The strength of the people, mirrored by the powerful landscape, is evident in the thriving independent culture. In 1918 Iceland became an independent state under the Danish king. In this post, we have gathered interesting Iceland facts to give you some insights about this amazing country. Iceland has more hot springs and solfataras—volcanic vents that emit hot gases and vapours—than any other country. The closest bodies of land in Europe are the Faroe Islands (530 km). Despite its physical isolation some 500 miles (800 km) from Scotland—its nearest European neighbour—Iceland has remained throughout its history very much a part of European civilization. Region. Hiking in Iceland Activity. A strong movement for linguistic purism gained strength in the nineteenth century and has persisted unabated. Iceland does not maintain armed forces. Picture by Scuba Iceland. Itâs a Nordic country, which is also known as the land of fire and ice, thanks to its diverse landscape and nature. 1. Iceland's present day parliament, Althing, is the oldest existing national assembly in the world. Destination Iceland, an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America. and its Licensors With artists frequently deriving inspiration from the extraordinary terrain and the ancestral culture, the arts are flourishing in Iceland. Iceland, island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Type. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. These first schools were devoted primarily to educating men for the priesthood, but many others who were prominent in secular affairs were taught as well. These holes were 790 and 1300 feet deep. Icelanders are generally very open to new ideas and trends, and they have rapidly developed, implemented, and embraced new technology throughout their society. Because of its extensive lava fields and heaths, the southwest has little farmland. Unemployment is nearly non-existent in contemporary Iceland. Lying on the constantly active geologic border between North America and Europe, Iceland is a land of vivid contrasts of ⦠The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the official state church, but freedom of religion exists for all other congregations. However, literacy was accomplished in the eighteenth century as children were taught to read by their families or clergy in their homes. Iceland, one of the world's first independent, democratic nations, is the second largest island in Europe (39,769 square miles). These fact-based works, which provided the early settlers with a source of entertainment as well as cultural heritage, represent some of the classics of world medieval literature and continue to be widely read and treasured by Icelanders. It is the northernmost capital in the world and is located exactly halfway between New York and Moscow. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Icelanders as a group are very committed to their work regardless of the specific form. Welfare services include unemployment insurance, old age and disability pensions, family and childbearing allowances, and sickness benefits. Glacier ice and cooled lava each cover approximately one-tenth of the country’s total area. Continuous eruptions took place in the Krafla area in the northeast in 1975–84, damaging a geothermal generating project in the area. Instead Iceland gained an Icelandic minister responsible to the Althing. Iceland is largely a classless society composed of the descendents of farmers and warriors who fled the tyranny of Scandinavia many centuries ago. Iceland is an island nation located in Northern Europe between the Greenland Sea and the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The southeast, locked between the glaciers and the sea, has a landscape of rugged splendour. Information about Iceland and COVID-19. Today, Icelanders stand at the precipice of a new, exciting and divisive chapter in their young countryâs history. U.S.-ICELAND RELATIONS The United States was the first country to recognize Icelandâs independence in 1944 following Danish rule. Select Type. Iceland’s best-known volcano, Hekla, erupted four times in the 20th century: in 1947, 1970, 1980, and 1991; it also had a series of small eruptions in 2000. Geologically young, Iceland contains about 200 volcanoes of various types. Iceland was founded more than 1,000 years ago during the Viking age of exploration and settled by a mixed Norse and Celtic population. Hekla brought physical destruction, widespread epidemics, and death. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Time-lapse video of the southern coast of Iceland. Then in 1918 Iceland was made a sovereign state sharing a monarchy with Denmark. Iceland is a Scandinavian country, the world’s oldest democracy but modern in nearly every respect. There were eruptions in the Vatnajökull area in 1983 and 1996. The country is in very good economic standing with a very low unemployment rate. Most of the more than 5,000 residents had to be evacuated, and—although the harbour remained intact—about one-third of the town was destroyed. Iceland’s U-shaped valleys are largely the result of glacial erosion. This quiz will show you two countries. After the occupation of Denmark and Iceland's declaration of sovereignty, the island's vulnerability was responded to by British and U.S. troops. 3. A common belief in Icelandic society is that an individual who is not very busy and actively involved in his or her work is not living life fully. Earthquakes are frequent in Iceland but rarely result in serious damage. Select Category. Iceland, an island about the size of Kentucky, lies in the north Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and just touches the Arctic Circle. In the 20th century ties with Denmark were loosened. English, Danish, and German are also widely spoken and understood. Roughly 90-94 percent of Icelanders are Protestants (73 percent Evangelical Lutheran) and 1 percent are Catholic. crofts standing at the foot of the mountains or sheltering on the southern slope of a ridge, each with a little brook running through the home-field, marshy land beyond, and a river flowing smoothly through the marsh. With a population of approximately 272,000 people, Iceland is one of the smaller nations in the world, yet it is the least densely populated of all European nations. Iceland began to prosper once again. The powers of the president are similar to those of other heads of state in western European democracies. The country is situated on a strategic location between North America and Europe, about 840 km north west of the United Kingdom and about 460 km south east of Greenland 's coast. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Iceland’s rugged coastline, of more than 3,000 miles (4,800 km), meets the Greenland Sea on the north, the Norwegian Sea on the east, the Atlantic Ocean on the south and west, and the Denmark Strait—which separates it from Greenland by about 200 miles (320 km)—on the northwest. Most of the buildings erected since the mid-20th century have been built of reinforced concrete and designed to withstand severe shocks from earthquakes. Icelandic, the national language, has changed very little from the original tongue of the Norse settlers. Greenland was colonizedby p⦠Iceland was under Danish rule until the late 19th century, when they created their own constitution. Vatnajökull covers an area of more than 3,000 square miles (8,000 square km) and is about 3,000 feet (900 metres) deep at its thickest point. During the late twelfth and the early thirteenth century, dramatic Icelandic tales of early settlement, the colonization of Greenland, romance, disputes, and the development of Iceland were translated into a rich literary tradition dominated by Sagas. In 1969 the town council of Grindavik decided to explore the area near Svartsengi for the possibility of geothermal heat, which could be harnessed for domestic heating in Grindavik. Located 180 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland's nearest neighbor is Greenland to the west (180 miles), followed by Scotland to the south east (495 miles), and Norway to the east (590 miles). The bishop is elected by pastors and members of the theological faculty at the University of Iceland; and the one diocese is divided into districts, which are further subdivided into parishes. Immigration from other parts of the world has been minimal since the time of the first settlement. Located 180 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland's nearest neighbor is Greenland to the west (180 miles), followed by Scotland to the south east (495 miles), and Norway to the east (590 miles). Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by ⦠Many of the early settlers of Iceland were small lords and kings from Norway who were fleeing the tyrrany of Harald the Fairhaired who wanted to unify Norway under one king, namely himself. The north is divided into several smaller districts, each of which has relatively good farmland. Manuscript illumination, woodcarving, and folk music have been associated with periods of heightened interest. Soil and climatic conditions are favourable, and it is close to the country’s largest market, Reykjavík and its environs. Looking for facts about Iceland? Which Country Is Larger By Population? Iceland Foods is a unique British food retailer with over 900 stores throughout the UK, a further 40 owned or franchised stores across Europe, and a global export business. However, Denmark did not officially recognize Iceland as its own nation until 1918. A PDF of the background information for the 2012/2013 and 2014/2015 datasets is available. Geologically, Iceland is a very young country and the process of its formation is still in progress. Traditionally, Iceland has been divided according to the four points of the compass. Iceland, the UKâs leading frozen food specialist, is committing to become the first major retailer globally to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own brand products by the end of 2023. An elected church congress serves as an advisory board to the church. Download for free on all your devices - Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet. Omissions? It erupted again beginning on April 14 and sent wandering ash plumes into the skies that disrupted air traffic for days across northern and central Europe. Icelandic nightlife is famous for its vibrancy, with night clubs, cafes, and cinemas in all major towns. Aurora borealis over the Snaefellsnes peninsula, western Iceland, March 2013. Eyjafjallajökull volcano, beneath an extension of Mýrdalsjökull (Mýrdals Glacier), erupted in March 2010 for the first time since 1821. A Short History of Iceland. The centre of the country is uninhabited. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. from New York and 830 kilometers (520 mi.) It is a relatively young nation since it was first inhabited by Vikings from Norway in the late 800s. Except for a brief interruption from 1799-1844, Icelandâs independent commonwealth has been governed by the Althingi parliament since 930, the worldâs oldest extant parliamentary institution. The process starts now and Iceland is challenging itself to complete it within the ⦠Scandinavian sailors discovered Iceland in the mid-ninth century, and the first settler recognized in the literary-historical tradition, Ingólfur Arnason, arrived in 874. The book of settlements ( Landnámabók ), which contains information on four hundred settlers, was compiled in the twelfth century. The first bishopric, or center for learning, was established at Skal-holt in south Iceland in 1056, and a second was developed at Holar in the north in 1106. The post of governor was abolished. This is its story. Other major population centres are Akureyri, on the north-central coast; Hafnarfjördhur, on the southwestern coast; and Selfoss, in the southern lowlands. In the southwest several fine natural harbours have directed interest toward the sea, and good fishing grounds lie off the shores of this region. Independent Guðni Jóhannesson, a historian, was elected in 2016 to the largely ceremonial presidency. However, the United States, which has assumed responsibility for Iceland's defense, maintains a naval air station at the Keflavik International Airport. Iceland is an island, a European country, located midway between North America and mainland Europe. The largest, Deildartunguhver, emits nearly 50 gallons (190 litres) of boiling water per second. The depressed zones between the basalt areas have extensive plateaus above which rise single volcanoes, table mountains, or other mountain masses with steep sides. Iceland is home to a wide variety of private and public galleries, many of which can be found in small towns and villages throughout the countryside. Background: 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. All Regions. The capital is where the largest museums and galleries are located and among the most visited are the Culture House, Einar Jonsson Museum , ⦠The total power output of the Torfajökull (Torfa Glacier) area, the largest of the 19 high-temperature solfatara regions, is estimated to equal about 1,000 megawatts. Iceland is largely a tableland broken up by structural faults. The Republic of Iceland, the setting for Hannah Kent's debut novel Burial Rites, has a deep and intriguing history.. The landscape in basaltic areas is one of plateau and fjord, characterized by successive layers of lava visible one above the other on the valley sides. Volcanic activity has been particularly frequent since the 1970s. New Icelandic terms are introduced in each discipline and foreign influence on the vocabulary is actively resisted. Literature has always played a prominent role in Icelandic culture. Iceland. Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle. 258 Iceland HD Wallpapers and Background Images. Use this timeline to learn more about the history of Iceland. Since then, Iceland has flourished into a thriving community but its population has remained one of the smallest in Europe. Many Icelanders, for example, still believe in elves, trolls, and other figures in the mythical landscape of the Norse past, while even Icelanders who live in cities harbour a vision of their country as a pastoral land, in the words of Nobel Prize-winning author Halldór Laxness, of. Iceland is one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights. The highest point is 6,952 feet (2,119 metres), at Hvannadals Peak, the top of Öræfajökull in Vatnajökull. Iceland, one of the world's first independent, democratic nations, is the second largest island in Europe (39,769 square miles). Iceland joined the United Nations in 1946 and it is a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). There are numerous theater companies in Iceland, and Reykjavik is home to a symphony orchestra, an opera house, and a ballet company. Literacy has been universal in Iceland since the end of the eighteenth century. Updates? The southern lowland comprises the main farming region. Terms of Use, Iceland - Constitutional Legal Foundations, Education Encyclopedia - StateUniversity.com, Iceland - History Background, Constitutional Legal Foundations, Educational System—overview, Preprimary Primary Education, Secondary Education. Iceland's interior consists mostly of uninhabited mountains and high plateaus. Visitors to Iceland typically find the people to be courteous and friendly, are surprised by the cold yet temperate climate (mild winters and cool summers), and are struck by the breathtaking natural beauty of the country. Iceland is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the entire world. On June 17, 1944, the Republic of Iceland was formally declared at Thing-vellir. More than 60 percent of the country's population resides in or near the capital city of Reykjavik ("Bay of Smokes" named for the geo-thermal stream), situated in the southwestern region of the island. A governmental agency, the Icelandic Language Committee, was established in 1965 and officiates over all language issues. 1970 Settled by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British isles settled in the 9 th and 10 th centuries, Icelandic history has always been shaped by events on the larger politicla stage of the Nordic Countries. 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