The scarcity and even absence of local construction materials has made Icelanders dependent on imports from other European countries; timber from Norway, corrugated steel from Britain and cement from Denmark. Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is exposed to harsh climate and earthquakes. This demands high quality buildings strong enough to withstand the geologic activity. The search for a construction material that was able to withstand the Icelandic climate conditions was found in concrete in the late 19th century.