Iceland

Iceland

Iceland / is a European island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the central Atlantic Rim. Its population is 320,000 people and its total area is 103,000 km2. Its capital is Reykjavik and is the largest city in the country, as it and the southwestern regions are home to more than two-thirds of the country's population. Iceland is a volcanically and geologically active country

The Icelandic economy is a free market economy with low taxes compared to the rest of the OECD countries, while maintaining the social welfare system in the northern countries providing free health care for all and education through to tertiary education

In recent years, Iceland has become one of the richest and most developed countries in the world. In 2010, it was ranked 14th among the developed countries in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Report, and the fourth largest by country in the world

In 2008 the Icelandic banking system collapsed, causing major economic downturns and associated political turmoil.

The Icelandic community is technologically advanced. While Icelandic culture is based on the heritage of the peoples of the North, as most Icelanders are of Northern origin (especially western Norway) and of the Galician peoples. Icelandic is a North Germanic language and is very close to Faro and some Western Norwegian dialects. The country's cultural heritage includes poetry, traditional cuisine, and medieval Icelandic saga. Iceland is currently the smallest country in NATO in terms of population and is the only one without an army present

Iceland is located in the north of the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle which passes through the small island of Grimsey, which is located off the north coast of Iceland. Unlike the neighboring island of Greenland, Iceland belongs to Europe, not North America, although it is located on the geological plates of both continents. The closest land masses are Greenland (287 km - 178 mi) and the Faroe Islands (420 km - 261 mi). The closest distance between it and mainland Europe is 970 km (603 mi) from Norway

Iceland is the 18th largest island in the world, and the second largest in Europe after Great Britain. The main island has an area of ​​101,826 square kilometers, but the total area of ​​the country is about 103,000 km2 (39,768.5 sq mi), covering 62.7% of its area. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of the area while only 23% of the total area is covered with vegetation

The largest lakes are Borisvaten (water reservoir): 83-88 km2 (32.0-34.0 sq mi) and Pengvalavatn: 82 km2 (31.7 sq mi). There are also other important lakes including Lugorin and Myvatn. Lake Oskjovatn is the deepest lake, with depth estimated at 220 meters (722 feet)

Iceland is geologically part of the mid-Atlantic ridge, and Iceland's presence above sea level is due to its position in the ridge, where the oceanic crust is formed and then expands to be replaced by another oceanic crust. Tectonically speaking, Iceland does not belong to Europe or North America, as it resulted from the height of the crust when the tectonic plates converge and not on the continental land

The defect formed 4,970 km from the long coastline of Iceland, where most of the settlements are located. Inside the island, it contains heights that are an inhabitable mixture of sand and cold mountains. The major cities are the capital Reykjavik and the surrounding towns such as Kopavgor, Hafnerfjordur, Gardaber and Reykjansbir (where the international airport is located) and Akureyri in the north of the island. While Grimsi Island is located to the south of the Arctic Circle, it is the most populated area to the north. There are three national parks in Iceland: Vatnayukule, Snifelzeukule and Bangfellir

Iceland is a geologically young land located on the hot zone of the mid-Atlantic ridge that passes directly through it. This composition means that the island is geologically active with many volcanoes such as Hecla, Aldega, Herdoprid and Eldeville volcano.

 Volcanic eruptions take place on the island, on average, every five years. Lucky volcano eruption in 1783–1784 caused a famine that took the lives of a quarter of Iceland's population. The eruption led to clouds of volcanic ash that covered most of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia for the next several months