Iceland is located 287 km east of Greenland and 798 km northeast of Scotland. The first settlers in Iceland were Norwegian Vikings, who came here about 870. In 930 was established the independent Icelandic parliament – Allting, the oldest legislative body in the world, which exists even today. For centuries on end Iceland was dependent and was ruled by Norway and afterwards by Denmark. Since 1944 it has been an independent republic.

The climate is severe. About 15% of the area of Iceland is covered with glaciers – the biggest is the Vatnajokull glacier, in the southern part of the islands. The terrain consists of vast lava plateaus between 600 and 950 m above sea level, over which tower a number of extinct, dormant and active volcanoes. The Хваннадалсхнукур volcano (2,119 m) is Iceland’s highest peak. Iceland is called “the Land of fire and ice” because of the cohabitation of Earth’s fiery breath with the icy frost.

Thermal spas in Iceland are largely used for heating purposes. According to electricity production per population unit Iceland ranks one of the top in the world, and according to potable water export it ranks second after Canada.

Iceland is the only country in the world without an army. Reykjavik is the northernmost and cleanest capital in the world.