Exploitation of Natural Resources

As well as its profitable fishing grounds, Iceland has valuable resources in the form of geothermal energy and hydro-electric power. People disagree about the utilization of these resources, with dissent between those who wish to utilize and sell electric power to the electric industry, or even for export, and others who wish to keep the nation's natural life untouched and believe that these resources can best be utilized in other ways, such as through tourism. They point out that the world's wilderness regions are disappearing and for this reason it ought to be possible to profit from tourism rather than damage the countryside for the sake of the power industry.