Iceland (; ), also called the
Republic of Iceland, is a
Nordic island country between the
North Atlantic and the
Arctic Ocean. It has a population of and an area of , making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is
Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is
volcanically and
geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and
lava fields, mountains and glaciers, while many
glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the
Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the
Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence still keeps summers chilly, with most of the archipelago having a
tundra climate.
