Iceland Travel- Facts on Iceland

History		Top of Page
	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.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic Coordinates	65 00 N, 18 00 W
Area	Total: 103,000 sq km Land: 100,250 sq km Water: 2,750 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land Boundaries	0 km
Coastline	4,988 km
Climate	Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain	Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural Resources	Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Geography Note	Strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
Natural hazards	Earthquakes and volcanic activity
People		Top of Page
Population	299,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287) (2006 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Icelander(s) Adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic Groups	Homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
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)
Language	Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Republic of Iceland Conventional short form: Iceland Local short form: Island Local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
Government Type	Constitutional republic
Capital	Reykjavik
Administrative Divisions	23 counties (syslur, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes, Akureyri, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur, Husavik, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik, Saudharkrokur, Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordhur, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla note: there may be four other counties
Independence	Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Flag Description	Blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 4% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the current account deficit, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, and diversifying the economy. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.
Currency	Icelandic krona
Currency Code	ISK
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: extensive domestic service
Internet Country Code	.is
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	0 km
Roadways	total: 13,028 km paved/oiled gravel: 4,241 km (does not include urban roads) unpaved: 8,787 km (2005)
Waterways	None
Ports and Harbors	Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar
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