Difference between revisions of "Iceland"
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Revision as of 18:18, April 14, 2007
Iceland is an island and nation situated in the North Atlantic, between Britain and Greenland.
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. 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 capital is Reykjavik.