Introduction ICELAND

Iceland Facts:

Capital: Reykjavik – Northern most located capital in the world

Government: Democratic and Parliamentary.

Population: 318,000 comprised of people of mostly Nordic and Celtic descent.

Language: Official language is Icelandic which originated from Old Norse.

Religion: National Church of Iceland and is considered Lutheran.

Currency: Krona ISK

GDP: 11.8 Billion

Energy: Most of Iceland’s electricity is produce from renewable resources such as geothermal and hydropower.

Background:

The free state of Iceland was settled and established between the years AD 870 – 930 by Norwegian explorers. Over the next few centuries’ people of Celtic and Norse origins visited Iceland. Many of these visitors settled in Iceland and make up the majority of the countries’ population today. In AD 930 Iceland established the world’s first parliament and created a constitution that promoted land ownership, freedom, and many other sophisticated ideas that were uncommon for that era. Iceland is home to famous explorer Leif Erikson who is said to have discovered North America 500 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. The area Leif Erikson discovered known as Vinland is now referred to as Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Geography:

Iceland is located south of the artic circle between Greenland and the United Kingdom and is the 18th largest island in the world with a total size of approximately 40,000 sq mi. Iceland is considered part of Europe and is home to Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull which covers more than 9% of the country. This country is located on the Icelandic hotspot as wells as the Mid-Atlantic ridge which causes Iceland to be a very active geological place. Iceland sits on the Eurasian and North American Plate which contributes to the country’s many active volcanoes. There are also many other natural wonders in Iceland including geysers, large waterfalls, lava tubes, geothermal pools, and highly active rivers and rapids.