Iceland
A volcanic island riding the mid-Atlantic rift
Iceland is a young, restless island straddling the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the earth is still visibly under construction. Volcanoes erupt, geysers spout, glaciers grind seaward, and hot springs steam across a treeless landscape of black lava and emerald moss. With only about 390,000 inhabitants, most clustered around the capital, Reykjavik, it is Europe's most sparsely populated country, yet it sustains a thriving culture of literature, music, and design. Geothermal and hydroelectric power heat its homes and run its economy almost entirely on renewable energy.
Sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is a hotspot of volcanic activity — recent eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have drawn global attention. Glaciers, including Vatnajokull, Europe's largest ice cap, blanket roughly a tenth of the surface, and beneath one of them lies the summit of Hvannadalshnukur, the country's highest point at 2,110 meters. The interior is an uninhabitable plateau of sand, ice, and stone, while the rugged coast holds fjords, waterfalls, and rich fishing grounds. Fisheries, aluminum smelting powered by cheap clean energy, and tourism drive the modern economy.
Settled by Norse and Celtic voyagers in the ninth century, Iceland founded the Althing in 930, one of the world's oldest surviving parliaments. Its medieval sagas remain pillars of world literature, and the modern language has changed so little that Icelanders still read them with ease. Long ruled from Norway and then Denmark, Iceland gained home rule gradually before declaring full independence in 1944. Outside the European Union but tied to Europe through trade and the Schengen zone, this small republic wields disproportionate cultural influence and a fierce attachment to its language and land.