- Title: FRANCE: ICEBERG PLACED ON PAVEMENT TO ADVERTISE ICELAND EXHIBITION.
- Date: 27th September 2004
- Summary: VIDEO OF VOLCANO
- Embargoed: 12th October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Topics: Entertainment,Environment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAA151OJPO51R98STAE30PN3IPZ
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A giant piece of iceberg has been placed on a pavement in Paris in order to attract passersby to an exhibition on Iceland.
A piece of iceberg weighing 22 tonnes has been placed outside the Palais de la Decouverte in Paris in order to attract passersby to an freshly opened exhibition on Iceland.
The Palais de la Decouverte publicized a new exhibition on Iceland called 'Iceland a living earth' (Island Terre Vivant) by bringing an iceberg to the street outside the museum.
The block of ice, weighing 22 tonnes, was cut from the biggest glacier in Europe, the Vatnajokull glacier, which is between 1000 and 2000 years old and whose surface area is 8200 km sq. The iceberg was cut on the 13 September and in Paris two weeks later.
The exhibition itself will reveal the natural magic and beauty of Iceland and aims to represent the modernity of Iceland alongside the traditions of its people whose ancestors were Vikings.
Visitors will be immersed in an atmosphere created to reflect the particular climate and nature of Iceland, and they will discover the science of the country. Audiovisual displays, sounds effects and original scenery bring to life the glaciers, volcanoes, wind, Northern lights (Aurora Borealis), water, fire and larva pyramids that form Iceland's unique nature. The exhibition features guides dressed as elves to inform visitors of the science and history of the country. Elves are very important in Icelandic mythology, and by telling stories to visitors, they are continuing the strong oral traditions of Iceland.
David Pilette, an actor from 'Compagnie Barraca' who plays one of the Elves, said the importance of these mythological characters cannot be underestimated, "There are places believed to be inhabited by elves, they don't hesitate to divert the roads", he said.
There will be talks and conferences throughout the duration of the exhibition. Some of the main themes addressed will be the environmental characteristics of Iceland, including volcanic activity (Iceland has one of the highest levels of activity in the world), and alternative energy like that produced from the hot springs known as geysers. The exhibition runs from the 27 September until 2 January 2005. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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