In the wake of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 with the establishment of the Kingdom of Iceland, sharing through a personal union the incumbent monarch of Denmark. The Danish kingdom forcefully introduced Lutheranism to Iceland in 1550. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden's secession from the union in 1523. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate.ДЄccording to the ancient manuscript LandnГЎmabГіk, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain IngГіlfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.

The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that rises above sea level, and its central volcanic plateau is erupting almost constantly. Iceland's capital and largest city is ReykjavГk, which (along with its surrounding areas) is home to over 65% of the population. Iceland ( Icelandic: ГЌsland ( listen)) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe.

Rekjavik to selfloss