Gwlad yr Iâ ‹ Cyfres 2011

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-Every island -transports you to another world.	0:00:07	0:00:11
-Where the nature of life -has evolved in its own unique way.	0:00:16	0:00:20
-But due to the pressures of the -modern world, the tide is turning.	0:00:23	0:00:27
-For better and for worse.	0:00:28	0:00:31
-In this series, we meet islanders -all over the world.	0:00:35	0:00:40
-People who are proud -of their history...	0:00:42	0:00:45
-..who preserve their customs...	0:00:45	0:00:49
-..and who are patriotic.	0:00:49	0:00:52
-SHE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:00:52	0:00:55
-But the globalization -of the world...	0:00:56	0:00:59
-..has made it impossible -for islanders to stand alone.	0:00:59	0:01:03
-In many ways, these shores -are leading the battle...	0:01:03	0:01:08
-..to save the planet.	0:01:08	0:01:11
-The island's fate -is critical to us all.	0:01:12	0:01:16
-In the middle of the North Atlantic, -on the edge of the Arctic Circle...	0:01:38	0:01:42
-..is an island -that could erupt at any moment.	0:01:42	0:01:46
-Iceland is one of the most -volatile places on earth.	0:01:50	0:01:54
-It has been created from the lava -of volcanic eruptions...	0:01:56	0:02:00
-..since time immemorial.	0:02:00	0:02:02
-The volcanoes are still erupting -and the island still forming.	0:02:03	0:02:08
-I've come to raise the curtain -on this magical island...	0:02:09	0:02:15
-..and to try to understand -its inhabitants...	0:02:15	0:02:18
-..who have survived -Mother Nature's onslaught.	0:02:18	0:02:21
-It's a large country -with a tiny population.	0:02:28	0:02:31
-Living here -is a challenge in itself.	0:02:31	0:02:34
-But islanders today are facing -greater risks than volcanoes.	0:02:36	0:02:41
-The wilderness is changing.	0:02:43	0:02:45
-Glaciers are disappearing...	0:02:45	0:02:48
-..as is the solitude that has -protected Icelanders for centuries.	0:02:51	0:02:56
-This is the birthplace -of the very first novel.	0:02:57	0:03:01
-But the island's story -is currently being rewritten.	0:03:02	0:03:06
-Iceland is at a major crossroads.	0:03:08	0:03:11
-Tension exists -between the old and the new.	0:03:14	0:03:17
-Important decisions have to be made.	0:03:20	0:03:23
-# Oh, my God, I'm losing it...	0:03:23	0:03:26
-To preserve the wilderness -or to industrialize it?	0:03:26	0:03:29
-# No, I can hardly breathe...	0:03:30	0:03:32
-To protect nature...	0:03:32	0:03:34
-..or to kill it?	0:03:36	0:03:38
-# I feel my heart suddenly alive #	0:03:38	0:03:41
-To communicate -with the outside world...	0:03:41	0:03:44
-..or to safeguard -the purity of its culture?	0:03:45	0:03:48
-One of the first things -that strikes you about Iceland...	0:03:55	0:04:00
-..is its remoteness.	0:04:00	0:04:02
-In terms of size, -the island is larger than England...	0:04:08	0:04:12
-..but fewer people live here -than in Cardiff.	0:04:13	0:04:17
-Another striking feature...	0:04:27	0:04:30
-..is the island's wild character.	0:04:30	0:04:32
-Iceland is one of the most -volcanic places on the planet.	0:04:36	0:04:40
-The magma - the molten rock within -the earth's mantle - is scorching.	0:04:41	0:04:46
-Iceland lies on the world's -most unstable geological fault...	0:04:47	0:04:53
-..the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.	0:04:53	0:04:55
-It's a tectonic boundary -that splits Iceland in two.	0:04:57	0:05:01
-As the plates separate, -magma rises from the ground.	0:05:05	0:05:09
-There are over 100 volcanoes -on the island today...	0:05:19	0:05:23
-..and more geothermal energy -than any other country.	0:05:24	0:05:28
-Due to its remote location...	0:05:31	0:05:34
-..Iceland's wild elements -are often forgotten...	0:05:34	0:05:38
-..until Mother Nature reminds -everybody of her innate power.	0:05:39	0:05:43
-In April 2010...	0:05:52	0:05:54
-..the volcano -Eyjafjallajokull erupted...	0:05:55	0:05:58
-..bringing Europe to a standstill.	0:05:58	0:06:01
-Because the volcanic ash -posed a danger to aircraft...	0:06:04	0:06:08
-..thousands of flights -were cancelled.	0:06:08	0:06:12
-It cost the international economy -hundreds of millions of pounds.	0:06:12	0:06:17
-This waterfall cascades -from the volcano...	0:06:17	0:06:21
-..that caused all the problems.	0:06:21	0:06:23
-It's a thrill for me -to see such a wonder...	0:06:23	0:06:26
-..but Icelanders -live with these wonders every day...	0:06:27	0:06:31
-..with volcanic earth -literally shifting under their feet.	0:06:31	0:06:35
-Haraldur Sigurdsson -is an expert in volcanology.	0:06:38	0:06:42
-He lives in one of the world's -most volcanic countries.	0:06:42	0:06:46
-HE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:06:46	0:06:48
-People have lived in Iceland -for more than 1,000 years.	0:06:49	0:06:52
-They've lived in the shadow of the -volcanoes and felt their effects.	0:06:53	0:06:57
-Eruptions are everyday occurrences.	0:06:57	0:07:00
-But this eruption was exceptional.	0:07:05	0:07:07
-It wasn't the scale of the eruption -that was the problem...	0:07:10	0:07:14
-..but the nature of the ash.	0:07:14	0:07:16
-A thick layer of ash covers -the base of the volcano...	0:07:17	0:07:22
-..that's so difficult to pronounce.	0:07:22	0:07:25
-Eyjafjallajokull.	0:07:25	0:07:27
-Gas from the magma combined -with steam from the glaciers...	0:07:30	0:07:34
-..to form incredibly fine -volcanic ash.	0:07:34	0:07:38
-This ash is so fine. -It's almost like flour.	0:07:39	0:07:43
-It was easily carried by the wind -to countries all over the world...	0:07:43	0:07:48
-..and brought airports -to a standstill.	0:07:48	0:07:52
-The ash descended -onto the entire island.	0:07:58	0:08:00
-It's underfoot everywhere.	0:08:02	0:08:04
-If you look around...	0:08:05	0:08:07
-..you'll notice -that the fields are empty.	0:08:07	0:08:10
-Livestock had to be moved -because the ash was poisonous.	0:08:11	0:08:15
-But the effects -of Eyjafjallajokull...	0:08:17	0:08:20
-..are nothing compared to what -happened here some 200 years ago.	0:08:20	0:08:25
-These are the lava fields -of Eldhraun.	0:08:34	0:08:37
-These tumps are the scars -from the molten rock...	0:08:38	0:08:41
-..that flowed in a red-hot river -from Lakagigar...	0:08:42	0:08:46
-..a tectonic fault -that erupted in 1783.	0:08:46	0:08:49
-For eight months, -Iceland was engulfed...	0:08:54	0:08:58
-..by three million cubic metres -of lava.	0:08:58	0:09:01
-A quarter of the island's -inhabitants were killed.	0:09:02	0:09:06
-The ash reached far and wide, -plunging the planet into darkness...	0:09:07	0:09:12
-..and killing six million people -around the world.	0:09:13	0:09:16
-Icelanders live with the constant -threat of fatal eruptions.	0:09:20	0:09:25
-But they have a better understanding -of how to protect themselves.	0:09:27	0:09:32
-All the island's volcanic movements -are monitored.	0:09:34	0:09:38
-If anything unusual appears...	0:09:38	0:09:41
-..residents are quickly evacuated -to a safe haven.	0:09:41	0:09:45
-No-one was killed -when Eyjafjallajokull erupted.	0:09:49	0:09:53
-But there is a different kind -of threat on the horizon...	0:09:53	0:09:58
-..one that threatens to change -the way of life of every islander.	0:09:59	0:10:04
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-Because Iceland's interior -is so barren and remote...	0:10:20	0:10:24
-..almost all the inhabitants -have settled on the coastline.	0:10:25	0:10:29
-The vast majority live in Reykjavik.	0:10:32	0:10:35
-As the world's most northerly -capital city...	0:10:36	0:10:39
-..Reykjavik only gets four hours -of daylight in winter.	0:10:40	0:10:44
-But in summer, it's light -almost around the clock.	0:10:44	0:10:48
-Reykjavik harbour -is the city's cornerstone...	0:10:49	0:10:53
-..and the landing point for -Iceland's most valuable resource.	0:10:54	0:10:58
-It's difficult to grow crops -in the barren volcanic soil...	0:10:59	0:11:04
-..but there is a rich harvest -in the sea.	0:11:04	0:11:07
-These waters are teeming with fish.	0:11:07	0:11:10
-It's these fish that have always -sustained the Icelanders.	0:11:10	0:11:14
-These days, only 1% of the island -is farmed to cultivate crops.	0:11:21	0:11:26
-Fishing is Iceland's main export -and the backbone of its economy.	0:11:30	0:11:36
-But in recent years, Iceland -followed a very different course.	0:11:37	0:11:42
-It was a profitable -yet dangerous course...	0:11:45	0:11:48
-..that shattered Iceland's economy -and had global consequences.	0:11:50	0:11:55
-Christian Davidsson -knows only too well...	0:12:01	0:12:04
-..how close the people of Iceland -came to losing everything.	0:12:04	0:12:09
-He offered to tell me all about it -in exchange for a day by the lake.	0:12:10	0:12:15
-What do you call that in Icelandic?	0:12:15	0:12:19
-Fiskur.	0:12:19	0:12:20
-Fiskur. - -Right, fiskur is fish.	0:12:20	0:12:23
-Lots of fiskur then.	0:12:23	0:12:25
-Fishing is more than a hobby -for Christian - it's a way of life.	0:12:25	0:12:30
-He was first paid to catch fish -when he was 15 years old.	0:12:34	0:12:38
-He comes from a family of fishermen.	0:12:38	0:12:41
-His father -was also a seaman for 30 years.	0:12:42	0:12:45
-Was that better?	0:12:52	0:12:54
-I have to do this. -I feel like a real angler now.	0:12:55	0:12:58
-HE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:13:01	0:13:03
-By becoming a fisherman, -Christian chose an uncertain career.	0:13:05	0:13:10
-Although the sea surrounding Iceland -is fertile...	0:13:11	0:13:15
-..it's also wild.	0:13:15	0:13:18
-Storms and ferocious waves -can develop in an instant.	0:13:22	0:13:26
-Over the centuries, sailors -have learned to respect the sea...	0:13:33	0:13:37
-..and pray for God's help -in guiding them.	0:13:37	0:13:41
-MAN PRAYS IN ICELANDIC	0:13:46	0:13:48
-The coast is dotted with churches.	0:14:01	0:14:04
-It was a sailor's last port of call -to pray before weighing anchor.	0:14:05	0:14:11
-MAN PRAYS IN ICELANDIC	0:14:15	0:14:17
-But even the most solemn prayer -couldn't ensure a safe voyage.	0:14:19	0:14:24
-The numerous sailors' graves...	0:14:24	0:14:26
-..bear witness -to the sea's merciless power.	0:14:27	0:14:31
-As the Icelandic saying goes, -the sea gives and takes away.	0:14:37	0:14:42
-Christian was lucky.	0:14:46	0:14:48
-He made a profit from fishing...	0:14:49	0:14:51
-..when Iceland was netting -a million tonnes of fish each year.	0:14:51	0:14:56
-But by the end of the 1990s, -the situation was about to change.	0:14:59	0:15:04
-A small group of businessmen...	0:15:06	0:15:08
-..took the reins and led Iceland -in a very different direction...	0:15:08	0:15:12
-..into the world of high finance.	0:15:13	0:15:15
-Seeing that there was more profit -in finance than fish...	0:15:17	0:15:22
-..Christian put an advertisement -in the paper.	0:15:22	0:15:25
-"Christian is looking for a job...	0:15:29	0:15:31
-"..where he will be part of a team -of ten or more workers."	0:15:31	0:15:36
-He had several offers, but the -most attractive was from the bank.	0:15:36	0:15:41
-HE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:15:41	0:15:43
-In no time at all, he became -an investor for the fisheries.	0:15:44	0:15:48
-Like many bankers, -he made his fortune.	0:15:49	0:15:51
-He holidayed abroad...	0:15:55	0:15:57
-..and the size of his wine cellar -in London increased significantly.	0:15:58	0:16:03
-It wasn't just the business people -who benefited from this new wealth.	0:16:03	0:16:08
-For the first time -in their history...	0:16:09	0:16:11
-..ordinary Icelanders -had money to burn.	0:16:12	0:16:14
-By borrowing and investing overseas, -Iceland became a rich nation...	0:16:20	0:16:25
-..for a while.	0:16:26	0:16:27
-But in 2008, -the global economy began to falter.	0:16:33	0:16:38
-Stock markets plummeted.	0:16:40	0:16:43
-The banks' credit tower vanished, -along with Iceland's wealth.	0:16:43	0:16:48
-It was as if a cloud of ash -had descended.	0:16:49	0:16:53
-The country -was up to its eyes in debt.	0:16:55	0:16:58
-The banks had borrowed -over six times the country's wealth.	0:16:58	0:17:03
-They went bankrupt overnight.	0:17:03	0:17:05
-Within a week, everything changed.	0:17:10	0:17:13
-Christian was out of work.	0:17:13	0:17:16
-Within six weeks, -unemployment had risen fivefold.	0:17:17	0:17:22
-Fiery public protests...	0:17:27	0:17:29
-..led to the collapse -of the discredited government.	0:17:29	0:17:34
-People were determined to return -to the old way of life.	0:17:35	0:17:39
-These days, fish once again -form the backbone of the economy.	0:17:44	0:17:49
-The fisheries are more important now -than ever before.	0:17:51	0:17:55
-With a million tonnes of fish -being caught...	0:17:55	0:17:58
-..the produce is exported, -providing revenue for the country.	0:17:58	0:18:02
-For many years to come, -any profit made from fishing...	0:18:04	0:18:07
-..will be used -to clear the country's debt.	0:18:08	0:18:11
-Even banks acknowledge the value -of the old produce.	0:18:11	0:18:16
-To show you the importance -of fishing to Iceland...	0:18:16	0:18:20
-..their coins feature a fish -rather than a figurehead.	0:18:20	0:18:24
-Christian has also returned -to what he knows best.	0:18:25	0:18:30
-He has set up a company to advise -the world's fishing industry.	0:18:30	0:18:35
-But he has a long way to go.	0:18:36	0:18:39
-The country is in so much debt, -the figures are hard to comprehend.	0:18:39	0:18:43
-Christian worries -about his children's future.	0:18:43	0:18:47
-The more the islanders -engage with the outside world...	0:18:52	0:18:56
-..the more their lives will change.	0:18:56	0:18:59
-Some years ago, Iceland was part -of a wealthy global community.	0:19:00	0:19:05
-The collapse -has thrust them back to the past.	0:19:09	0:19:12
-But the islanders' ancestors -have survived much worse things...	0:19:17	0:19:23
-..and evidence of their tenacity -has been left behind.	0:19:23	0:19:27
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-Since the Vikings landed here -more than 1,000 years ago...	0:19:47	0:19:52
-..the people of Iceland -have had to scrape a living.	0:19:52	0:19:55
-Wherever you go in Iceland...	0:19:56	0:19:58
-..there is evidence of people -trying to survive in remote places.	0:19:58	0:20:03
-A family of 18 would have lived -in a farmhouse of this size.	0:20:03	0:20:07
-They'd fish in the sea -and keep their livestock here.	0:20:07	0:20:10
-Confined to a spartan existence, -islanders used their imagination...	0:20:16	0:20:22
-..and escaped to a world -of magic and legend.	0:20:22	0:20:25
-Icelanders' literary tradition -is important not just to them...	0:20:30	0:20:35
-..but to the whole world.	0:20:35	0:20:37
-A special museum in Reykjavik -safeguards precious manuscripts.	0:20:40	0:20:45
-This collection of books -are the first novels ever written.	0:20:46	0:20:52
-These are the Saga, -which literally means story.	0:20:53	0:20:56
-They're historical novels...	0:20:56	0:20:59
-..written in Norse, that trace -Iceland's native and turbulent past.	0:20:59	0:21:05
-In the beginning, -the Saga were narrated orally...	0:21:13	0:21:16
-..from one generation to the next.	0:21:16	0:21:19
-During the bleak, cold winters...	0:21:26	0:21:28
-..the tales helped islanders -to forget their hardship...	0:21:29	0:21:33
-..and reminded them -of their courageous forefathers.	0:21:33	0:21:37
-In the 12th century...	0:21:42	0:21:44
-..parts of the Saga -were transcribed onto vellum.	0:21:45	0:21:49
-Even to this day, Icelanders -can understand the manuscripts.	0:21:51	0:21:55
-The remoteness of the island...	0:21:56	0:21:58
-..has allowed them to retain -the purity of an ancient language.	0:21:58	0:22:02
-The Saga's lessons about hardship...	0:22:03	0:22:06
-..and good versus evil -are still relevant today...	0:22:06	0:22:10
-..and still sell.	0:22:10	0:22:13
-Icelanders buy more books -and have more authors per capita...	0:22:17	0:22:22
-..than any other country -in the world.	0:22:22	0:22:25
-One of them is Gerdur Kristny.	0:22:28	0:22:30
-As a novelist, poet -and children's author...	0:22:33	0:22:36
-..she is inspired -by the old literature.	0:22:36	0:22:39
-SHE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:22:39	0:22:41
-The Saga are still relevant -to the Icelanders...	0:22:41	0:22:45
-..and are very important.	0:22:45	0:22:47
-Gerdur uses themes from the Saga -when writing her own books...	0:22:50	0:22:55
-..for both children and adults.	0:22:56	0:22:59
-SHE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:22:59	0:23:01
-The ideology of the battle -between good and evil...	0:23:03	0:23:07
-..and how to keep one's dignity -in adversity...	0:23:07	0:23:10
-..are still important -to the Icelanders.	0:23:10	0:23:13
-Of course, Wales also has -its medieval legends.	0:23:19	0:23:23
-Will our sagas strike a chord -with the young listeners?	0:23:24	0:23:28
-I have a story...	0:23:28	0:23:30
-..about a huge giant -called Bendigeidfran...	0:23:30	0:23:35
-..who used his body as a bridge -so that the people of Wales...	0:23:35	0:23:39
-..could walk over him to Ireland.	0:23:40	0:23:43
-GERDDOR SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:23:44	0:23:45
-Like the Mabinogion...	0:23:46	0:23:49
-..the Saga -are very bloodthirsty stories.	0:23:49	0:23:52
-But Gerdur tells me -that the children adore them.	0:23:52	0:23:57
-They love the Saga -and the scary legends.	0:23:57	0:24:01
-They truly believe -in Iceland's mystical creatures.	0:24:02	0:24:06
-Goblins who live under rocks.	0:24:09	0:24:12
-Ghosts that turn to stone -once dawn breaks.	0:24:14	0:24:17
-SHE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:24:20	0:24:22
-The children's version -of the Saga...	0:24:23	0:24:26
-..still includes all the ferocious -and bloodthirsty images.	0:24:26	0:24:31
-There's a lot of violence -in these old traditional tales.	0:24:32	0:24:36
-They clearly give children -a lot of pleasure.	0:24:36	0:24:40
-This love of literature has -sustained Iceland's book industry...	0:24:43	0:24:47
-..even during the recession.	0:24:50	0:24:53
-The government -has also lent a helping hand.	0:24:55	0:24:58
-Back home, during periods -of financial hardship...	0:25:00	0:25:03
-..the first things to suffer -are literature and the arts.	0:25:04	0:25:07
-But in Iceland, funding increases...	0:25:08	0:25:10
-..because they regard literature -as a form of therapy.	0:25:11	0:25:14
-Gerdur knows this from experience.	0:25:15	0:25:18
-The writing grant she receives...	0:25:18	0:25:22
-..has been extended -from one year to three.	0:25:22	0:25:25
-She says it's proof -that Icelandic literature...	0:25:29	0:25:32
-..is more important now than ever.	0:25:32	0:25:35
-But in the current climate...	0:25:35	0:25:39
-..Icelanders are also expected -to do more.	0:25:39	0:25:42
-They must show initiative.	0:25:45	0:25:47
-This island's wilderness -is changing...	0:25:57	0:26:00
-..at a rate never seen before...	0:26:00	0:26:03
-..and in ways that are -almost impossible to measure.	0:26:04	0:26:07
-In a country -carved from snow and ice...	0:26:15	0:26:18
-..it's easy to notice -the effects of global warming.	0:26:18	0:26:22
-The glaciers that cover 11% -of Iceland's land mass are melting.	0:26:26	0:26:32
-Vatnajokull -is Europe's biggest ice cap.	0:26:36	0:26:41
-It's a sheet of ice -almost a kilometre thick.	0:26:42	0:26:47
-But the ancient landscape -is disappearing, chunk by chunk.	0:26:48	0:26:52
-This piece of ice -is over 1,000 years old...	0:26:56	0:26:59
-..but the glaciers are melting -at an alarming rate.	0:27:00	0:27:04
-A century ago, -this lake didn't exist.	0:27:04	0:27:07
-As you can see, it's expanding -as the ice turns to water.	0:27:07	0:27:12
-The lagoon is incredibly beautiful.	0:27:16	0:27:20
-Tourists like me flock to see -the effects of global warming.	0:27:23	0:27:28
-You're only seeing 10% -of these lumps of ice.	0:27:47	0:27:50
-The rest is hidden underwater.	0:27:50	0:27:52
-Their size is incredible.	0:27:52	0:27:54
-Experts predict -that Iceland's glaciers...	0:27:58	0:28:02
-..will have all disappeared -in a few centuries...	0:28:03	0:28:07
-..thus transforming the island.	0:28:07	0:28:09
-The deterioration has already begun.	0:28:12	0:28:15
-The lagoon is washing away -the island's main coastal road.	0:28:16	0:28:22
-It's the same story -right across Iceland.	0:28:24	0:28:27
-As the glaciers thaw...	0:28:30	0:28:33
-..meltwater threatens -to make transport impossible.	0:28:33	0:28:38
-As the glaciers disappear, -the islanders are preparing...	0:28:45	0:28:49
-..for a different future...	0:28:49	0:28:51
-..a future conditioned -by the demands of the modern world.	0:28:52	0:28:57
-Many believe that renewable energy -will take Iceland forward.	0:29:03	0:29:09
-After all, the island is home...	0:29:10	0:29:12
-..to some of the world's largest -geothermal fields.	0:29:13	0:29:16
-Here, the earth's fiery heat -boils beneath the surface...	0:29:17	0:29:23
-..and the taste of sulphur -lingers in the mouth.	0:29:23	0:29:26
-There's no denying the immense force -building beneath the ground.	0:29:27	0:29:32
-The heat and the smell are awful.	0:29:32	0:29:35
-But there's a way of harnessing -this destructive energy...	0:29:35	0:29:39
-..and turning it -into something beneficial.	0:29:40	0:29:43
-Icelanders know how to fulfil -its potential.	0:29:46	0:29:49
-Almost every home -is heated by geothermal energy.	0:29:51	0:29:56
-But industrial growth -is fed by the rivers.	0:30:05	0:30:10
-They cascade wildly -from the glaciers.	0:30:10	0:30:13
-There is huge potential -for hydropower here.	0:30:16	0:30:20
-Business people the world over -are vying for it.	0:30:20	0:30:24
-In 2003, -the American company Alcoa...	0:30:30	0:30:33
-..chose the remote town -of Reydarfjordur...	0:30:33	0:30:36
-..as the location -for its aluminium factory.	0:30:36	0:30:40
-At 1.5km in length...	0:30:40	0:30:43
-..the Fjardaal factory -is the biggest industrial venture...	0:30:43	0:30:48
-..in Icelandic history.	0:30:48	0:30:50
-By heating the aluminium...	0:30:51	0:30:53
-..to a temperature -of 950 degrees Celsius...	0:30:53	0:30:57
-..the liquid metal -is extracted from the ore.	0:30:57	0:31:00
-The process requires -a vast amount of energy.	0:31:00	0:31:05
-Hydropower supplies that energy, -day and night.	0:31:06	0:31:10
-Alcoa employs 2,000 local people.	0:31:14	0:31:18
-The factory has replaced fishing -as the main local employer.	0:31:19	0:31:24
-It produces 940 tonnes of aluminium -every day...	0:31:27	0:31:32
-..and is vitally important -to the country's economy.	0:31:32	0:31:36
-Because Iceland doesn't have -a source of natural aluminium...	0:31:36	0:31:42
-..the ore is imported -thousands of miles to Fjardaal.	0:31:42	0:31:46
-Hydropower in Iceland produces -incredibly cheap electricity...	0:31:46	0:31:51
-..and that's what makes -this venture so profitable.	0:31:53	0:31:56
-But it comes at a cost.	0:32:00	0:32:03
-Iceland's wilderness -is paying the price.	0:32:05	0:32:09
-About 50km from the factory...	0:32:12	0:32:15
-..deep underground...	0:32:15	0:32:17
-..is a hidden power station.	0:32:17	0:32:19
-It's a labyrinth of tunnels...	0:32:21	0:32:24
-..channelling millions of gallons -of water through giant turbines.	0:32:24	0:32:29
-Every single kilowatt -of energy generated...	0:32:31	0:32:35
-..supplies the aluminium factory.	0:32:35	0:32:38
-It's one thing to build a factory...	0:32:38	0:32:40
-..but quite another to build a dam -to power that factory.	0:32:40	0:32:44
-We're in the bowels -of the mountain.	0:32:44	0:32:46
-It looks like something -from a James Bond film.	0:32:47	0:32:50
-Two huge rivers have been redirected -to flow through the pipes...	0:32:50	0:32:55
-..and shining machinery.	0:32:55	0:32:57
-The venture -cost over a billion euros to build.	0:32:57	0:33:02
-But you have to view the project -from up above...	0:33:04	0:33:08
-..to get a real sense -of its magnitude.	0:33:08	0:33:11
-This is Karahnjukar Dam.	0:33:18	0:33:22
-The water feeding the power station -collects in a 25km-long reservoir.	0:33:22	0:33:27
-This is Europe's highest -and most controversial dam.	0:33:29	0:33:33
-From the moment the government -unveiled its plans...	0:33:36	0:33:39
-..there have been angry protests...	0:33:40	0:33:42
-..against the drowning of one -of Europe's last wildernesses...	0:33:44	0:33:48
-..for the sake of industrialization.	0:33:48	0:33:52
-Protestors camped at the site...	0:33:52	0:33:55
-..and won widespread support -throughout the world.	0:33:56	0:34:00
-But their protests were in vain.	0:34:01	0:34:04
-The aluminium factory -has transformed the landscape...	0:34:04	0:34:09
-..and the local community's -way of life.	0:34:09	0:34:12
-It's easy to criticize the fact...	0:34:12	0:34:14
-..that a factory has been built -amid such beauty...	0:34:15	0:34:18
-..but it does mean that locals -can stay in their communities.	0:34:18	0:34:22
-It made me think of Wales.	0:34:23	0:34:24
-If we could attract investment -of over a billion euros...	0:34:25	0:34:29
-..to our rural communities, -would we build a similar factory?	0:34:29	0:34:34
-I'm not sure whether I'd be for -or against it any more.	0:34:37	0:34:41
-But there are some who believe -that industry isn't the only option.	0:34:46	0:34:50
-They want to protect -the island's wildlife...	0:34:51	0:34:55
-..in order to attract -a different kind of wealth.	0:34:55	0:34:59
-.	0:35:00	0:35:00
-888	0:35:04	0:35:04
-888 - -888	0:35:04	0:35:06
-Iceland is one of the world's -most remote wildernesses.	0:35:15	0:35:19
-It's one of earth's -least populated countries.	0:35:27	0:35:31
-Parts of the island -are so remote...	0:35:36	0:35:39
-..that they haven't even -been named yet.	0:35:39	0:35:42
-But the barren landscape -that kept people away for so long...	0:35:46	0:35:50
-..is now attracting them.	0:35:50	0:35:53
-They are being enchanted -by the island's beauty...	0:35:56	0:36:00
-..and its strange creatures.	0:36:00	0:36:03
-The north-eastern town of Husavik -is a popular tourist destination.	0:36:08	0:36:13
-It was one of the first places...	0:36:15	0:36:18
-..where the Vikings landed -and settled.	0:36:18	0:36:21
-For centuries, local people -scraped a living by fishing.	0:36:24	0:36:28
-Like the vast majority -of Husavik's residents...	0:36:32	0:36:35
-..the sea has been a regular -companion to Stefan Gudmundsson.	0:36:35	0:36:40
-HE SPEAKS ICELANDIC	0:36:40	0:36:42
-He went to sea for the first time -aged five.	0:36:43	0:36:47
-He's from a long line -of fishermen...	0:36:47	0:36:49
-..stretching back five generations.	0:36:50	0:36:53
-During the summer, Stefan's family -moved to an island...	0:36:57	0:37:00
-..an hour's journey -from the mainland.	0:37:01	0:37:03
-Landing on the island -was just like stepping back in time.	0:37:10	0:37:14
-These houses are still -without electricity and a water.	0:37:15	0:37:19
-But what a place.	0:37:22	0:37:24
-The waters surrounding the island -are incredibly fertile.	0:37:29	0:37:34
-In the old days, -the bigger the fish, the better.	0:37:34	0:37:38
-The fishermen caught -whatever was available.	0:37:40	0:37:43
-Whales, dolphins and porpoise.	0:37:44	0:37:48
-All these animals -were caught and eaten.	0:37:48	0:37:51
-But things are different now, -says Stefan.	0:37:54	0:37:57
-Hunting whales -no longer makes sense.	0:37:57	0:38:00
-Husavik's economy now relies -more on tourism than fishing.	0:38:07	0:38:12
-The most popular tourist pursuit -is a boat trip to watch whales.	0:38:14	0:38:18
-For a decade, Stefan -has been running Gentle Giants.	0:38:22	0:38:25
-It's Husavik's largest -whale watching company.	0:38:26	0:38:30
-It's his chance to show the beauty -of his homeland's wildlife.	0:38:39	0:38:44
-His ancestors would be amazed -to discover...	0:38:49	0:38:52
-..that the people of today -prefer cameras to harpoons.	0:38:53	0:38:58
-But the tide is turning -against the sea giants of Husavik.	0:39:09	0:39:13
-After a 25-year ban...	0:39:19	0:39:22
-..the Icelandic government -is now allowing whaling.	0:39:22	0:39:26
-Whaling ships that have been idle -for so long...	0:39:28	0:39:32
-..are once again sailing the seas.	0:39:33	0:39:35
-It is now legal -to kill these incredible mammals.	0:39:38	0:39:42
-Changing the law -was a controversial step.	0:39:45	0:39:48
-It's also a backward step, -in Stefan's view.	0:39:48	0:39:51
-There's more money to be made -watching whales than killing them.	0:39:53	0:39:57
-Apparently, -the whale watching industry...	0:40:03	0:40:06
-..is five times more lucrative -than hunting them.	0:40:06	0:40:09
-But Icelanders maintain...	0:40:09	0:40:11
-..that it's a tradition -that should be preserved...	0:40:12	0:40:15
-..despite protests -from the rest of the world.	0:40:16	0:40:19
-Stefan believes that people -are using the cause...	0:40:20	0:40:23
-..as an excuse -to express their identity.	0:40:24	0:40:27
-But for some tourists, -the paradox of whale watching...	0:40:34	0:40:38
-..in a country that allows whaling -creates a dilemma.	0:40:38	0:40:43
-If the visitors -kept away in protest...	0:40:44	0:40:47
-..the future of towns like Husavik -could be in jeopardy.	0:40:47	0:40:51
-Without revenue from tourism...	0:40:54	0:40:56
-..the residents would have to move -to the capital to find work.	0:40:56	0:41:01
-It's a familiar pattern -right across the island.	0:41:05	0:41:08
-Reykjavik's population has doubled -during the last 50 years.	0:41:14	0:41:18
-The argument -about the future of Husavik...	0:41:20	0:41:23
-..is a sign of the predicament -that Iceland faces.	0:41:23	0:41:26
-Today, it must choose between -an old tradition and a new start.	0:41:33	0:41:38
-With every tide, Iceland's -unique nature is under threat.	0:41:42	0:41:48
-But I believe -there is one characteristic...	0:41:49	0:41:52
-..that could help the islanders -retain their land.	0:41:53	0:41:57
-I'm on the last leg of my journey -around the island.	0:41:57	0:42:02
-I've seen the great wonders -of its landscape.	0:42:02	0:42:05
-But I also feel -that I've got to know the people.	0:42:05	0:42:10
-Whether they live rural -or urban lives...	0:42:10	0:42:13
-..these people respect the land.	0:42:14	0:42:16
-It's that respect -which unites them as a nation.	0:42:16	0:42:20
-By uniting, the islanders -can find their voice...	0:42:23	0:42:27
-..and claim their place -in the modern world.	0:42:27	0:42:30
-Back in Reykjavik, -I meet a group of lads...	0:42:33	0:42:36
-..who are trying to do just that.	0:42:36	0:42:38
-Icelanders love music.	0:42:39	0:42:41
-One of the most popular scenes -is the rock scene.	0:42:41	0:42:45
-Dikta is one of many bands -that record in Reykjavik.	0:42:45	0:42:48
-They're starting to make a name -for themselves internationally.	0:42:49	0:42:54
-# From my heart I sing to you -and I'm hoping	0:42:55	0:42:58
-# That you'll understand -what I'm trying to say #	0:42:58	0:43:03
-The band formed -when the boys were at school.	0:43:04	0:43:08
-At the time, many Icelandic artists -achieved chart success.	0:43:08	0:43:12
-Bjork and Sigur Ros paved the way -for bands like Dikta.	0:43:16	0:43:20
-It's incredible -that such a small island...	0:43:21	0:43:24
-..can produce -internationally-acclaimed artists.	0:43:24	0:43:28
-Dikta belong to a new generation -of islanders who live in the city.	0:43:31	0:43:37
-The rock scene -is vibrant in Reykjavik...	0:43:38	0:43:42
-..but as in Wales, -there's a limited market.	0:43:42	0:43:46
-Very few can make a living -from making music.	0:43:48	0:43:52
-You only have to sell 5,000 copies -to be awarded a gold disc.	0:43:52	0:43:56
-They all have full-time jobs.	0:44:00	0:44:04
-Two are teachers, one a pilot -and the other a doctor.	0:44:04	0:44:09
-If they were -to give up their jobs...	0:44:09	0:44:13
-..they'd have to appeal -to a wider audience...	0:44:13	0:44:16
-..and deal with the dilemma -faced by many Welsh-language bands.	0:44:16	0:44:21
-If you want to extend your following -beyond the Icelandic market...	0:44:22	0:44:27
-..it helps to record in English.	0:44:27	0:44:29
-It's an international language -that is widely understood.	0:44:30	0:44:34
-Like the Welsh, -many islanders are bilingual.	0:44:37	0:44:40
-English is the language -of many businesses here.	0:44:41	0:44:44
-But Icelandic -is the language of the arts.	0:44:46	0:44:49
-By singing in English, -Dikta are breaking with tradition.	0:44:49	0:44:55
-They feel that they are responding -to a new demand.	0:44:56	0:45:00
-Communicating with the world.	0:45:00	0:45:03
-# Oh, my God, I'm losing it	0:45:06	0:45:08
-# I'm finally going out of it...	0:45:08	0:45:10
-The medium may be English, -but Iceland's still the inspiration.	0:45:11	0:45:15
-# Thank you	0:45:16	0:45:19
-# Thank you for the world, -the world, the world...	0:45:19	0:45:24
-Everything will be OK - -jump in and do something.	0:45:28	0:45:32
-That's what Icelanders say.	0:45:32	0:45:34
-Dikta are jumping in -and doing something.	0:45:37	0:45:41
-# Thank you for the life	0:45:45	0:45:48
-# And making me see	0:45:48	0:45:51
-# Inside of me #	0:45:51	0:45:53
-Dikta's attitude is typical -of a nation trying to survive...	0:45:58	0:46:03
-..on a wonderful island.	0:46:03	0:46:05
-People who have learned to adapt -in a world of major change.	0:46:06	0:46:11
-After centuries of being -at the back of our minds...	0:46:13	0:46:16
-..this island -is demanding our attention.	0:46:17	0:46:20
-It's becoming more of an influence -on all our lives.	0:46:22	0:46:26
-But if Iceland -has already been transformed...	0:46:28	0:46:31
-..there's a bigger change looming.	0:46:33	0:46:36
-In the past, -islanders used their imagination...	0:46:41	0:46:45
-..to escape life's hardships.	0:46:45	0:46:48
-But times are changing.	0:46:51	0:46:53
-These days, -the people can escape tragedy...	0:46:55	0:46:58
-..and redirect nature as they wish.	0:46:58	0:47:02
-But for how long?	0:47:06	0:47:08
-As the world gets hotter -and the ice melts...	0:47:08	0:47:12
-..this country is being reshaped -in front of our eyes.	0:47:13	0:47:17
-It isn't just the landscape -that's at risk.	0:47:20	0:47:24
-For centuries, this country -has been isolated by the sea.	0:47:25	0:47:30
-This has protected -the language and culture.	0:47:30	0:47:34
-But globalization -is changing the world.	0:47:34	0:47:37
-The sea is no longer a barrier.	0:47:37	0:47:39
-There is confidence here...	0:47:39	0:47:41
-..but is it enough -to protect Iceland's uniqueness?	0:47:42	0:47:45
-I very much hope so.	0:47:46	0:47:48
-In so many ways...	0:47:49	0:47:52
-..the fate of Europe's -last remaining wilderness...	0:47:52	0:47:55
-..is important to us all.	0:47:56	0:47:58
-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.	0:48:29	0:48:31
-.	0:48:32	0:48:32

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