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Uninhabited until the tenth century, it was colonised by [[Vikings]] - the [[Icelandic]] language is still remarkably similar to [[Old Norse]], far more so than its cognate languages [[Norwegian]], [[Swedish]] and [[Danish]].

Uninhabited until the tenth century, it was colonised by [[Vikings]] - the [[Icelandic]] language is still remarkably similar to [[Old Norse]], far more so than its cognate languages [[Norwegian]], [[Swedish]] and [[Danish]].

It enjoys one of the highest standards of living on Earth, and has the oldest continuously functioning [[Parliament]].

It enjoys one of the highest standards of living on Earth, and has the oldest continuously functioning [[Parliament]]. I 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.

The interior consists mostly of [[desert]] (deserts are not confined to warm climates), with many spectacular [[glaciers]] and [[geysirs]].

The interior consists mostly of [[desert]] (deserts are not confined to warm climates), with many spectacular [[glaciers]] and [[geysirs]].