Iceland Fact - Global Guide for Traveler

Iceland, a country nominally in Northern Europe, is a large mountainous island in the north Atlantic

Ocean, on the fault between Europe and North America. In a sense, it is a well-named territory, with over 11 per cent of the country covered by glaciers, but in another sense it is not, with a surprisingly mild climate and countless geothermal hot-spots.

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Quick Iceland fact table

Capital:	Reykjavik
Location:	Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Area:	total: 103,000 sq km, land: 100,250 sq km, water: 2,750 sq km
Climate:	Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Population:	299,388 (July 2006 est.)
Religions:	Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian 2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)
Languages:	Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Government:	Constitutional republic
Currency:	Icelandic krona (ISK)
Internet TLD:	.is

Read more about Iceland fact. Sources: Wikipedia, CIA