The Emigration from Iceland to USA & Canada

This Icelandic Documentary tells the story of early Icelandic emigration to North America 1873-1914 - Click on CC for subtitles where Icelandic is spoken

The population of Iceland was approximately 70,000 in 1870 and it is generally estimated that somewhere between 16,000 and 20,000 Icelanders emigrated or 20 – 25% of the total population of Iceland at the time.

The latter half of the 19th century in Iceland featured harsh weather and natural disasters which led to economic hardship. A series of hard winters, cold summers, pack ice, violent winds, heavy snow and sand storms led to land erosion, crop failure, poor harvests, little fodder for animals and loss of livestock throughout the country. In 1875, an eruption of the volcano Askja covered parts of the North and East with poisonous ash and pumice, adding to the already desperate situation of many farmers.

There were few towns and so the vast majority of citizens were living in rural areas. Many were subsistence farmers, living in crushing poverty, with little opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. The economic conditions of the country at the time played a big part in the decision to leave the country and this was supported by the various agents, hired by the shipping lines, who travelled around Iceland encouraging people to emigrate.

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The Icelandic Emigration Centre in Hofsós
http://hofsos.is/en/front-page/

The Icelandic Emigration Centre in Vopnafjörður
  / vesturfaramiðstöð-vopnafjÖrdur-east-icelan...