Iceland — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Iceland: capital Reykjavik, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Iceland is in Europe. Its capital is Reykjavik.

Climate

Temperate maritime; moderated by the North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters and damp, cool summers

Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields, and a deeply indented coast with fjords

Iceland has no army and has the world's oldest parliament, Althing, established in 930 AD.

Nearly 100% of Iceland's electricity comes from renewable sources - geothermal and hydropower.

Icelanders publish more books per capita than any other nation in the world, with a tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve.

930: Althing parliament established, one of the world's oldest

1262: Iceland comes under Norwegian rule

1918: Sovereignty as the Kingdom of Iceland under Danish crown

1944: Republic of Iceland established with full independence

2008: Major financial crisis leads to banking system collapse

2010: Eyjafjallajökull eruption disrupts European air travel