Portal:Iceland
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Wikipedia portals: Culture · Geography · Health · History · Mathematics · Natural sciences · Philosophy · Religion · Society · Technology Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland, is a volcanic island nation in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Norway, Scotland, Ireland and the Faeroe Islands. Iceland was one of the last large islands uninhabited by humans until it was discovered and settled by immigrants from Scandinavia, Ireland and Scotland during the 9th and 10th centuries. Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small island of Grímsey off Iceland's northern coast, but not through mainland Iceland. Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part of Europe, not of North America. Due to cultural, economic, and linguistic similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included as part of Scandinavia. Approximately ten per cent (10%) of the island is glaciated. Iceland is located on both a geological hot spot, thought to be caused by a mantle plume, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This combined location means that the island is extremely geologically active. All this geologic activity helps Iceland to produce 17.5% of its electricity from geothermal sources.  The new island was named after the fire giant Surtur from Norse mythology, and was intensively studied by volcanologists during its creation and, since the end of the eruption, has been of great interest to botanists and biologists as life has gradually colonised the originally barren island. The undersea vents that produced Surtsey are part of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Isles) submarine volcanic system, part of the fissure of the sea floor called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Vestmannaeyjar also produced the famous eruption of Eldfell on the island of Heimaey in 1973. The eruption that created Surtsey also created a few other small islands along this volcanic chain, such as Jólnir and other unnamed peaks. Most of these eroded away fairly quickly.  Mývatn is a shallow eutrophic lake situated in an area of active volcanism in the north of Iceland, not far from Krafla volcano. The lake and its surrounding wetlands have an exceptionally rich fauna of waterbirds, especially ducks. The lake was created by a large basaltic lava eruption 2300 years ago, and the surrounding landscape is dominated by volcanic landforms (pictured), including lava pillars and pseudocraters. The effluent river Laxá is known for its rich fishing for Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon.  
  Subdivisions: Austurland • Höfuðborgarsvæði • Suðurland • Suðurnes • Vestfirðir History: Timeline • Settlement of Iceland • Icelandic Commonwealth • Age of the Sturlungs • Cod War Politics: Parliament (Alþing) • President • Prime Minister • Ombudsman • Cabinet • Constitution • Elections • Administrative divisions • Political parties Geography: Climate • Geology • Glaciers • Volcanoes • Waterfalls • Lakes • Rivers • Transport Economy: Stock Exchange • Icelandic Króna • Banks Military: Iceland Air Defence System • Icelandic Coast Guard • Icelandic Crisis Response Unit • Víkingasveitin Demographics: Language • Religion • Subdivisions Culture: Architecture • Art • Cinema • Cuisine • Education • Literature • Media • Music • Public holidays • Sport • Television • Whaling Symbols: Flag • Coat of arms • National anthem (Lofsöngur) 
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