Location: Europe
Status: UN Country
Capital City: Reykjavik (Reykjavík)
Main Cities: Kópavogur, Hafnarfjördur, Akureyri, Reykjanesbær
Population: 270,000
Area: 103,000 km2
Currency: 1 króna = 100 aurar
Languages: Icelandic
Religions: Lutheran
More about Iceland: an island republic in the N Atlantic, regarded as part of Europe: settled by Norsemen, who established a legislative assembly in 930; under Danish rule (1380-1918); gained independence in 1918 and became a republic in 1944; contains large areas of glaciers, snowfields, and lava beds with many volcanoes and hot springs (the chief source of domestic heat); inhabited chiefly along the SW coast. The economy is based largely on fishing and tourism. Official language: Icelandic. Official religion: Evangelical Lutheran. Currency: króna. Capital: Reykjavik. Pop.: 291 000 (2004 est.). Area: 102 828 sq. km (39 702 sq. miles)