Iceland

Iceland
An island country just south of the Arctic Circle in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Physical.

It is approximately 460 km (285 miles) long by 280 km (174 miles) wide; but only its coastal areas can be used for settlement and agriculture because the rest is a wasteland of ice, ash, and lava flows.

Economy.

Hydroelectric power stations provide over three-quarters of the country's electricity needs and geothermal energy is abundant. Six-sevenths of the land area is agriculturally unproductive. The fishing industry is of vital importance to the economy, accounting for three-quarters of exports; other exports are aluminium (produced from imported alumina) and ferro-silicon. Sheep are grazed in coastal areas. Tourism is now a major source of revenue.

History.

Iceland was conquered by the Vikings between 874 and 930 . Its capital, Reykjavik, was...

[The entire page is 574 words long]

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