Iceland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean between the European and American continents, located just south of the Arctic Circle. Over the past ten years, it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Iceland is a land of diversity and contrasts. Geologically, the island is relatively young, and frequent volcanic eruptions still shape its landscape. The island is located on a volcanic hotspot, which has led to many geothermal areas throughout the country with smoking vents, geysers, mud pools, and sometimes warm natural pools to swim in.
The country’s territory is just over 100 thousand square kilometers (40 thousand square miles), of which 11% are covered with glaciers, including the largest in Europe, the Vatnajokull glacier. This land of fire and ice offers many stunning views and breathtaking landscapes.
Iceland is also Europe’s most sparsely populated country, with an average of just over three people per square kilometer. The population is slightly more than 360 thousand people, of which the bulk lives in the capital, Reykjavik, and its environs. The official language is Icelandic, but almost everyone speaks English well. The island’s settlement occurred during the Viking Age in the 9th-10th centuries. Genetically, Icelanders have Norse and Celtic roots from the island’s first settlers.
Due to its location in a volcanic hotspot, most homes are heated with geothermal water collected from deep wells and piped through a network of pipes. Iceland has over 100 geothermal heated pools. Hydroelectric power plants generate more than 80% of electricity. Iceland’s most significant resource is fishing. The locals have always depended on fishing and fish processing as the nation’s primary source of income. The main industries are fish processing, aluminum smelting, geothermal energy, hydropower, and tourism.
By its turnover, tourism exceeded fishing by the beginning of 2020 and came out on top. The number of visitors per year exceeded the country’s population by 6-7 times. For many, Iceland is still attractive to travel to because of its safety, low level of COVID-19 contamination, and the opportunity to feel freedom in the vastness of this sparsely populated island with fantastic nature.