http://www.kallayil.com/iceland.html

Faroes too. A Scandinavian thing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felixgein/2419745872/

Well, I'm glad this went over so well. Thought about ditching it, but it is kinda interesting. The reason for paint IS... because they make roofs out of metal,( steel & sometimes copper). & so prevent corroding, they paint it.

Why metal in the 1st place? because wood would take such a beating in the wet colder climes up there.

Other advantages metal offer are..

High Strength and Light Weight
Long Life and Fire Resistant
No shrinkage, Warping or Twisting

The roof of the Canadian parliament buildings are made of copper, they corrode and are now a distinct shade of green.

Quite honestly, I was expecting a punchline.

Interested in Scandinavia is all really. Iceland in particular. & Viking history, architecture, food & such. Always wondered about that. Figured it was just a custom, or perhaps so aircraft could find a certain village or something. The bright colors another curio. Not much beige, offwhite or gray happenin there.

No pottery is found in Iceland, soil no good for it. Archeologists will find wood utensils & bowls made out of hollowed out rock though.

It has 3000 rock quarries, New Zealand is about the same size & has only 1200 if memory serves.