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🌍 Countries of the world 🏰 Europe

Iceland

Iceland

📖 In short

Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. It's called “the land of ice and fire” because it has huge glaciers next to active volcanoes and steaming hot springs. Its capital is Reykjavik.

🤩 Did you know?

  • The water of some hot springs in Iceland can shoot up about 59 meters.
  • Iceland's longest river is about 241 kilometers long.
  • Iceland's capital is Reykjavik, and the currency is the króna.
  • Iceland is about 320 kilometers from Greenland.

🗂️ Fact file

Location of Iceland
Location of Iceland
The Icelandic flag
The Icelandic flag
Capital
Reykjavik
Official language
Icelandic
Official name
Republic of Iceland
Currency
Basic unit: the króna
Area
103,000 km²
Population
2002 estimate: 286,000 people

🔎 Find out more

🌟 Hot fountains

Iceland has hot springs that shoot boiling water and steam high into the air every few minutes, called geysers. The word “geyser” comes from the name of an Icelandic spring.

🔍 Homes warmed by the earth

Icelanders use the earth's natural heat to warm their homes and get electricity and hot water, and there are warm outdoor swimming pools even in winter.

💡 Waterfalls and glaciers

Ice covers much of Iceland, and the biggest glacier is Vatnajökull. Fast rivers flow from it, making wonderful waterfalls.

🎯 Puffins

Millions of little puffins with colorful orange beaks live on Iceland's coasts, and they're called “clowns of the sea”.

📸 More pictures

Iceland
Iceland
Iceland

🧩 Test yourself

1 Why is Iceland called “the land of ice and fire”?

2 How do Icelanders heat their homes?

3 The water of some hot springs in Iceland can shoot up about ?? meters.

4 Which picture shows “Iceland”?

🌍 Discover more

📷 Picture sources: Wikimedia Commons