WI Iceland farther south?

200 miles is nothing. It's still north of Britain, the Gulf Stream may not reach Norway, but it probably will. There isn't that much that will change really.
 

Valdemar II

Banned
200 miles is nothing. It's still north of Britain, the Gulf Stream may not reach Norway, but it probably will. There isn't that much that will change really.

I disagree while it has little climatic effect on the rest of the world, and it won't stop the Gulf Stream for Iceland it will have enourmous effect, while still a marginal land some farming will be possible, most of Island will likely be covered in coniferous woodland, moorland and tundra when people arrive, and while the Gulf Stream won't be stopped the south east will hit by it and it will likely get a climated comparative with southen Norway, which mean the south east becomes the major population centre of Iceland. My guess are that the the pre-modern populaton at it highest will be around 4-500 000 (through by 1500 it will have collapsed down to 300 000), while today we would see a popuation of 2-2,5 million people. These thing will have enormous effect of Iceland, likely we don't see a Norvegian takeover, and it develop into oligaric republic by the end of the medieval periode, mostly because before modern time there will be few external threats to it. Likely we see a continued contact with Greenland, and survival of the Norse there, through I doubt we see a more succesful Vinland.
 
I disagree while it has little climatic effect on the rest of the world, and it won't stop the Gulf Stream for Iceland it will have enourmous effect, while still a marginal land some farming will be possible, most of Island will likely be covered in coniferous woodland, moorland and tundra when people arrive, and while the Gulf Stream won't be stopped the south east will hit by it and it will likely get a climated comparative with southen Norway, which mean the south east becomes the major population centre of Iceland. My guess are that the the pre-modern populaton at it highest will be around 4-500 000 (through by 1500 it will have collapsed down to 300 000), while today we would see a popuation of 2-2,5 million people. These thing will have enormous effect of Iceland, likely we don't see a Norvegian takeover, and it develop into oligaric republic by the end of the medieval periode, mostly because before modern time there will be few external threats to it. Likely we see a continued contact with Greenland, and survival of the Norse there, through I doubt we see a more succesful Vinland.

And the Long term effects: ICeland is a more equal partner of the other Scandinavian states and includes a Greenland protectorate. Possibly some of Northern Canada ends up Icelandic but it's unlikely.
 

Stephen

Banned
200 miles puts the southern coast on the same latitude as the middle of the shetland islans and Bergen in Norway. It also puts more space between the northern coast and the arctic circle. This would significantly increase the fertility of the land and ruduce the size of the glaciers. But it needs to be move further south to make a real difference.
 
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