Iceland's nuts and bolts
Iceland is a European island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of about 320 thousand and a total area of 103 thousand sqkm making it the world’s 18th largest Island and Europe’s second largest island after Great Britain. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, the northernmost capital in the world, whose surrounding area is home to two-thirds of the population. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude and provides a habitable environment and nature.

A volcanic island
Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is volcanically and geologically active which defines the landscape. Iceland has many volcanoes, of which Hekla probably is the most famous one. There are many geysers in Iceland, including Geysir, from which the English word is derived. With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and because many rivers and waterfalls are harnessed for hydroelectricity, most residents have inexpensive hot water and home heating. The island itself is composed primarily of basalt, a low-silica and dark rock-type associated with volcanic activity. Iceland, however, has various kinds of volcanoes, some of which produce more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite, characterized by their lighter colours.

Wildlife
The live stock animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, chicken, pigs and the sturdy Icelandic horse. Many varieties of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland and in its many lakes and rivers. Wild mammals include the Arctic Fox, mink, mice, rats, occasional rabbits and reindeer. Polar bears occasionally visit the island, travelling on icebergs from Greenland. Birds, especially seabirds, are a very important part of Iceland's animal life. Puffins, Guillemots, kittiwakes and more seabirds nest on its sea cliffs all around the island.

Settlement and economy
According to history books the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 although some recent studies suggest that settlement happened some 200 years earlier or as early as 670. Iceland is a part of the European Economic Area and its economy has diversified from fishing to tourism, finance, aluminum smelting and various other industries, primarily in the past 10-20 years. Iceland maintains a Nordic welfare system providing universal health care of high standards and post-secondary education for its citizens.

Culture
Icelandic culture is based on the nation’s Norse heritage and its status as a developed and technologically advanced society. The country's cultural heritage includes traditional cuisine, poetry, and the medieval Sagas. In recent years, Iceland has been one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. In 2007, it was ranked as the most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index and the fourth most productive country per capita. In 2008, however, the nation’s banking system systematically failed, causing significant economic contraction as well as economic and political uncertainty. The daily lives of its inhabitants have however not changed dramatically nor the infrastructure needed to service the ever growing tourism sector.

Language, religion and education
Iceland's official language is Icelandic, a North Germanic language descended from Old Norse. It has changed less from Old Norse than the other Nordic languages and has to a considerable extent developed new vocabulary based on native roots rather than borrowings from other languages. The closest living language to Icelandic is Faroese. English, German and Danish are widely spoken as secondary languages. Icelanders enjoy freedom of religion under the constitution, though the National Church of Iceland, a Lutheran body, is the state church. Religious attendance is relatively low, as in the other Nordic countries. University of Iceland is the largest university and has its main campus in the centre of Reykjavík. Other universities include Reykjavík University, University of Akureyri and Bifrost University.

Parliament and politics
Iceland is a representative democracy and a parliamentary republic. The modern parliament, Alþingi, was founded in 1845 as an advisory body to the Danish monarch. It was seen as a re-establishment of the assembly founded in 930 and suspended in 1798. Consequently, it is the world's oldest parliament. It currently has 63 members, elected for a four year term. The president of Iceland is a head of state and serves as a diplomat but can block a law voted by the parliament and put it to a national referendum. The current president is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. The head of government is the prime minister, currently Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, who, together with the cabinet, is responsible for executive government. The governments of Iceland have almost always been coalitions with two, sometimes more parties involved.

Social structure and transportation
The social structure of Iceland is dependent upon the personal car. Icelanders have one of the highest levels of car ownership per capita in the world and on average one car per inhabitant older than 17 years. Most Icelanders travel by car to work, school or other activities. The ring road was completed in 1974 and the last inhabited areas was connected to the road system only a few years before and there were only short stretches of roads blacktopped before that date. A number of roads remain unpaved to this date, especially in rural areas. The speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on gravel country roads and 90 km/h on blacktopped country roads. Iceland has no railways. The main hub for international transport is Keflavík International Airport, which serves the whole country and is approximately 50 km west of Reykjavík. Domestic flights as well as flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands operate out of Reykjavík Airport, which lies very close to the city centre.