269,727 (1996).

2.6 per sq km.

Reykjavík.

105,487 (1996).

Iceland is a large island in the North Atlantic close to the Arctic Circle and includes islands to the north and south. The landscape is wild, rugged and colourful, with black lava, red sulphur, hot blue geysers, grey and white rivers with waterfalls and green valleys, its coastline richly indented with bays and fjords. The whole of the central highland plateau of the island is a beautiful but barren and uninhabitable moonscape; so much so that the first American astronauts were sent there for pre-mission training. Five-sixths of Iceland is uninhabited, the population being concentrated on the coast, in the valleys and in the plains of the southwest and southeast of the country. More than half the population live in or around Reykjavík, the capital. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world. Hekla, in the south of Iceland, is the most famous and magnificent volcano of them all. It has erupted no fewer than 16 times since Iceland was settled, and throughout the Middle Ages was considered by European clergymen as one of the gateways to Hell itself. Another volcano, Snæfellsnes, fired Jules Verne's imagination to use its crater as the point of entry for his epic tale Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Iceland's highest and most extensive glacier is Vatnajökull; at 8500 sq km (3280 sq miles), it is the largest in Europe.

Republic. Gained full independence from Denmark in 1944. Head of State: President Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Davið Oddsson since 1991. Iceland's Parliament (the Althing) is the oldest in the world.

The official language is Icelandic, which has remained virtually unchanged since the Vikings settled Iceland in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Icelandic language refuses to accept foreign words, preferring instead to coin new words from ancient Viking roots. The word for computer thus becomes hölva, a hybrid made up of the old words for 'number' and 'prophetess'. English (which is taught in schools) and Danish are widely spoken. `

Lutheran, with a Catholic minority.

GMT

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plug fittings are normally 2-pin with round section pins 4mm in diameter with centres 2cm apart. Lamp fittings are screw-type. Almost all the power is generated by thermal hydro-electric stations.

Telephone: Full IDD service is available. Country code: 354. Outgoing international code: 00. There are no longer any area codes; all lines now have a seven-digit number. For Reykjavík, old six-digit numbers are now preceded by 5, while old five-digit numbers are preceded by 55. Fax: Public facilities are available at the main telephone headquarters in Austurvoll Square and in most hotels and offices. Telegram: There is a 24-hour telegram service from the Telegraph Office in Reykjavík. Post: There is an efficient airmail service to Europe. Post offices are open 0830-1630 Monday to Friday. The post office at Austurstræti is also open 1000-1400 Saturday from June-September. Press: The most popular newspapers are Morgunbladid, DV and Dagur. International English-language newspapers and magazines are available.