The Republic of Iceland is a republic island in the north Atlantic. It has a total area of 103,000 km2. The climate is temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters and damp, cool summers. The terrain is mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, ice-fields; coast deeply indented by bays and fjords. Natural resources are fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, and diatomite. The religion is 95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman Catholic with 2% no affiliation. The language is Icelandic.
Iceland was first occupied in 874 by Vikings from Norway who founded a republic and in 930 Europe's oldest parliament in the country. Following a civil war,
Iceland came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1263, and in 1380 with Norway came under Danish rule. In 1918 Iceland achieved independence, while sharing a monachy with Denmark until 1944 when the people voted for complete independence. Research Iceland
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Iceland