Lýðveldið Ísland Republic of Iceland
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Lofsöngur
Location of Iceland (green) in Europe (grey)
Capital (and largest city)		Reykjavík 64°08′N, 21°56′W
Official languages		Icelandic (de facto)
Demonym		Icelander
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
-	Prime Minister	Geir H. Haarde
Independence		from Denmark
-	Home rule	1 February 1904
-	Sovereignty	1 December 1918
-	Republic	17 June 1944
Area
-	Total	103,000 km² (107th) 39,770 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.7
Population
-	October 2007 estimate	312,8511 (172nd)
-	December 1980 census	229,187
-	Density	3,1/km² (195th) 7.5/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$12.172 billion (132nd)
-	Per capita	40,277 (2005) (5th)
GDP (nominal)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$16.579 billion (93rd)
-	Per capita	$54,858 (4th)
HDI (2007)		0.968 (high) (1st)
Currency		Icelandic króna (ISK)
Time zone		GMT (UTC+0)
Internet TLD		.is
Calling code		+354
1	Statistics Iceland:Key figures. www.statice.is (1 October 2007).

Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland (Icelandic: Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland; IPA: [ˈliðvɛltɪð ˈistlant]) is a country in northern Europe, comprising the island of Iceland and its outlying islets in the North Atlantic Ocean between the rest of Europe and Greenland.^[1] It is the least populous of the Nordic countries and the second smallest; it has a population of about 313,000 and a total area of 103,000 km². Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Iceland can mean: Iceland - a European country located in the northern Atlantic Ocean Iceland (supermarket) - a chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and Ireland This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The civil flag of Iceland. ... The Coat of arms of Iceland, or Skjaldamerkið, depicts the four protectors of Iceland (landvættir) standing on a pahoehoe lava block with the Icelandic flag in the front. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Lofsöngur (Icelandic: Hymn), also known as Ó Guð vors lands or Our Countrys God, is the national anthem of Iceland. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 574 pixelsFull resolution (1748 × 1254 pixels, file size: 96 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Most Icelanders are descendants of Norwegian settlers and Celts from Ireland, brought over as slaves during the age of settlement. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). ... List of Presidents of Iceland Sveinn Björnsson (1944-1952) Ásgeir Ásgeirsson (1952-1968) Kristján Eldjárn (1968-1980) Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (1980-1996) Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (1996-present) See also: Politics of Iceland, list of Prime Ministers of Iceland, list of Icelandic rulers, lists of incumbents... Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson ( ) (born 14 May 1943, in Ísafjörður, Iceland) is the fifth and current President of Iceland, from 1996 to present, re-elected unopposed in 2000, and was re-elected for a third term in 2004. ... List of Prime Ministers of Iceland (the Minister of Iceland 1904-1917) Note about the coloring: Every combination which appears at least twice has been assigned a color. ... Geir Hilmar Haarde (born April 8, 1951) is an Icelandic politician. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... The purchasing power parity (PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their purchasing power. ... One thousand million (1,000,000,000) is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001. ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... One thousand million (1,000,000,000) is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001. ... Countries by nominal GDP. Source: IMF (2005) This article includes a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita for the year 2006. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2006). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... Króna (plural krónur) is the name of the currency used in Iceland. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... GMT redirects here. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .is is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Iceland. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Northern Europe Northern Europe is the northern part of the European continent. ... Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ...

Due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is volcanically and geologically active on a large scale; this defines the landscape in various ways. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterized by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Because of the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude and provides a habitable environment and nature. Courtesy USGS The ridge was central in the breakup of Pangaea that began some 180 million years ago. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Earth cutaway from core to exosphere. ... For other meanings, see Plateau (disambiguation). ... This article is about arid terrain. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... This article is about the geological formation. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... For the album by Ocean Colour Scene, see North Atlantic Drift (album) The Gulf Stream is orange and yellow in this representation of water temperatures of the Atlantic. ... In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ... This article is about the geographical term. ...

Iceland has a history of habitation since about the year 874 when, according to Landnámabók, the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island.^[2] Others had visited the island earlier and stayed over winter. Over the next centuries, people of Nordic and Gaelic origin settled in Iceland. Until the twentieth century, the Icelandic population relied on fisheries and agriculture, and was from 1262 to 1944 a part of the Norwegian and later the Danish monarchies. In the twentieth century, Iceland's economy and welfare system developed quickly. Landnámabók (the book of settlement), is one of the strangest of the works of Icelandic literature. ... statue of Ingólfur Arnarson by Einar Jónsson Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. ... Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... “Gael” redirects here. ... Language(s) Icelandic Religion(s) The vast majority of Icelanders are Lutherans. ... A social welfare provision refers to any government program which seeks to provide a minimum level of income, service or other support for disadvantaged groups such as the poor, elderly, disabled and students. ...

As the most developed country in the world,^[3] and the fourth most productive per capita,^[4] Iceland is among the most prosperous countries in the world. It is based upon a mixed economy where service, finance, fishing and various industries are the main sectors. Iceland is a member of the UN, NATO, EFTA, EEA and OECD, but not of the European Union. World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2006). ... Countries by nominal GDP. Source: IMF (2005) This article includes a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... This article is about GDP in the context of economics. ... A mixed economy is an economy that has a mix of economic systems. ... The tertiary sector of industry, also called the service sector or the service industry, is one of the three main industrial categories of a developed economy, the others being the secondary industry (manufacturing and primary goods production such as agriculture), and primary industry (extraction such as mining and fishing). ... Finance studies and addresses the ways in which individuals, businesses, and organizations raise, allocate, and use monetary resources over time, taking into account the risks entailed in their projects. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was established on May 3, 1960 as an alternative for European states that were not allowed or did not wish to join the European Community (now the European Union). ...  EFTA countries (except Switzerland)  EU countries Together these form the EEA. The European Economic Area (EEA) came into being on January 1, 1994 following an agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). ... The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Iceland

Iceland, as seen from space on January 29, 2004. Source: NASA

Iceland is a large island with extensive volcanic and geothermal activity located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland immediately south of the Arctic Circle. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 780 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2600 × 2000 pixel, file size: 869 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Description and alternative versions http://visibleearth. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 780 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2600 × 2000 pixel, file size: 869 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Description and alternative versions http://visibleearth. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (IPA [ˈnæsə]) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ...

Topography

Strokkur, a geyser in the process of erupting. Lying on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is one of the most geologically active areas on Earth.

Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small island of Grímsey off Iceland's northern coast, but not through mainland Iceland. Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part of Europe, not of North America, though geologically, the island belongs to both continents. Because of cultural, economic and linguistic similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included in Scandinavia. The closest bodies of land are Greenland (287 km) and the Faroe Islands (420 km). The closest distance to the mainland of Europe is 970 km (to Norway). Image File history File linksMetadata Img_2678. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Img_2678. ... Strokkur, or The Churn in Iceland, is a geyser that is situated in the geothermic region beside the Hvitá River in Iceland at . A group of steaming, hot water and bubbling mud is located in this area and the Stóri Geysir, or Great Gusher, once the most powerful geyser... Strokkur geyser, Iceland A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ... For the fast food restaurant chain, see Arctic Circle Restaurants. ... Grímsey north of Iceland Grímsey is a small island 40 km north off the northern coast of Iceland, situated directly on the arctic circle, at 66°3317N, 018°0103W, with a highest elevation of 105 meters. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... World map showing the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere historically considered to consist of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ...

Iceland is the world's eighteenth-largest island, and Europe's second largest island following Great Britain. The country is 103,000 km² (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62,7 percent is wasteland. Lakes and glaciers cover a total of 14,3 percent. Only 23 percent is vegetated. ^[5] The largest lakes are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km² (32–34 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km² (32 sq mi); other important lakes include Lögurinn and Mývatn. Öskjuvatn is the deepest lake at 220 m (722 ft). This is a list of islands in the world ordered by area. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... The biggest lake of Iceland, Þórisvatn, is situated at the south end of Sprengisandur highland road within the highlands of Iceland. ... The Ashokan Reservoir, located in Ulster County, New York, USA. It is one of 19 that supplies New York City with drinking water. ... The lake in autumn Þingvallavatn is a lake in the south-west of Iceland. ... The lake Lagarfljót (also called Lögurinn) is situated in the east of Iceland near Egilsstaðir. ... Lake Mývatn, with groups of grass-covered pseudocraters. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

A map of Iceland with major towns marked.

Many fjords punctuate its extensive coastline, which is also where most towns are situated because the island's interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sands and mountains. The major towns are the capital Reykjavík, Keflavík, where the international airport is situated, and Akureyri. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.^[6] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Fjord in Sunnmøre, Norway Geirangerfjord, Norway A fjord (or fiord) is a long, narrow estuary with steep sides, made when a glacial valley is filled by rising sea water levels. ... The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ... Keflavík on the Reykjanes peninsula of Iceland Keflavík is a town of around 10,200 inhabitants in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland (64°01′N 22°34′W). ... Nickname: Location of Akureyri in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Northeast Area  - City 125 km²  (48. ... Grímsey north of Iceland Grímsey is a small island 40 km north off the northern coast of Iceland, situated directly on the arctic circle, at 66°3317N, 018°0103W, with a highest elevation of 105 meters. ... For the fast food restaurant chain, see Arctic Circle Restaurants. ...

Iceland has four national parks: Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Skaftafell National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park. Karl og Kerling Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is situated in the north of Iceland around the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. ... Morning sunlight on Skaftafellsjökull The Svartifoss The Svartifoss in the Winter Skaftafell National Park is situated between Kirkjubæjarklaustur, typically referred to as Klaustur, and Höfn in the south of Iceland. ... Snæfellsjökull is a stratovolcano with a glacier (Icelandic: jökull) covering its summit [1]. The name of the mountain is actually Snæfell, but it is normally called Snæfellsjökull to discern it from two other mountains with this name. ... (Icelandic: : parliament, : plains) is a place in the southwest of Iceland near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. ...

Geological activity

A geologically young land, Iceland is located on both a geological hot spot, thought to be caused by a mantle plume, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs right through it. This combined location means that geologically the island is extremely active, having many volcanoes, notably Hekla, Eldgjá, and Eldfell. The volcanic eruption of Laki in 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a quarter of the island's population;^[7] the eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa for several months after the eruption. In geology, a hotspot is a location on the Earths surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time. ... A lava lamp illustrates the basic concept of a mantle plume. ... Courtesy USGS The ridge was central in the breakup of Pangaea that began some 180 million years ago. ... Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska photographed from the International Space Station For other uses, see Volcano (disambiguation). ... Hekla is a stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland at , with a height of 1,488 m (4,882 ft). ... Eldgjá is a volcanic canyon in Iceland. ... Lava fountains tower over Heimaey in the early stages of the Eldfell eruption Eldfell is a cinder cone volcano just over 200 metres (650 feet) high on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. ... Laki (Icelandic: Lakagígar) is a volcanic fissure situated in the south of Iceland, not far from the canyon of Eldgjá and the small town Kirkjubæjarklaustur, in Skaftafell National Park. ... <nowiki>Insert non-formatted text hereBold text</nowiki>A famine is a social and economic crisis that is commonly accompanied by widespread malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. ...

There are also many geysers in Iceland, including Geysir, from which the English name is derived. With this widespread availability of geothermal power, and also because of the numerous rivers and waterfalls that are harnessed for hydroelectricity, most residents have hot water and home heat for a low price. The island itself is composed primarily of basalt, a low-silica lava associated with effusive volcanism like Hawaii. There is, however, a variety of different kinds of volcanoes in Iceland, many of which produce more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite. Strokkur geyser, Iceland A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ... The erupting Great Geysir Geysir (sometimes known as The Great Geysir), in the Haukadalur valley, Iceland, is the oldest known geyser and one of the worlds most impressive examples of the phenomenon. ... Krafla Geothermal Station in northeast Iceland Geothermal power (from the Greek words geo, meaning earth, and therme, meaning heat) is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earths surface. ... Hydroelectricity is electricity produced by hydropower. ... For the cities, see Basalt, Colorado and Basalt, Idaho. ... Look up lava, Aa, pahoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This page is about a volcanic rock. ... A sample of andesite (dark groundmass) with amygdaloidal vesicules filled with zeolite. ...

Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, is located in north-eastern Iceland.

Iceland controls Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world. It rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions between November 8, 1963 and June 5, 1968.^[6] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1506x2078, 1555 KB) Summary The Dettifoss in Iceland on 31 Jul 1972. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1506x2078, 1555 KB) Summary The Dettifoss in Iceland on 31 Jul 1972. ... Dettifoss The face of the waterfall from the left bank This is not the highest waterfall in europe - powerscourt, ireland is - see http://www. ... For other uses, see Waterfall (disambiguation). ... Surtsey, sixteen days after the onset of the eruption Surtsey (Icelandic: Surturs island) is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Climate

Main article: Climate of Iceland

The climate of Iceland's coast is cold oceanic. The warm North Atlantic Current ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. The winters are mild and windy while the summers are damp and cool. Regions in the world with similar climate include the Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego although these regions are closer to the equator. Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain ice-free through the winter. Ice incursions are rare, last having occurred on the north coast in 1969.^[8] Heavy snows in Iceland in winter The climate of Iceland is cold oceanic (Köppen climate classification: Cfc) near the coast. ... World map showing the oceanic climate zones. ... Schematic of the worlds ocean currents. ... This article is about the geographical term. ... Aleutians seen from space The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, island) are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 km²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900... Volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula The Alaska Peninsula is a peninsula extending about 800 km (500 miles) to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. ... Tierra del Fuego Cerro Sombrero Village, Chile. ...

There are some variations in the climate between different parts of the island. Very generally speaking, the south coast is warmer, wetter and windier than the north. Low lying inland areas in the north are the most arid. Snowfall in winters is more common in the north than the south. The Central Highlands are the coldest part of the country. The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. ...

The highest air temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) on 22 June 1939 at Teigarhorn on the south-eastern coast. The lowest temperature was -38 °C (-36.4 °F) on 22 January 1918 at Grímsstaðir and Möðrudalur in the interior of northeast. The temperature records for Reykjavík are 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) on 11 August 2004, and -24.5 °C (-12.1 °F) on 21 January 1918. is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ... Nickname: Location of Akureyri in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Northeast Area  - City 125 km²  (48. ...

Flora and fauna

Icelandic sheep

Iceland has very few mineral or agricultural resources. The short time since the last ice age, 10,000 years ago, has provided very little time for plants and animals to immigrate from elsewhere or evolve locally. There are around 1,300 known species of insects in Iceland, which is rather low compared with other countries (there are about 925,000 known species in the world). The only native land mammal when humans arrived was the arctic fox. It came to the island at the end of the ice age, walking over the frozen sea. There are no native reptiles or amphibians on the island. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (855x600, 589 KB) Icelandic Sheep. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (855x600, 589 KB) Icelandic Sheep. ... Icelandic lamb and ewe Icelandic sheep A polled Icelandic ewe The Icelandic sheep or Kind on icelandic, is a breed of domestic sheep. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Symphypleona - globular springtails Subclass Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) Subclass Dicondylia Monura - extinct Thysanura (common bristletails) Subclass Pterygota Diaphanopteroidea - extinct Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Blattodea (cockroaches) Mantodea (mantids) Isoptera (termites) Zoraptera Grylloblattodea Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets... This article is about the animal. ...

Approximately three-quarters of the island are barren of vegetation; plant life consists mainly of grassland which is regularly grazed by livestock. The only tree native to Iceland is the northern birch Betula pubescens Permanent human settlement has caused great disturbance to an isolated ecosystem with thin, volcanic soils and limited species diversity. The forests were heavily exploited over the centuries for firewood and timber. Deforestation resulted in a loss of critical top soil due to erosion, greatly reducing the ability of birches to grow back. Today, only a few small birch stands can be found in isolated drainages. The planting of new forests has increased the number of trees since, but this can not be compared with the original forests. Some of those planted forests have included new foreign species. The Konza tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. ... Binomial name Betula pubescens Ehrh. ...

The animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, and the sturdy Icelandic horse. Many varieties of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a main contributor to Iceland’s economy, accounting for more than half of its total exports. Wild mammals include the arctic fox, mink, mice, rats, rabbits and reindeer. Before and around the 1900s polar bears occasionally visited the island, traveling on icebergs from Greenland. Birds, especially sea birds, are a very important part of Iceland's animal life. Puffins, skuas, and kittiwakes all nest on its sea cliffs. Though Iceland no longer has a commercial whaling fleet (as of August, 2007) it does still allow scientific whale hunts, which are not supported by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Icelandic lamb and ewe Icelandic sheep A polled Icelandic ewe The Icelandic sheep or Kind on icelandic, is a breed of domestic sheep. ... The Icelandic Cow is a breed of cow that came to Iceland with settlers around 1000 AD. [1] Icelandic cows are an especially colorful breed. ... Icelandic horsie in winter The Icelandic horse is a breed of horsie that has lived in Iceland since the mid-800s, having been brought to the island by Viking settlers. ... This article is about the animal. ... Species Fratercula arctica Fratercula corniculata Fratercula cirrhata The puffin is an auk (or alcid) of the genus Fratercula (Latin: Little Brother - probably a reference to their black and white plumage resembling monastic robes) with a brightly colored beak in the breeding season. ... Species Rissa tridactyla Rissa brevirostris The Kittiwakes (genus Rissa) are two closely related seabird species in the gull family Laridae. ...

See also: Whaling in Iceland

Iceland has a long tradition of subsistence whaling; whaling of one form or another has been conducted from the island since it became populated more than eleven hundred years ago. ...

History

Main article: History of Iceland

A 19th century depiction of a meeting of the Alþingi at Þingvellir.

// Thule as Tile on the Carta Marina by Olaus Magnus. ... Image File history File links W.G. Collingwood 19th Century Alþing in session File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links W.G. Collingwood 19th Century Alþing in session File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Althing (Modern Icelandic Alþingi; Old Norse Alþing) is the national parliament: literally, the all-thing (or General Assembly) of Iceland. ... (Icelandic: : parliament, : plains) is a place in the southwest of Iceland near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. ...

Age of settlement

See also: Icelandic commonwealth

The first people thought to have inhabited Iceland were Irish monks or hermits who came in the eighth century, but left with the arrival of Norsemen, who systematically settled Iceland in the period 870 - 930 A.D. However, there is still no tangible evidence beyond the written word to support the theory of monk inhabitation yet, as well, any writings supporting the theory are conflicted.^[12] The first known permanent Norse settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, who built his homestead in Reykjavík in 874. Ingólfur was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Norsemen and their Irish slaves. By 930, most arable land had been claimed and the Althing, a legislative and judiciary parliament, was founded as the political hub of the Icelandic Free State. Christianity was peacefully adopted in 1000. The Free State lasted until 1262, at which point the political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains. The Icelandic Commonwealth or the Icelandic Free State (Icelandic: Þjóðveldisöld) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262. ... It has been suggested that Schottenklöster be merged into this article or section. ... Norseman redirects here; for the town of the same name see Norseman, Western Australia. ... statue of Ingólfur Arnarson by Einar Jónsson Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: , Constituency Government  - Mayor (Borgarstjóri) Dagur B. Eggertsson Area  - City 274. ... Slave redirects here. ... The Alþing, commonly Anglicized as Althing (Modern Icelandic Alþingi; Old Norse Alþing) is the national parliament: literally, the all-thing of Iceland. ... The Icelandic Commonwealth refers to the state existing in Iceland between 930 (the establishment of the Althing) and 1262 (the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king). ... Iceland converted to the Christian religion in 1000 AD. In Icelandic, this event is known as the kristnitaka. ...

Middle ages

The internal struggles and civil strife of the Sturlung Era led to the signing of the Old Covenant, which brought Iceland under the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland passed to Denmark-Norway in the late 14th century when the kingdoms of Norway and Denmark were united in the Kalmar Union. In the ensuing centuries, Iceland became one of the poorest countries in Europe. Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society whose subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. In 1402–1404 and 1494–1495, the Black Death swept Iceland, each epidemic killing approximately half the population.^[13] Around the middle of the 16th century, King Christian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all his subjects. The last Catholic bishop in Iceland was beheaded in 1550, after which the country became fully Lutheran. Lutheranism has remained the dominant religion ever since. In the 1600s and 1700s, Denmark imposed harsh trade restrictions on Iceland, while pirates from England, Spain and Algeria raided Iceland's coasts. The Age of the Sturlungs or the Sturlung Era (Icelandic Sturlungaöld) was a 42-44 year period of internal strife in mid 13th century Iceland. ... The Old Covenant (Icelandic Gamli sáttmáli ) was the name of the agreement which effected the union of Iceland and Norway. ... The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norways possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. ... The Kalmar Union flag. ... This article concerns the mid fourteenth century pandemic. ... Christian III Christian III (August 12, 1503–January 1, 1559), king of Denmark and Norway, was the son of Frederick I of Denmark and his first consort, Anne of Brandenburg. ... Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestant Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther. ... Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestant Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther. ... Pirates may refer to: A group of people committing any of these activities: Piracy at sea or on a river/lake. ...

Jón Sigurðsson, leader of the Icelandic independence movement

Image File history File links Jon_Sigurdsson. ... Image File history File links Jon_Sigurdsson. ... Einar Jonssons statue of Jon Sigurdsson in Reykjavik. ...

Independence and recent history

In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel. Iceland, however, remained a Danish dependency. The country's climate worsened during the 19th century, causing mass emigration to North America, largely Canada. Meanwhile, a new independence movement arose under the leadership of Jón Sigurðsson, inspired by the romantic and nationalist ideologies of mainland Europe. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland home rule, which was expanded in 1904. The Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark signed on December 1, 1918, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state under the Danish king. Combatants Austria[a] Portugal Prussia[a] Russia[b] Sicily[c] Sardinia  Spain[d]  Sweden[e] United Kingdom French Empire Holland[f] Italy Etruria[g] Naples[h] Duchy of Warsaw[i] Confederation of the Rhine[j] Bavaria Saxony Westphalia Württemberg Denmark-Norway[k] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack... The Treaty of Kiel, was a settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway on January 14, 1814, whereby the Danish king, a loser in the Napoleonic wars, ceded Norway to the king of Sweden, in return for the Swedish holdings in Pomerania. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Einar Jonssons statue of Jon Sigurdsson in Reykjavik. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

During World War II, the German occupation of Denmark on April 9, 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark. A month later, British military forces sailed into Reykjavík harbour, violating Icelandic neutrality. Allied occupation of Iceland lasted throughout the war. In 1941, responsibility for the occupation was taken over by the United States Army. Following a plebiscite, Iceland formally became an independent republic on June 17, 1944. The occupation force left in 1946. Iceland became a member of NATO on March 30, 1949, amid domestic controversy and riots and on May 5, 1951, a defence agreement was signed with the United States -- American troops returned and stayed as part of the defence agreement throughout the Cold War and until the autumn of 2006. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Headquarters of the Schalburgkorps, a Danish SS unit, after 1943. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the 1940 invasion. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Icelandic NATO riot of March 30, 1949 in one of the most famous riots in Icelandic history. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

The immediate post-war period was followed by substantial economic growth, driven by industrialization of the fishing industry and by the rebuilding, Marshall aid and Keynesian government management of the economies of Europe, all of which promoted trade. The 1970s were marked by the Cod Wars – several disputes with the United Kingdom