolidate the operational capacities of the pilots and maintain the full operation of the F-18. Beyond a gesture. Although the duration of the mission will be rather brief, its political and strategic value is significant. Spain thus reinforces its image of Reliable and willing ally To participate in the distribution of responsibilities within the Atlantic Alliance, aligning with the priorities of Moscow deterrence On all fronts, including the least visible so far for Spanish public opinion. By projecting strength in the north, the Spanish nation also contributes to the defensive architecture that extends from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle, at a time when NATO Redfine Its military borders before a Kremlin every time more aggressive. Operation Stinga thus not only a punctual deployment, but the beginning of A new phase in the outer projection of the Spanish armed forces. Image | Ministry of Defense of Spain In Xataka | With its rejection of dedicating 5% of GDP to Defense, Spain has done something else: open the melon of the melons in NATO In Xataka | Spain refuses to spend 5% of GDP on artillery. Because what you really want is to sell it to Europe

A US Nuclear Submarine has just arrived in Iceland for the first time in history. That can only mean one thing: Giuk

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When 2025 United States began, a word incessantly repeated: Greenland. There was no appearance of Trump where he did not slide that Washington was interested in getting the small nation, even for the bad. Behind, of course, There was much more that an occurrence, because the island is part of a Western strategic edge that he shares with the United Kingdom and Iceland. Interestingly, the first nuclear submarine in the US has just come to stay. First nuclear scale. Yes, by first time In history, a nuclear propulsion submarine in the United States has docked in Iceland. He USS Newport Newsa fast attack unit Los Angeles classarrived in Reykiavik in a movement that underlines the growing strategic importance of the Arctic in a context of Geopolitical tensions increasingly acute. The Icelandic government only began to allow the entry of nuclear submarines in its territorial waters in 2023and this inaugural visit is part of an increasingly narrow cooperation pattern with Washington and NATO. The American navy presented the event as A “decisive moment” which reaffirms its commitment to collective defense and maritime security of the Arctic, while American diplomats in Reykiavik stressed that the operation has been carried out in full Coordination with Icelandcountry that does not have its own naval forces and depends on the allied umbrella for protection. Giuk. It We count A few months ago. The geostrategic background of the event is closely linked to the call Giuk runner (Between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom), a strip of key waters through which routinely submarines of the Russian north fleet, including the advanced yasen-m Cruise missile carriers. The location of Iceland makes the island a vital control point to follow these vessels before they are hidden in the vast Atlantic and represent a potential threat to the east coast of the United States. During the cold war, Iceland housed to the 57th Hunting Wing of the American Air Force at the Keflavik base, as well as maritime surveillance detachments With P-3 Orion aircraft. Currently, this surveillance persists with modern P-8a Poseidon and with NATO fighters that rotate to cover the Icelandic airspace. The Newport News stop adds to that renewed defense network, in a context where NATO has intensified protection of underwater infrastructure after alleged sabotage acts Russian In the Baltic which alerted about the vulnerability of vital cables and conduits. Sobs on board the submarine make guard while arriving in Reykjavík, Iceland And more. As We explainYes, let’s say Russia or China cross the corridor, its location would become extremely difficult, both because of the acoustic conditions of the underwater terrain and by oceanic vastness. Thus, from those hidden positions they could launch missile attacks against objectives in the east of the American continent. In fact and in response to this, the United States formed in 2021 the so -called Task Group Greyhounda specialized group of anti -submarine destroyers Designed to counteract This specific threat. The American navy itself warned at the time that the east coast of the country already It was not a safe shelterunderlining the urgency of establishing surveillance and defense points in key areas such as Greenland. The Russian answer. The truth is that Russia has proven to know very well the value of this corridor. In 2019, he organized its greatest naval exercise From the Cold War, sending at least ten submarines through the completely submerged Giuk gap, with the aim of Reach the Atlantic without being intercepted. According to Norwegian mediathe intention was clear: to prove the capacity of the West to detect movements of his fleet and demonstrate that he could project power to the US coast. These exercises also fulfill a fund growing territorial presence. A new stage. Beyond its symbolic value, the arrival of the Newport News represents an important operational step for the United States: to have a logistic support point for nuclear submarines in the Arctic without the need for move to Scotland or northern Norway. The ship, equipped with twelve vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk missiles and anti -submarine and anti -surface warfare systems, also provides surveillance and deterrence in a region where Russia has reinforced its naval presence and has increased its military activity near Finland. Icelandic Foreign Ministry itself recognized that these visits contribute to continuous and efficient underwater surveillance that also protects critical infrastructures submerged in Icelandic waters. Since 2023, six American submarines They had already briefly entered the island waters for partial crew rotations, but this is the first stop in port, product of bilateral regulations prepared with discretion and based on similar agreements with other Nordic countries. An emerging axis. The submarine scale is not an isolated case: in 2019, B-2 Spirit poachers They also used Iceland as an advanced base, which was a novelty for both aircraft and for the island. The ability to operate from austere locations has become a key principle of the American projection strategy. Iceland, who for decades played a secondary role after the end of the cold war, is repositioning as a central node in the defensive device of NATO in the north, especially in front of the resurgence of the Russian underwater threat. This scale, therefore, is not only a naval operation, but a silent but unequivocal statement of intentions: the United States contemplates the Arctic as a theater of strategic competence in full boom, already Iceland as its new bastion. Image | USN In Xataka | We already know why Greenland is so important: the key is called Giuk and gives access to China and Russia east of the US In Xataka | In the Norwegian cold war he devised a plan underground to detain the Soviet. Invasion to Ukraine has reactivated it

The war between the Azores anticyclone and Iceland depression will have a clear winner in the coming weeks: Spain

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If there is any field in which what was said by the famous physicist Niels Bohr that “it is difficult to make predictions, especially of the future“That is meteorology. Although it is not always the case. There are times that, with all the uncertainties we want, “we see them come long before normal.” And that is what just happened: the main prediction models in the world They say we are going to a negative nao stage. Something that, in the face of spring, can be excellent news. What is NAO? ‘Nao’ are the acronym in English of ‘North Atlantic oscillation‘And basically refers to the’ dance ‘between the Azores anticyclone and the loss of Iceland, the two great atmospheric phenomena that govern the meteorology of the North Atlantic. When the index we use to “measure who is winning” is negative, the anticyclone of the Azores is weaker than normal and, therefore, cannot block the deep storms of the Atlantic. The direct consequence is that, they circulate further than normal: in our latitudes. Kristian Strommen et als. (2021) The news is that, indeed, it seems that we are going to Noa negative. Both the NOAA American and the European ECMWF They coincide in which “we are at the gates of a Nao phase in descent.” And what consequences would this have? The combination of a negative nao and a large mass of stagnant polar air in the continent would cause the circulation of deep storms to pass us over and, therefore, the weather conditions are stirred. A summary of the situation. In the short term, we are in the midst of that cyclogenesis festival that we have already talked about, but when the stability will be installed again. That means that nocturnal temperatures will lower, the frost will return and the fog will return. From then on, if the NOA phase change is confirmed, the situation becomes difficult to predict. The good part of this type of diagnoses is that it is very solid (that is, it is quite likely to pass); The bad is that the details become more complex: it can be triggered from a sudden stratospheric warming that froze everything that caught its path to almost nothing. It is reasonable to wait for rain in one way (deep storms) or another (retrograde danas), however the prognosis is in the air. Image | Tropical tidbits In Xataka | In the next few days, Spain will be in the middle of a hall of Atlantic storms. It is good news, but not for everyone

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