The geography of Iceland

• Geography
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

The geography of Iceland

Who are Iceland's near neighbours?

What is the capital of Iceland?

Reykjavik

The Majority of the Country Lives in the Reykjavík Area. 

Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature. 

Northern Most Capital City of a Sovereign State in the World. 

Dogs Were Once Banned in Reykjavik. 

No Starbucks or McDonald's in the City. 

Puffins and Whales can be seen in the area.

Smoky Bay

According to tradition, the name Reykjavík (“Smoky Bay”) was inspired by steam rising from local hot springs. 

Reykjavík was founded in 874 by the Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson. 

However, a town began to develop in that location only centuries later. Before the 18th century most of what is now Reykjavík consisted of farms. 

In the 18th century a settlement was established to support the local wool industry.

What is the population of Reykjavik?

Population of Reykjavik

As of January 1, 2025, Reykjavík, Iceland's capital, had a population of approximately 138,772

Who founded Reykjavík in 874?

1. Leif Erikson
2. Erik the Red
3. Ingólfur Arnarson
4. Floki Vilgerðarson

What does Reykjavík mean in English?

1. Smoky Bay
2. Hot Springs
3. Cold Water
4. Northern Lights

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Icelanders are of Scandinavian descent and are generally tall, blonde, and light-skinned. Because there is little diversity in the population, genetic researchers have studied diseases among Icelanders. These studies have helped find cures for many hereditary diseases.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Icelanders take care to preserve their traditions and language. Some Icelanders still believe in elves, trolls, and other mythical characters that date back to their Celtic and Norse beginnings. Most Icelanders live in the southwest part of the country.

Elves

Trolls

PEOPLE & CULTURE

School is free for all Icelanders all the way through college. Every student is taught to speak both Danish and English in school. Handball and soccer are the two most popular sports for children, but they also enjoy swimming and horseback riding.

Is education free for Icelanders through college?

1. Yes, education is free for all.
2. No, only primary school is free.
3. No, only for some
4. Yes, if you are clever

Handball

Horse riding

NATURE

Foxes were the only land mammals in Iceland when it was settled. Newcomers brought in domesticated animals and reindeer. Most of the wildlife is under conservation and protection. There are four national parks and more than 80 nature preserves.

Fauna

Flora

NATURE

Vatnajökull, or Vatna Glacier, is an extensive ice field in southeastern Iceland, which covers 3,200 square miles (8,400 square kilometers) with an average ice thickness of more than 3,000 feet (900 meters).

NATURE

Iceland contains about 200 volcanoes and has one-third of Earth’s total lava flow. One-tenth of the total land area is covered by cooled lava beds and glaciers. Because Iceland is volcanic, almost all of their electricity and heating comes from hydroelectric power and geothermal water reserves.

What percentage of land is lava beds?

1. One-tenth of the land area
2. One-fourth of the land area
3. Half of the land area
4. One-third of the land area

NATURE

The Gulf Stream current and warm southwesterly winds make the climate more moderate and pleasant than one might expect from a northern country.

NATURE

Iceland is known for explosive geysers, geothermal spas, glacier-fed waterfalls like Gullfoss (Golden Falls), and whale watching. More than 270,000 tourists visit each year.

GOVERNMENT

The country is governed by a president, who is elected by popular vote for a four-year term. There are no term limits so the president can stay in power until another is elected by the people.

GOVERNMENT

The 2008 election was not held because no one ran against Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who served that term and was then re-elected in 2012.

GOVERNMENT

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir born 12 May 1988 is an Icelandic politician and economist who has served as the prime minister of Iceland since December 2024, and is the current leader of the Social Democratic Alliance. She was elected to the Althing in the 2021 parliamentary election. At age 36, she is the world's youngest serving state leader.

Icelandic names

Icelandic surnames have been getting a lot of attention recently, mostly thanks to some incredible sports achievements. Whether it’s all the -sons playing in the FIFA World Cup, UFC fighters, or the -dóttirs dominating the CrossFit games, Icelandic names are hard to miss.

The Icelandic naming system is actually the old Scandinavian way, which all Nordic countries once used. It’s a paternal system, where kids take their father’s first name as their last name, adding son or dóttir at the end – son if they’re a boy, and dóttir if they’re a girl.

HISTORY

The first settlers were Irish religious people who wanted to live a simple life. The country was prosperous in the Middle Ages. They established a national assembly, called Althingi, in 930. Althingi is the world's oldest continuous parliament.

HISTORY

The Alþingi served as an outlet in which Iceland’s most powerful chiefs and community leaders could convene to settle disputes, select jurors for trials, and to create or amend the laws of the land. However, it wasn’t always about politics. On the contrary. For two weeks in June, during the solstice, thousands of people came from far and wide to enjoy the weather. Farmers sold their wares, Icelanders traded and sold goods, people presented and settled personal disputes, and people told stories. If anything, it more represented a festival where the whole country convened, and then off in the distance, the chieftains handled political business.

What was the primary purpose of the Alþingi?

1. To settle disputes
2. To celebrate religious events
3. To create or amend laws
4. To host sports competitions

HISTORY

Iceland was part of Norway and then was ruled by Denmark for more than 500 years, but the country became an independent republic in 1944.

HISTORY

The colours in the flag represent three of the elements that make up the island: Red is for the island's volcanic fires; white for the snow and ice fields of the island; and blue is for the surrounding ocean.

Sænautasel Turf House in the Highland of Iceland

Sænautasel dates back to 1843 and for 95-100 years people lived in this beautiful turf house - until 1943 when the last people moved out. 

From 1841 until 1862 sixteen turf houses were built on the heath and at some point, 120 people lived in this area, which is approximately 500 meters above sea level. Now only the rebuilt Sænautasel is remaining. 

This building material, turf or sod, was used as it was cheap and it insulated the houses and kept the cold out. 

There is an older part of the turf house, which shows how people used to live in the olden days.

The floors are dirt floors with even stones. And the walls are made of stacked rocks.

The unique landscape of Iceland is worth visiting.

Absolutely, it's breathtaking and unique.

Not really, I've seen better places.

I prefer cultural experiences instead.

The landscapes are overrated and cold.

My favourite thing about Iceland...