| Iceland is an island just about the size of Kentucky | | | | monarchy. During the Second World War when |
| State. This small sized island lies in the northern | | | | Germany attacked on Denmark first the British troops |
| direction in the Atlantic Ocean just east to Greenland | | | | and then the American troops landed in Iceland and |
| and it also touches the Arctic Circle. The land of | | | | used it as the strategic air base. According to |
| Iceland is also famous as it is one of the most | | | | historians, neutral Iceland supported its allies through out |
| aggressive volcanic regions of the world. More than | | | | the war. On June 17th, 1944, after the official |
| thirteen percent of Iceland's total land is covered by | | | | referendum Iceland was declared independent republic |
| glaciers or are snowfields. Major part of Iceland's total | | | | and the Althing also proclaimed it as an independent |
| population inhibits only in the seven percent part of the | | | | republic. |
| island because that seven percent land is considered a | | | | Iceland joined NATO [North Atlantic Treaty |
| very fertile coastland. The gulf stream of Atlantic | | | | Organization] in 1949 and its maiden American air force |
| Ocean keeps the climate of the Iceland milder and | | | | base in 1951. In 1971 it was recognized by EFTA |
| temperature very moderate than what is expected in | | | | [European Free Trade Association]. In the year 1972, |
| an island around Arctic Circle. | | | | Iceland extended its fishing coastline to 200 nautical |
| It is believed that the first inhabitants of Iceland were | | | | miles from 3 nautical miles. This was done without the |
| the hermits from Ireland. These hermits vacated this | | | | consent of England. For this reason both Iceland and |
| island when pagan Norse people arrived here in ninth | | | | England were trapped in the dispute known as the |
| century. A constitution was formed in 930 A.D and a | | | | cold wars. This dispute ended in 1976 with England |
| democracy and a parliament was formed which is | | | | agreeing to the new fishing borders of Iceland. In the |
| also known as Althing. Now Althing has the honor to | | | | year 1980, Iceland made yet another history, when it |
| be the world's oldest still running legislative assembly. | | | | became the first country in the world to have a |
| The history of Iceland is very well preserved in the | | | | woman president in the office of the presidency. It |
| Icelandic sagas written during 13th century. | | | | was the case of the year 1990, when after the |
| In the year 1262, Iceland was occupied by Norwegian | | | | recession the economy and the financial condition of |
| rule and was further given to the ultimate control of | | | | Iceland stabilized. |
| Denmark through the very famous 'the kalmar union' in | | | | Iceland refused to sign the agreement which stated |
| which kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark | | | | that moratorium of commercial whaling will continue as |
| united in 1397. In the year, 1874, Iceland gained their | | | | it was since 1986. This incident took place in the |
| own constitution and then in 1918, Denmark recognized | | | | meeting of the International Whaling Commission in |
| Iceland as a separate country and unlimited | | | | 2001. Finally in 2003, Iceland agreed on the initialization |
| sovereignty through the act of union. By this time also, | | | | of hunting of whales for researches and experiments. |
| Iceland was partially under the rule of Danish | | | | |