Iceland is located in the North Atlantic, just south of the Arctic Circle, and includes the island of Iceland and several smaller islands. The main island is located about 300 km southeast of Greenland, 1,000 km west of Norway and 800 km northwest of Scotland.
| Capital: | Reykjavik |
| Biggest city: | Reykjavik |
| State: | republic |
| Language: | Icelandic |
| Religion: | Protestantism |
| Surface: | 103 km |
| Population: | 315,300 (2013) |
| Population density: | 3 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 81 years |
| Illiteracy: | 1% |
| Currency: | ISK (ISK) 1 ISK = 0.08 ISK |
| GDP per capita: | $ 36,800 (2010) |
| Time difference: | -1 hour |
| Electricity: | 220 V AC, 50Hz |
| National Day: | 17th of June |
| Country area code: | 354 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | IS (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | service sector 61%, industry 35%, agriculture 4% |
| Climate: | temperate; cold, windy winters and mild, humid summers |
In Iceland there are both barren glaciers, hot springs, white horses and spraying geysers. The country is often described as a journey into the world of fairy tales. In addition to having the world’s northernmost capital, Iceland is also Europe’s most sparsely populated country. Only 3 residents per square kilometer. Iceland is widely regarded as the world’s oldest still active democracy. The Icelandic parliament has its roots in the thing that was held in 930 in Tingvalla.
Icelanders still speak the original language of the Vikings, and although modern Icelandic has changed in pronunciation and vocabulary, Iceland is still alone in preserving another national tradition – that of using the father’s name instead of surname. An Icelander’s first name is followed by his or her father’s first name with the suffix -son or dóttir. Example: Gudrun Pétursdóttir (Gudrun, Péturs dotter). Members of the same family can therefore have many different surnames, something that often confuses those who are unfamiliar with the mill. The first name is more important in Iceland than the last name, and the Icelandic telephone directories are still sorted by first name.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in Iceland are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- Thingvellir National Park (2004)
- Surtsey Island, formed by volcanic eruptions 1963-1967 (2008)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Iceland
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: C, F
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Reykjavik
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Day °C | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Night °C | -3 | -2 | -2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| Rain (mm) | 50 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Rainy days | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
| Soltim / day | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Reykjavik
According to Countryaah, Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. The name means Rökvik or rather Rökavik, i.e. “smokers’ bay”. This name was given to the bay and the area after the sight of the geysers’ steam pillars, from the hot springs that are still nearby.
Reykjavik is the northernmost and Europe’s westernmost capital of the world. The city is located slightly south of the Arctic Circle and the shortest days in winter provide only four hours of sunlight, while the nights in summer are almost as bright as the days. Reykjavik is located in southwest Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxefjorden. It has about 120,000 residents and is the center of Iceland’s economic activity.
Reykjavik is believed to be the first permanent settlement in Iceland, it is said to have been founded around the year 870 by Ingólfur Arnarson. Until the 20th century, however, there were no urban settlements on the site. The city itself was founded in 1786 as an official trading city and grew rapidly over the next few decades, as it developed into a regional center for commerce, population and government activities.
Today, Reykjavik is the center of Reykjavik’s metropolitan area, which with its 200,000 residents is Iceland’s only metropolitan area. The city is one of the world’s most modern cities in one of the world’s most developed countries, and its residents enjoy a world – class welfare and infrastructure system.
The city’s seven swimming and bathing facilities, which are heated with the help of the hot springs, are very popular with both Icelanders and tourists. Reykjavik is the place where the novel (and film) 101 Reykjavik takes place, and especially the nightclub Kaffibarinn (which in the novel is called the K-bar) has achieved cult status. In general, the city is known for hosting a fast-paced nightlife, where the Nasa disco is one of the most important gathering places.
In recent years, the city has fostered several world celebrities, such as musicians such as Björk and Oddur Sigurjónsson and bands such as Múm and Sigur Rós.