Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is an island country in Northern Europe, located in the North Atlantic Ocean between mainland Europe and Greenland.It has a total area of 103,000 km².Iceland has a temperate climate and provides a habitable environment and nature. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterized by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. The settlement of Iceland began in 874 when, , the according to Landnamabok Norwegian chieftain Ingolfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island.Until twentieth century, the Icelandic relied on fisheries and agriculture.But they developed rapidly in twentieth century in economy and welfare system. In 2007, Iceland was ranked as the most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index. The climate of Iceland's coast is subpolar oceanic.The winters are mild and windy while the summers are damp and cool. Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain ice-free through the winter. Ice incursions are rare, the last having occurred on the north coast in 1969.Iceland is a large island in the North Atlantic close to the Arctic Circle. The landscape is wild, rugged and colourful, with black lava, red sulphur, hot blue geysers, rivers, waterfalls and green valleys. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world.
Iceland's official written and spoken language is Icelandic, a North Germanic language descended from Old Norse.English is widely spoken as a secondary language, and many Icelanders speak it almost at a native level of proficiency. In recent years, tourism in Iceland has become a more significant part of the economy.Tourism has grown 11% on average each year, and around 360,000 people visited Iceland in 2004. Tourist attractions in Iceland mainly revolve around the diverse geological landscape, including glaciers, fjords, geysers, waterfalls, hot springs and lakes. Geysir (a geyser near Haukadalur) and Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Iceland. The aurora borealis are also visible due to Iceland’s latitude, which also act as a tourist attraction. Iceland also has a rich cultural heritage based around the sagas and the Viking-influenced culture.Among lively Reykjavik's multitude of attractions are Hallgrimur's Church, a bevy of geothermal baths and sizzling hot nightlife. The Icelandic capital is the starting point for the Golden Circle Route driving tour through the southwest. The mineral-rich Blue Lagoon is a 40-minute drive from the city. Reykjavík is set on a broad bay, surrounded by mountains, and is in an area of geothermal hot springs, creating a natural central heating system and pollution-free environment. It is a busy city combining old-fashioned wooden architecture and modern buildings.