Iceland

News: Iceland, long free of mosquitoes, has now detected Culiseta annulata mosquitoes.

About Iceland

• It is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe.
• Location: Iceland lies between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, east of Greenland and just south of the Arctic Circle, on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
• Area: Iceland has a total area of 102,775 square km.
• Capital: The capital and largest city is Reykjavik.
• Geographical feature
  • It is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above sea level, with frequent volcanic and geothermal activity.
  • The interior is a mountainous lava plateau with sand fields, glaciers, and rivers that reach the sea through lowlands.
• Rivers: The longest river is Þjórsá.
• Climate
  • The climate is subarctic.
  • The Gulf Stream warms the country, giving a temperate climate with chilly summers and high precipitation.
• EU membership Bid: In 2013, it ended its EU membership bid because of the EU’s fisheries policy.
• High human development: Iceland consistently ranks among the top countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), reflecting a high quality of life.
• Fauna: The Arctic fox is the only native land mammal in Iceland.
  • Walruses were once native to Iceland but disappeared after human settlement.
• National Parks: Iceland has three national parks – Vatnajökull, Snæfellsjökull, and Þingvellir.