Iceland

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An island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is one of the most beautiful—yet most misunderstood—countries in the world. Despite its name, Iceland is not a place of endless ice. While the country does experience chilly winters, it also has a fairly temperate climate, and in the summertime, lush green rolling hills and cascading waterfalls offer a very un-icy vacation. Visitors to Iceland will be met with rich culture, intriguing history, breathtaking landscapes and friendly people.

Language: Icelandic
Currency: Króna
Government: Representative parliamentary democracy

Did you know?

Northern Iceland is one of the most popular places in the world to experience the midnight sun, a phenomenon where the sun shines for a full 24-hour day.
11% of the country is covered by glaciers.
Icelanders have a life expectancy of 81.8 years, the third highest in the world.
The country is known as the land of fire and ice because of its mix of glaciers and volcanoes.
The world’s first openly gay leader was Johanna Sigurdardottir, who became Iceland’s prime minister on February 1, 2009.

Climate

Iceland’s climate is relatively mild when compared to other countries at the same latitude. This is due to the country being warmed by the gulf stream, a warm ocean current that runs across the Atlantic Ocean.

Spring: March, April, May
Summer: June, July, August
Fall: September, October, November
Winter: December, January, February

History

The first settlers of Iceland were all exiles from their neighbour to the North, Norway, seeking refuge from the Norse King Harald Haarfagri. Upon arriving on the island, the new inhabitants set up a parliamentary system in 930 CE called Althing, which remains today as the oldest institution still in existence. Iceland enjoyed a ‘Golden age’ until the late 12th to early 13th century, when the country entered into a period of civil warfare. Iceland, along with Norway, eventually became part of the Crown of Denmark until the early 19th century when it regained its independence. Iceland became a member of the United Nations in 1946.