Interesting facts about Iceland

• Iceland is a European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Iceland is about one-third larger than Ireland or Scotland.
• Capital (and largest city) Reykjavík.
• Total area: 103.000 km² (39,756 sq. mi)
• Eleven percent of Iceland is covered by glaciers.
• Population - January 1, 2011 estimate: 318,452
• Vatnajökull glacier is the largest in Europe.
• The settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island.
• The Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings (Icelandic).
• According to Freedom of the Press, Iceland has the most free press in the world.
• Life expectancy in Iceland is 81.3 years for women and 76.4 for men.
• Demonym: Icelander, Icelandic.
• The tallest mountain in Iceland is Hvannadalshnjúkur (2119 m)
• The largest glacier in the country (and Europe) isVatnajökull (8300 km²)
• Currently, Iceland is the only NATO member with no standing army.