Tourist Travel Information about Iceland
Iceland is a stunningly beautiful Nordic island country. It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America. Despite its geographical location it is considered to be one the Nordic countries along with Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Iceland is roughly the size of Ohio.
Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, where 60% of the Icelandic population lives, is the northernmost city of any sovereign state in the world. However, Iceland’s climate is not as cold as many would imagine, the average winter temperature is 2°C or 35°F.
There are no forests in Iceland. Instead, Iceland is home to contrasting forces of ice and fire. About 11% of the country’s surface is covered with glaciers, and about 30% is lava fields. On average, a volcano erupts every five years, usually away from inhabited areas. In fact, nearly all of Iceland’s heating and electricity needs are served by hydroelectric power and geothermal water reserves.
Iceland has the most active volcano area in the world, the largest waterfall, and glacier in Europe, the northernmost botanical garden and golf course in the world, the cleanest capital in the world, a population with the longest life expectancy and had the first democratically elected female president in the world, Mrs. Vigdis Finnbogadottir.
The phenomenon of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) can be seen during mid-winter (November-December) when the weather is clear.