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Northern Europe, island between
the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
0 m
Highest point: Hvannadalshnukur
2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Capital: Reykjavik
Religion: 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%
Languages Spoken: Icelandic,
English,
Nordic languages, German widely
spoken
See also: Languages
spoken in Europe, Languages of
the world
Information & Brief History
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.
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Iceland