Land of Fire and Ice
Settled by the Norse in 870 AD, Iceland is an island nation located in the North Atlantic
Situated on a rift between tectonic plates, Iceland features geysers and Active Volcanoes.
Settled by the Norse and their Celtic slaves over a thousand years ago, Iceland was isolated from the rest of Europe for much of its history, resulting in a unique culture that still retains elements of its Norse heritage.
Iceland's Althing is one of the world's oldest functioning legislative bodies, a symbol of the island's independence and resilience over the centuries.
Some interesting facts
Numbers speak for themselves
380000
Iceland's Population
98
Percent of Icelanders who can speak English
870 AD
Year Iceland was settled
Iceland has both suffered from and prospered due to its location on a Tectonic Rift.
Active volcanoes
Iceland is home to 32 active volcanoes. Historically, these volcanoes erupt every five years, although recently there has been an upsurge in volcanic activity resulting in shorter intervals. Over the centuries, this volcanic activity has caused misery and destruction for the Icelandic people, but the country's thermal activity is also a boon to its tourist industry and has been harnessed to provide green energy for the nation.
European... from a distance
Settled by the Norse (sometimes referred to as Vikings) and their Celtic slaves, Iceland is at its heart a European country. However, despite being ruled for large periods of time by Norway and Denmark, Iceland maintained a stubborn independent spirit fostered by its isolation from the rest of the continent. To this day it retains a culture that is unique from that of its European roots.
