[ccmay]

Not quite. "Iceland" is the Anglicization of Ísland, which funnily enough means "island" in Icelandic. It has nothing to do with ice and everything to do with the fact that it is surrounded by ocean.

"Greenland" is one of the earliest examples of unscrupulous real-estate marketing. They had ice there then as they do now. Any greenery was confined to a narrow coastal strip during the summer, although the climate was slightly warmer during the Medieval Climate Optimum, and sustained trees and heavy shrubbery that no longer grow. The name was used by Erik the Red to drum up interest in his new colony.

-ccm

[icwhatudo]

Funny how these “old wives tales” can spread! Thanks for the info!