Iceland

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Iceland is a country located on a large island of the same name in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Covering the complete island, it has an area of 103,000 km² and a population of 304,000[1]. This means that the country is very sparsely populated, precisely it has a population density of 2.9/km². Its capital is Reykjavík, with a population of 116,000. Most people in iceland belong to the State Lutheran Church, the percentage is about 84%. Iceland's currency is the Icelandic króna.

Iceland is independent since 1918 and a republic since 1944, when the current constitution was established. Its parliament, the Althingi, has 63 members. They are elected for four years. The head of the state, i.e. the prime minister, is directly elected every four years by all citizen who are at least 18 years old.

Prominent features of Iceland's nature are the glaciers and geysers. Covering 8% of the country, the Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland.

References

  1. As of July 2006.