Iceland
![Norsemen landing in Iceland – a 19th-century depiction by [[Oscar Wergeland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Norsemen_Landing_in_Iceland.jpg)
Located on a rift between tectonic plates, Iceland's geologic activity includes geysers and frequent volcanic eruptions. The interior consists of a volcanic plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate.
According to the ancient manuscript , the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, immigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. In 1397, Iceland followed Norway's integration into the Kalmar Union along with the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, coming under ''de facto'' Danish rule following its dissolution in 1523. The Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism by force in 1550, and Iceland was formally ceded to Denmark in 1814 by the Treaty of Kiel.
Influenced by ideals of nationalism after the French Revolution, Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union in 1918, with the establishment of the Kingdom of Iceland, sharing through a personal union the incumbent monarch of Denmark. During the occupation of Denmark in World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly to become a republic in 1944, thus ending the remaining formal ties with Denmark. Although the Althing was suspended from 1799 to 1845, the island republic nevertheless holds a claim to sustaining one of the longest-running parliaments in the world.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. It became a part of the European Economic Area in 1994; this further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes, compared to other OECD countries, as well as the highest trade union membership in the world. It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. Iceland ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army, possessing only a lightly armed coast guard. Provided by Wikipedia
-
861by Kristinsson, S Y, Thorolfsdottir, E T, Talseth, B, Steingrimsson, E, Thorsson, A V, Helgason, T, Hreidarsson, A B, Arngrimsson, RContributors: “...Unit of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland....”
Published in Diabetologia (2008)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
862by Rafnsson, Vilhjalmur, Hrafnkelsson, Jon, Tulinius, Hrafn, Sigurgeirsson, Bardur, Olafsson, Jon HContributors: “...Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. vilraf@hi.is...”
Published in Preventive Medicine (2007)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
863Contributors: “...Faculty of Nursing, Univeresity of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. ssb@hi.es...”
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
864Contributors: “...1University of Iceland, Iceland 2University of Minnesota, United States...”
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
865by Geirsdottir, O G, Arnarson, A, Briem, K, Ramel, A, Tomasson, K, Jonsson, P V, Thorsdottir, IContributors: “...Unit for Nutrition Research, National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published 2013
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
866Contributors: “...National and University Library of Iceland, Arngrimsgata 3, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
867by Jonsdottir, Asta Bjork, Stefansson, Olafur Andri, Bjornsson, Johannes, Jonasson, Jon G, Ogmundsdottir, Helga M, Eyfjord, Jorunn EContributors: “...Cancer Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland....”
Published in European Journal of Cancer (2013)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
868by Georgsson, G, Tryggvason, T, Jonasdottir, A D, Gudmundsson, S, Thorgeirsdottir, SContributors: “...Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. ggeorgs@hi.is...”
Published in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica (2007)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
869by Gunnarsdottir, Thrudur, Njardvik, Urdur, Olafsdottir, Anna S, Craighead, Linda W, Bjarnason, RagnarContributors: “...University of Iceland, Centre of Public Health, Reykjavik, Iceland. thrudur@hi.is...”
Published in Obesity (2012)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
870by Stefansson, Olafur Andri, Jonasson, Jon Gunnlaugur, Olafsdottir, Kristrun, Hilmarsdottir, Holmfridur, Olafsdottir, Gudridur, Esteller, Manel, Johannsson, Oskar Thor, Eyfjord, Jorunn ErlaContributors: “...Cancer Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland....”
Published in Epigenetics (2012)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
871by Davidsdottir, Solveig R, Snaedal, Jon, Karlsdottir, Gudrun, Atladottir, Ida, Hannesdottir, KristinContributors: “...Landspitali, National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. solvrosa@landspitali.is...”
Published in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (2013)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
872Contributors: “...Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland and Landspítali-University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland....”
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
873by Brynjolfsson, Siggeir F, Henneken, Maren, Bjarnarson, Stefania P, Mori, Elena, Del Giudice, Giuseppe, Jonsdottir, IngileifContributors: “...Department of Immunology, Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik...”
Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2012)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
874by Thorleifsson, Sigurdur James, Margretardottir, Olof Birna, Gudmundsson, Gunnar, Olafsson, Isleifur, Benediktsdottir, Bryndis, Janson, Christer, Buist, A Sonia, Gislason, ThorarinnContributors: “...Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Vatnsmyrarvegur 16, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland....”
Published in Respiratory Medicine (2009)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
875by Sigurmundsson, Friðþór Sófus, Gísladóttir, Guðrún, Erlendsson, EgillContributors: “...University of Iceland Research Fund...”
Published in Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography (2020)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
876Contributors: “...1 Department of Medical Services, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2 Faculty...”
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
877by Ingadottir, Brynja, Johansson Stark, Åsa, Leino‐Kilpi, Helena, Sigurdardottir, Arun K., Valkeapää, Kirsi, Unosson, MitraContributors: “...Akureyri Hospital Science Fund, Iceland...”
Published in Journal of Clinical Nursing (2014)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
878by Gottfredsdottir, Helga, Magnúsdóttir, Herdís, Hálfdánsdóttir, BerglindContributors: “...1 Univ Iceland, Dept Midwifery, Fac Nursing, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland 2 Landspitali Univ Hosp...”
Published in Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (2015)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
879by Thoroddsen, Asta, Sigurjónsdóttir, Guðrún, Ehnfors, Margareta, Ehrenberg, AnnaContributors: “...Univ Orebro, Sch Hlth & Med Sci, Orebro, Sweden Univ Iceland, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland Landspitali...”
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences (2014)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
880by Sigurdardottir, Sigurveig H., Kåreholt, IngemarContributors: “...The Faculty of Social Work at the University of Iceland...”
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences (2014)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper