Independence Year : 1944
Population : 279000
Life Expectancy : 79.4
Capital : 1449
GNP : 8255.00
GNP Old : 7474.00
Local Name : Ísland
Government Form : Republic
Location : Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle.
Terrain : Rugged
Climate : temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers.
Ethnic Group : Relatively homogenous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions : Evangelical Lutheran, 87%
Official Website :
www.althingi.is
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General Information - Iceland
Background
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930.
Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark.
Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the United States.
Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944.
Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
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