Background: Settled by Norwegians and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries, Iceland boasts the world's oldest parliament, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Limited home rule was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Population: 276,365 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 33,119; female 31,222)
15-64 years: 65% (male 90,599; female 88,982)
65 years and over: 12% (male 14,555; female 17,888) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.57% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 14.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 6.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.39 years
male: 77.19 years
female: 81.77 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none (1997)

Languages: Icelandic

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island

Data code: IC

Government type: constitutional republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent of vote - 41.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are appointed for life by the president

Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; National Awakening (People's Revival Party) or PR [Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR]; People's Alliance (left socialist) or PA [Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR]; People's Movement (centrist) [leader NA]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON]; Women's Party or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara GRIFFITHS
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 5629100
FAX: [354] 5629118

Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy - overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant hydrothermal and geothermal power), Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale-watching. Growth is likely to slow in 2000, to a still respectable 3.5%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.42 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,500 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15% (includes fishing 13%)
industry: 21%
services: 64% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (1999 est.)

Labor force: 131,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%, agriculture 5.1% (1999)

Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1999 est.)

Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 6.187 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.06%
hydro: 89.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.06% (1998)

Electricity - consumption: 5.754 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish

Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite and ferrosilicon

Exports - partners: EU 65% (UK 19%, Germany 15%, France 7%, Denmark 6%), US 13%, Japan 5% (1998)

Imports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11% (1998)

Debt - external: $2.6 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 72.334 (January 2000), 72.352 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Telephones - main lines in use: 162,310 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 65,746 (1997)

Telephone system: adequate domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 260,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 98,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (1999)

Railways: 2 meters

Highways:
total: 12,689 km
paved: 3,439 km
unpaved: 9,250 km (1998 est.)

Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Airports: 86 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 74
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 52 (1999 est.)

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 71,486 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 62,990 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $0

Military - note: Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Iceland, the second largest island in Europe, lies close to the Arctic Circle. It is about midway between New York and Moscow. Iceland has a total area of 103,000 square km (39,756 square miles). From north to south the greatest distance is about 300 km (185 miles), from west to east about 500 km (305 miles). The coastline is about 6,000 km (3,700 miles) and the shortest distances to other countries are 286 km (180 miles) to Greenland, 795 km (495 miles) to Scotland and 950 km (590 miles) to Norway.

Geologically Iceland is a very young country, and the process of its formation is still going on. Iceland's interior consists entirely of mountains and high plateaus, devoid of human habitation. Its average height is 500 m above sea level, the highest point being Hvannadalshnúkur in the Öræfajökull glacier in Southeast Iceland, reaching a height of 2.119 m (6,950 feet).

Climate
Considering the northerly location of Iceland, its climate is much milder than might be expected, especially in winter. The mean annual temperature for Reykjavik's is 5°C, the average January temperature being -0.4°C and July 11.2°C. The annual precipitation on the south coast is about 3,000 mm, whereas in the highlands north of Vatnajökull it drops to 400 mm or less. The weather in Iceland is on the whole quite changeable and depends mostly on the tracks of the atmospheric depressions crossing the North Atlantic. The passage of a depression some distance south of Iceland causes relatively cold and dry weather, especially in southern districts, while one passing northeastward between Iceland and Greenland brings mild weather, moderately dry in the north.

Coastal areas in Iceland tend to be windy, gales are common, especially in winter, while thunderstorms are extremely rare.

The Northern Lights can often be seen, especially in autumn and early winter.

For two to three months in summer there is continuous daylight in Iceland, and early spring and late autumn enjoy long twilight. The really dark period (three to four hours' daylight) lasts from about the middle of November until the end of January.

Iceland's southern and western coasts experience relatively mild winter temperatures thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. July and August are the warmest months and, in general, the chances of fine weather improve as you move north and east. The sunniest weather is around Akureyri and Lake Mývatn in the central north and warmest around Egilsstaðir in the east, yet none of those places quite escapes the discomfort of a chilly wind. While these areas are more prone to clear weather than the coastal areas, the deserts in the interior may experience problems such as blizzards and high winds that whip up dust and sand into swirling, gritty maelstroms.

Volcanic activity
Iceland has some of the most active volcanoes in the world. There are about 200 post-glacial volcanoes, at least 30 of which have erupted since the country was settled in the 9th century AD. On the average there is an eruption every fifth year. Nearly every type of volcanic activity found in the world is represented in Iceland, the most common being fissure eruptions. One of these, the 30km-long row of craters, Lakagígar, with about 100 separate craters, erupted in 1783. The gases and ashes from this eruption poisoned the grasslands, causing tremendous damage in the countryside. This brought widespread famine and resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people through starvation. The lava flow from this eruption is the largest known in the world, covering 565 square km.

Shield volcanoes of the Hawaiian type, like Skjaldbreiður near Thingvellir, are also numerous, but the only one active in historical times is the new Surtsey volcano. Almost all the cone volcanoes of the Fuji type are ice-covered, the largest of them being Öræfajökull (2.119 m), Eyjafjallajökull (1.666 m), and Snæfellsjökull ( 1.446 m). Craters created by volcanic explosions are also quite common.

The most famous Icelandic volcano is Hekla, which was renowned throughout the Catholic world during the Middle Ages for being the abode of the damned. Since its first recorded eruption in 1104, which destroyed vast areas, including the Þjórsárdalur settlement, Hekla has erupted 17 times in historic time continually bringing damage to the surrounding countryside. At the beginning of its eruption in March 1947, a column of smoke and ash rose to 100,000 feet. The eruption lasted 13 months. In May 1970, a number of small craters in Hekla erupted and the lava flow lasted for some two months. There were also a series of eruptions as recently as 1980 and 1981.

The volcano Katla, hidden beneath the ice of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, has erupted at least 13 times since the settlement of Iceland, last in 1918. The eruptions of sub-glacial volcanoes cause massive floods which in the case of Katla may exceed the Amazon river in the volume of water. Askja, in the northeastern highlands, last erupted in 1961, but its eruption in 1875 was the last one to cause great damage. This earlier eruption formed Öskjuvatn (Lake Askja), the deepest lake in Iceland (220 m deep).

The most dramatic recent volcanic eruption began on the night of 23 January 1973, on the only inhabited island of the Westman group, Heimaey. In an outstanding operation, the entire population of some 5,300 people was moved to the mainland in a matter of hours, without accident. The eruption lasted until May and half of the town was submerged in lava while the remainder was covered by a thick layer of ash. The harbour and the most important fish-processing plants were saved through a bold experiment by Icelandic scientists, which consisted of cooling the encroaching lava flow by pumping thousands of tons of sea water onto it, which eventually succeeded in stopping the flow. As a result of the eruption, the island was considerably enlarged and the harbour vastly improved. Rescue and restoration work went on ceaselessly, and gradually most of the inhabitants returned to their much-altered domicile.

Sub-marine eruptions are frequent off the coasts of Iceland, especially on the Atlantic Ocean ridge southwest of the Reykjanes peninsula. The last sub-marine eruption, near the Westman Islands, began visibly on 14 November 1963, and created three new islands. One of the islands endured and was named Surtsey. The eruption continued for more than seven years.

Earthquakes are frequent in Iceland, but rarely dangerous. The most disastrous ones occurred in the southern lowlands in 1784 and 1896, leaving many farms in ruins. The village of Dalvík in Eyjafjörður, in the north, was partly destroyed by an earthquake in 1934. A minor volcanic eruption near Krafla in the northeast, where the first major power station utilizing natural heat was under construction, started in December 1975, and continued off and on for a number of years. Most recently, there were severe earthquakes in January 1976 that went on for some weeks, damaging part of the fishing village Kópasker, in the northeast.

Geothermal activities
Iceland is richer in hot springs and high-temperature geo-thermal activity than any other country in the world. High-temperature activity is limited to the now volcanic median zone where there are 14 solfatara fields. These are characterized by steam holes, mud pools, and sulphuric precipitation.
The main high-temperature areas are Torfajökull east of Hekla, Grímsvötn in the Vatnajökull glacier, Hengill near Reykjavík, Kerlingarfjöll, Námafjall near Mývatn, Kverkfjöll on the north side of Vatnajökull and Krísuvík south of Reykjav’k.

Low-temperature areas with hot springs are found all over Iceland. There are about 250 geothermal areas of this type with a total of about 800 hot springs.
The largest hot spring in Iceland, Deildartunguhver in Borgarfjörður, has a flow of about 250 litres of boiling water per second. Some of the hot springs are spouting springs or geysers, the most famous of which is the Great Geysir in Haukadalur in South Iceland, from which the international word geyser is in fact derived. It has been known to eject a column of hot water to a height of about 60 meters. Another renowned geyser in the vicinity of the Great Geysir is Strokkur.

Islands
There are numerous islands around the coast, some of them inhabited. Largest are the Westman Islands in the south, Hrísey in the north, and Grímsey at the Arctic Circle.

Glaciers
Among the most distinctive features of Iceland are its glaciers, that cover about 11,260 square km (4,328 sq. miles) or 10,9 % of the total area of the country.
Almost all types of glaciers are found in Iceland, ranging from the small cirque glaciers to extensive glacier caps reminding one of the inland ices of Greenland. These latter are drained by broad lobe-shaped outlets or by valley glaciers of the alpine type.
By far the largest of the glacier caps is Vatnajökull in southeast Iceland with an area of 8,300 square km, equal in size to all the glaciers on the European mainland put together. It reaches a thickness of 1.000 m. One of its southern outlets, Breiðamerkurjökull, descends to sea level.

Other large glacier caps are Langjökull (953 sq. km) and Hofsjökull (925 sq. km), both in the central highlands, Mýrdalsjökull (596 sq. km) in the south, and Drangajökull (160 sq. km) in the northwest.
On the tip of Snæfellsnes, across the bay from Reykjavík, one of the smaller glaciers, Snæfellsjökull ( 11 sq. km) may be seen in clear weather and affords a fascinating sight at sundown. The Icelandic glaciers are exciting goals for hard adventurers, but many of them are dangerous to cross owing to rifts and crevasses in the ice.

Rivers and lakes
Rivers are numerous in Iceland and relatively voluminous due to the heavy rainfall and abundant glacial meltwater,  none of them has been considered navigable owing to swift currents. But in the last few years rafting has become very popular.   Most of the rivers originate from the glaciers and are consequently heavily laden with debris, which make them turbid and often yellowish-brown in colour. The longest river, Þjórsá in the south, is 230 km long and has an average discharge of 390 cubic meters per second. The second longest, Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the northeast, is 206 km long. Other big rivers are Hvítá and Ölfusá in the south, Skjálfandafljót in the north, Lagarfljót and Jökulsá á Brú in the east.

Icelandic rivers are chiefly of two types, glacial and clear-water rivers. The former usually divide into numerous more or less intertwined tributaries that constantly change theirs courses and swing over the outwashed plains lying below the glaciers. This is especially true of the rivers running south from Vatnajökull. In this area it was extremely difficult to build a permanent road, since the bridges and parts of the roads were constantly being washed away when the glacial rivers reached their maximum discharge usually in July and August.

Clear-water rivers are of two kinds. One drains the old basalt areas and has a variable discharge with maximum flow in late spring. The other kind drains regions covered with post-glacial lava and usually has small variations in discharge, which makes them ideally suited for hydroelectric power production.

Waterfalls are an impressive characteristic of the youthful Icelandic landscape, and among the most famous are Gullfoss in Hvítá, Dettifoss in Jökulsá á Fjöllum, Aldeyjarfoss and Goðafoss in Skjálfandafljót, Hraunfossar in Hvítá in Borgarfjörður and Skógafoss in Skógá.

Lakes in Iceland are abundant, but most of them are rather small. Some of these lakes are formed by subsidence, other fill glacier-eroded basins, still others are lava-dammed, while a few are ice-dammed. The five biggest lakes in Iceland are Þingvallavatn (83 sq. km), which is 114 m deep, Þórisvatn (70 sq. km), Lögurinn (52 sq. km), the lagoon lake Hóp (45 sq. km), and Mývatn (38 sq. km). Lake Mývatn is world renowned for its fascinating scenery and incredibly rich bird life.

Flora
When Iceland was first settled in the 9th century it was said to have been covered with trees from the shores to the mountain tops. But due to unchecked sheep grazing and logging for fuel and building materials, the forests have all but disappeared. Now there are few small wooded areas, the biggest one being the forest at Hallormsstaður on the east coast, and Vaglaskógur in the north.
A resolution was passed on July 27th 1974, allotting a large sum of money to stop the erosion of Iceland and for reclamation of what had been lost already.
The Icelandic flora includes about 470 species of indigenous and naturalized species of vascular plants, including 37 species of vascular Cryptograms, 1 Gymnosperm, nearly 290 species of Dicotyledons and 145 species of Monocotyledons. The character of the Icelandic flora is therefore distinctly North European or Scandinavian. Because the climate is not an arctic one but a cold-tempered oceanic climate relatively few plants are of arctic-alpine species. There is an abundance of grass and moss varieties, which tend to flourish much better here than in similar regions of northern Scandinavia and Greenland.

The most common kinds of vegetation are various types of low-growing shrubs, especially heather, crowberry, bearberry, willow and dwarf birch. Some of the most striking features in the landscape, particularly so in the southwest, are the lichens and mosses on the lava fields.

All over the country, including the inhabited lowlands, there are vast areas of sandy wastelands, bare rock, stony deserts and lava fields.

Land mammals
When Iceland was settled in the ninth century, the Arctic fox was the only land mammal in the country. Foxes are still common all over Iceland and are known to ravage sheep. Man later accidentally introduced the brown rat, the black rat, the house mouse, and the field mouse. Reindeer were imported from Norway in the late eighteenth century, and there are considerable numbers of them in the highlands of the east. In about 1930, mink was introduced for fur farming, but soon escaped in great numbers and reverted to its wild state, causing great damage to bird life and fresh-water fish. Polar bears have occasionally ended up in Iceland on drift ice, but have always been killed shortly after their arrival.

The most common domestic animals are cattle, sheep and horses. Other farm and domestic animals include pigs, goats, dogs and cats, hens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons and angora rabbits.

.The Icelandic horse. The first people to settle Iceland brought horses with them from Norway, as well as other domestic animals. The horses, now called Iceland horses, are small and sometimes referred to as ponies. The breed has been isolated in the country for over 1100 years and is therefore considered a unique breed.
For centuries the horse was the principal means of transportation and its meat an important foodstuff. Now horseback riding has become a popular sport and is commonly practiced in the country's urban as well as rural areas.
The Iceland horse is hardy and sure-footed and has a variety of five natural gaits, which is more than most other horse breeds are capable of. The five gaits are walk, trot, gallop, amble or pace, and a running walk called tölt. The tölt and pace are sought after qualities in the Iceland horse, since the gaits make for an astonishingly smooth ride

Sea mammals
Grey seals and especially harbour seals are common all around the country. Other arctic seals are also seen off the north cost during the winter months. Seventeen species of whales have been found in Icelandic waters, among them porpoises, killer whales, fin whales, sei whales, sperm whales and mink whales. Even the big blue whales and humpback whales are coming back in increasing numbers. Seals and whales are presently not hunted commercially.

Birds
All counted, 241 kinds of birds are known to have visited Iceland at one time or another. Of these 72 nest regularly, 6 are common passage migrants, about 30 are regular drift migrants or winter visitors, and the rest end up here accidentally. Sea birds, waterfowl, and waders are the most common indigenous birds..
Iceland is one of the major breeding grounds of waterfowls in Europe, and Lake Mývatn is renowned for its abundance of waterfowl. There are no fewer than 16 species of ducks known to nest in Iceland, including two American species; Barrow's Goldeneye and the harlequin duck. Two nesting species and three passage migrants represent the geese. Iceland is one of few places where the whooper swan is still a common breeding bird. It is most numerous on lakes lying on the borders of the central highlands.

On the towering bird cliffs along the coast of Iceland, the most important sea birds are the common guillemot, Brunnich's guillemot, the razorbill, the puffin, the kittiwake, the fulmar, and the gannet. The puffins, however, by no means strictly a cliff-breeding bird as it also forms huge colonies on low-lying grassy islands. It is one of the most common Icelandic bird species with a population running into millions

The most celebrated of all Icelandic birds is the Icelandic falcon, which in former times enjoyed a great reputation amongst falconers. The huge white-tailed eagle was formerly fairly common, but now it has been reduced to such an extent that grave concern must be felt for its future. Two species of owl inhabit Iceland. The snowy owl, which is extremely rare, was restricted to certain wild parts of the central highlands. The short-eared owl is found in low-lying moorland and valleys. The short-eared owl preys on field mice and small birds, while the snowy owl, like the falcon, usually preys on the ptarmigan, which are the country's only gallinaceous bird and also its most important game bird.

Fresh Water Fishes
Icelandic rivers are abound with salmon, while trout and char are plentiful in lakes and streams. Two other species of freshwater fish are also to be found, the eel and the three-spined stickleback. None of these five species are really freshwater fish, but represent marine species that are establishing themselves in fresh water.

Iceland - Consular Information Sheet
October 24, 2000

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Iceland is a highly developed stable democracy with a modern economy.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport is required, but no visa is needed for tourist or business stays of up to three months. U.S. citizens should be aware, however, that because of Iceland's participation in the Nordic Passport Union, the three-month period begins as soon as they enter the Nordic area (i.e., Denmark, Greenland, Faeroe Islands, Finland, Norway, Sweden or Iceland.) For further information concerning entry requirements for Iceland, contact the Embassy of Iceland at 1156 15th Street N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20005, tel (202) 265-6653, or the Icelandic Consulate General in New York at 800 Third Avenue, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10022, tel (212) 593-2700. See also the Embassy's web site at http://www.iceland.org.

CRIME INFORMATION: Iceland has a relatively low crime rate, but minor assaults and other street crimes have become more common, especially in the capital city of Reykjavik. Tourists should be aware that downtown Reykjavik can become especially disorderly on weekend evenings. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy at Laufasvegur 21 in Reykjavik, tel. (354) 562-9100. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND INSURANCE: Excellent medical facilities are available. To obtain emergency medical assistance anywhere in the country, dial 112. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.

Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.

OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Iceland is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Excellent
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Excellent
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair to Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Good

Less than a third of the country's total road network was paved (2,262 miles of paved road versus 5774 miles of gravel or dirt road). Most of the 900-mile ring road (Highway 1) that encircles the country is paved, but many other roads outside the capital, especially those that run through the center of the country, are dirt or gravel tracks. Even those roads that are paved tend to be narrow and lack a shoulder or margin. Most bridges are only one lane wide, requiring drivers to be cognizant of oncoming traffic.

Extreme care should be taken when driving in rural areas during the winter (October through April), when daylight hours are limited and the weather and road conditions can change quickly. Many routes in the interior of the country are impassible until July due to muddy conditions caused by snowmelt. When driving in the interior, consider traveling with a second vehicle and always inform someone of your travel plans. For information on current road conditions throughout the country, call the Public Roads Administration (Vegagerdin) at 1777 or consult its web site at http://www.vegag.is. For recorded weather information in English, call the Icelandic weather office (Vedurstofa Islands) at 902-0600, ext. 44.

The law requires drivers to keep headlights on at all times. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in urban areas is 50 km per hour (31 mph). In rural areas, the speed limit is 80 km per hour (50 mph) on dirt and gravel roads, and 90 km per hour (56 mph) on paved highways. There is no provision for turning right on red in Iceland. Use of seatbelts is mandatory in both the front and rear seats, and children under the age of six must be secured in a special car seat designed for their size and weight. Drivers are held responsible for any passenger under the age of fifteen who is not wearing a seatbelt. No one who is less than 140 cm (approximately 54 inches) tall or weighs less than 40 kilograms (88 lbs.) is allowed to ride in a front seat equipped with an airbag.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is considered a serious offense in Iceland. Drivers can be charged with drunk driving with a blood alcohol level as low as 0.50. The minimum punishment for a first offense is a ISK 30,000 (about $380) fine and the loss of driving privileges for two months.

Hikers and backpackers are well advised to stay on marked trails, travel with someone, let someone else know their travel plans, and check weather reports.

For additional general information about road safety, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page road safety overseas feature at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. U.S. citizens staying for less than 90 days can drive in Iceland on their U.S. licenses. For specific information concerning Icelandic driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Iceland National Tourist Organization offices in New York via the Internet at http://www.iceland.org/oeku.htm.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed Iceland's Civil Aviation Authority as Category One -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for the oversight of Icelandic air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1 (800) 322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at (618) 229-4801.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Icelandic customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York. NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information call (212) 354-4480, send e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org for details.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Iceland's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Iceland are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Extreme care should be exercised when touring Iceland's numerous nature attractions, which include glaciers, volcanic craters, lava fields, ice caves, hot springs, boiling mud pots, geysers, waterfalls and glacial rivers. There are few warning signs or barriers to alert travelers to the potential hazards. For example, several tourists are scalded each year because they get too close to an erupting geyser, or because they fall or step into a hot spring or boiling mud pot. High winds and icy conditions can exacerbate the dangers of visiting these nature areas.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Also be aware that Iceland is occasionally subject to natural disasters in the form of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, and violent storms. Learn how to prepare for and react to such events by consulting the web site of Iceland's National Civil Defense Agency at http://www.avrik.is. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international child support enforcement issues, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone (202) 736-7000.

REGISTRATION/EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATION: Americans living in or visiting Iceland may register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik and obtain updated information on travel and security within Iceland. The U.S. Embassy is located at Laufasvegur 21, tel (354) 562-9100; fax (354) 562-9118.