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'''Iceland''' is an [[island]] [[nation]] situated in the [[North Atlantic]], between [[Britain]] and [[Greenland]]. The capital is [[Reykjavik]]. Uninhabited until the tenth century, it was colonized by [[Vikings]] - the [[Icelandic]] language is still remarkably similar to [[Old Norse]], far more so than its cognate languages [[Norwegian]], [[Swedish]] and [[Danish]].

'''Iceland''' is an [[island]] [[nation]] situated in the [[North Atlantic]], between [[Britain]] and [[Greenland]]. The capital is [[Reykjavik]]. Uninhabited until the tenth century, it was colonized by [[Vikings]] - the [[Icelandic]] language is still remarkably similar to [[Old Norse]], far more so than its cognate languages [[Norwegian]], [[Swedish]] and [[Danish]].

Iceland enjoys one of the highest standards of living on Earth, and has the oldest continuously functioning [[Parliament]]. It was traditionally ruled as part of Denmark until 1944, when it declared itself an independent republic. Iceland had been occupied by UK and US forces in 1940, following the German invasion of Denmark, to prevent its occupation by Germany.

Iceland enjoyed one of the highest standards of living during its financial bubble, but the worldwide [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] ruined the economy and bankrupted all its banks, leaving a gigantic national debt that will take many years to repay.

 

It has the oldest continuously functioning [[Parliament]]. It was traditionally ruled as part of Denmark until 1944, when it declared itself an independent republic. Iceland was occupied by British and American forces in 1940, following the German invasion of Denmark, to prevent its occupation by Germany.

==Geography==

==Geography==