Details of Iceland

Overview of Iceland (with pictures)

Country name: Iceland ***

(The Republic of Iceland, Islenska Lydveldid)

Independence Day: December 1 (1918)

National Day: June 17 (1944)

Flag: rectangular, with a length-to-width ratio of 25: 18. The flag ground is blue, and red and white crosses divide the flag surface into four pieces: two equal blue squares and two equal blue rectangles. Blue represents the sea and white represents the snow. Blue and white are the national colors of Iceland, reflecting the characteristics of Iceland's natural environment, that is, in the blue sky and ocean, the "ice land" - Iceland emerges. Iceland has been a Norwegian territory since 1262, and was also ruled by Denmark in the 14th century. Therefore, the cross pattern on the flag is derived from the Danish flag pattern, indicating Iceland's historical relationship with Norway and Denmark.

National emblem: The central pattern is a coat of arms with a national flag pattern. At the top of the coat of arms there is a white falcon with a red tongue and golden claws and a dragon with white teeth, a red tongue and golden claws. On the left is a black cow, and on the right stands an old man in white clothes. Falcons, dragons, oxen and old men are all legendary patron saints. The stone at the bottom of the coat of arms represents Iceland's long, rocky coast.

National anthem: "Millennium Ode"

National bird: White Falcon

National dignitary: President Olafur R. Grimsson (Olafur R. Grimsson) , took office in August 1996 and was re-elected in August 2000.

Physical geography: area is 103,000 square kilometers. It is the westernmost country in Europe, located in the middle of the North Atlantic, close to the Arctic Circle. It has a glacier area of ??8,000 square kilometers and is the second largest island in Europe. The coastline is about 4970 kilometers long. 3/4 of the entire territory is a plateau with an altitude of 400-800 meters, of which 1/8 is covered by glaciers. There are more than 100 volcanoes, including more than 20 active volcanoes. Huaynadalshenuk volcano is the highest peak in the country, with an altitude of 2119 meters. Almost the entire country of Iceland is built on volcanic rocks, and most of the land cannot be cultivated. It is the country with the most hot springs in the world, so it is called the land of ice and fire. There are many fountains, waterfalls, lakes and rapid rivers. The largest river, Siyursao River, is 227 kilometers long. Iceland has a cold temperate maritime climate, which is constantly changing. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, it is milder than other places at the same latitude. Daylight is long in summer and very short in winter. Aurora can be seen in autumn and early winter.

Population: 276,000 (2002). The vast majority are Icelanders and belong to the Germanic ethnic group. The official language is Icelandic and English is the common language. Nearly 90% of the people believe in Lutheran Christianity. The vast majority are Icelanders and belong to the Germanic ethnic group. Icelandic is the official language and English is the common language.

Capital: Reykjavik, with a population of 109,763 (December 1999), and an average annual temperature of 4.3°C. Nearly one-third of the country's population lives in Reykjavik.

Brief history: At the end of the 8th century, Irish monks first immigrated to Iceland. In the second half of the 9th century, Norway began to immigrate to Iceland. In 930 AD, the Parliament and the Federation of Iceland were established. In 1262, Iceland became part of Norway. In 1380, Iceland and Norway came under Danish rule. Gained internal autonomy in 1904. In 1918, Iceland signed a federal law, which stipulated that Iceland was a sovereign country, but foreign affairs were still controlled by Denmark. Denmark was occupied by Germany in 1940, and relations between Denmark and Denmark were severed. In the same year, the British troops stationed in Ice, and the following year the US military replaced the British troops stationed in Ice. On June 16, 1944, the Icelandic Parliament officially announced the dissolution of the Ice Alliance, and the Republic of Iceland was established on the 17th. It joined the United Nations in 1946 and became a member of NATO in 1949.

Politics: Implementing a political system, the parliament and the president share legislative power, the courts control judicial power, and the president and the government share executive power. The President is the head of state and is elected directly for a four-year term and may be re-elected. Parliament is divided into upper and lower chambers. The parliament was originally divided into two chambers, the upper and lower chambers. In October 1991, it was merged into one chamber with a four-year term. Iceland does not build an army.

Economy: Rich in fishery, water conservancy and geothermal resources, but lacking in other natural resources, oil and other products need to be imported. The industrial foundation is weak. In addition to light industries such as fishery product processing and knitting, the industry is dominated by high-energy-consuming industries such as fishery product processing and aluminum smelting. Fishery is the pillar industry of Iceland's national economy, mainly capelin, cod and herring. Exports of fishery products account for more than 70% of total merchandise exports. Iceland’s fishing fleet is well-equipped and its fish processing technology is a leader in the world. It is located at a high latitude and has little sunshine. Only a few farms in the south can produce 400 to 500 tons of crops annually. The arable land area is 1,000 square kilometers, accounting for 1% of the country's total area. Animal husbandry plays a major role, and most agricultural land is used as feed pasture. The corresponding woolen textile industry and tanning industry are relatively developed. We are more than self-sufficient in meat, milk, and eggs, and we basically rely on imports of grain, vegetables, and fruits. The output of tomatoes and cucumbers grown in greenhouses can meet 70% of domestic consumption. The service industry occupies an important position in the national economy, including commerce, banking, insurance, and public services. Its output value accounts for about half of the GDP, and the number of employees accounts for more than two-thirds of the total labor force. Since 1980, tourism has been vigorously developed.

The main tourist spots include large glaciers, volcanic landforms, geothermal fountains and waterfalls. Iceland's per capita GDP reaches more than 30,000 US dollars, ranking among the best in the world. The freshness and purity of the air and water there are among the best in the world. The average life span is 81.3 years for women and 76.4 years for men. Illiteracy was eliminated in Iceland more than 100 years ago. In 1999, Iceland became the country with the highest mobile phone penetration rate in the world.

Military: According to the constitution, Iceland does not have an army. It joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949 and signed a defense agreement with the United States in 1951, with the United States responsible for its defense. The United States has an air force base and garrison in Iceland, as well as military equipment and facilities such as fighter jets, submarine hunting aircraft and radar stations. Iceland has a marine patrol force, equipped with patrol boats and some small aircraft, responsible for fishing area protection and maritime rescue work.

News and publishing: National newspapers include "Morning News", "Daily News" and "Daily Times". There are one state radio station and one television station, of which the state radio station broadcasts 5 programs, 2 private television stations, and several private radio stations.

Diplomacy: In addition to maintaining partnerships with Western countries such as the United States, pay attention to strengthening relations with countries in Asia and other regions, and actively participate in international affairs through the United Nations.

Relations with China: On December 8, 1971, Iceland established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level with China. In 1996, the two governments signed a double taxation agreement between China and Iceland. This was the first double taxation agreement signed between Iceland and a country outside Europe and North America.

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