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Iceland Facts & Worksheets

Iceland, a country in Europe, is a Nordic island nation with the capital and the largest city named Reykjavík. I

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Iceland, a country in Europe, is a Nordic island nation with the capital and the largest city named Reykjavík. Iceland is distinguished through its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks protect massive glaciers.

See the fact file below for more information on the Iceland or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Iceland worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DESCRIPTION

  • In the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland was first settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants where it boasts the world’s oldest functioning legislative assembly, called the Althingi, that was built in 930.
  • Iceland was independent for over 300 years and was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark.
  • Iceland is a volcanically and geologically active place.
  • The inner part consists of a plateau characterized by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and various glacial rivers run to the sea by the lowlands.
  • Beyond the next quarter-century, 20% of the island’s people immigrated, often to Canada and the U.S.
  • The economy is growing upward, primarily from the island’s tourism and construction blast. Education, survival, and social coherence are first-rate by world standards.

ETYMOLOGY

  • The Sagas of Icelanders tells the first person who reached the island was a Norwegian named Naddodd (or Naddador) wherein by the 9th century he named the island Snæland or “snow land” because it was snowing.
  • Next after Naddodd, Swede Garðar Svavarsson arrived, and then the island was called Garðarshólmur which means “Garðar’s Isle.”
  • Then a Viking named Flóki Vilgerðarson arrived at the island; his daughter drowned en route, then his entire livestock died. And he angrily renamed the island Iceland. There is a myth that Iceland’s Viking settlers chose its name to discourage settlement of their verdant isle.

HISTORY

  • The first people who settled in Iceland were Irish monks who came in the 8th century but were driven out by Vikings in the 9th century.
  • According to myth, the first Viking who discovered Iceland was named Naddoddur who got lost while on his way to the Faeroe islands.
  • Next after him was a Swede named Gardar Svavarsson who navigated to Iceland in 860.
  • Yet, In 874, the first Viking who settled there was a Norwegian named Floki Vilgeroarson who named the island Iceland.
  • By 930, about 60,000 people were living in Iceland and Althingi, a parliamentary assembly, was established at Thingvellir.
  • In 985, Bjarni Herjolfsson sights the American mainland, the first amongst Europeans.
  • Some of these early immigrants were great seafarers. In 982 one of them namely Eiríkur Rauði explored Greenland, and in the year 999 his son Leifur “the lucky” Ericsson discovered the American continent which he named Vínland.
  • In the year 1000, Icelanders harmoniously decide to convert from Heathen religion to Christianity, not really for spiritual reasons but for political ones.
  • 1006 Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, bans duels as they didn’t settle very well with Christianity.
  • In 1262 Althingi vows an oath of allegiance to the Norwegian Crown, in which it ends the republic’s independence.
  • Iceland rule under Norwegian kings passes to the Danish king in 1381 after wars and coalitions in Scandinavia.
  • The plague that is known as “Svarti dauði,” or black death, rages around 1402 in Iceland killing one-third of its population.
  • The Danish crown approves the first constitution of Iceland in 1874 where it gives Althingi, the national assembly, a legislative and appropriative authority.
  • In 1944 Iceland splits off the alliance with the Danish crown and became an independent government again. At that time Sveinn Björnsson is elected Iceland’s first president.
  • Iceland was included in United Nations by 1946.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Iceland lies in the juncture of the Arctic region of Northern Europe.
  • Iceland is the second-largest island in Europe, after Great Britain.
  • Iceland is coated with ice, volcanos, glaciers, and geysers.
  • Approximately 11% of the country is covered by glaciers.
  • The closest neighboring country is Greenland about 286 kilometers away or 180 miles. Next are the Faroe Islands with a distance of 420 kilometers or 260 miles. Then Scotland with 795 kilometers distance or 495 miles, and Norway with 950 kilometers away or 590 miles.
  • Iceland has a measurement of 500 kilometers or 305 miles east to west and 300 kilometers or 185 miles north to south. Its coastline measures of 4,970 kilometers.
  • Iceland keeps a 200 nautical-miles exclusive economic zone where people can drive around the island to see the coast.

CLIMATE

  • The climate of Iceland is cold, windy, and cloudy most of the year.
  • Since it is situated on the high latitude, it receives cold winds from the North Pole, and is undeniably a cold country.
  • However, Iceland also is moderated by the ocean, including by the mild Gulf Stream that flows in it.
  • Sunny periods are limited.
  • It is colder within the northern coastal area than the southern one since it is not touched by the Gulf Stream.

ECONOMY

  • Iceland attained an impressive economic record in the last decade and one of the highest consistent growth rates in the world with low inflation and unemployment rate.
  • The primary sectors of the Icelandic economy are in different services including accounting with 57% of GDP in 2009, manufacturing industries, construction and utilities with 23.4% of GDP, and fisheries with 6.3% of GDP. Public control has been orderly phased down by privatization and the primary control of the public administration is in the sector of energy, health, education, and social welfare.
  • Almost 85% of the whole primary energy supply in Iceland is obtained from domestically generated renewable energy sources. Having large use of abundant hydroelectric and geothermal power, Iceland became the world’s largest electricity producer per capita.
  • As a results of its dedication to renewable energy, the 2016 Global Green Economy Index rated Iceland with the highest 10 greenest economies within the world.
  • Employment controls are almost flexible and the labor market is one of the freest in the world.

DEMOGRAPHY

  • In 1703, when the first census was made, the population was 50,358.
  • In 1992, a family averaged three members.
  • In 1993, Iceland’s population reached up to 264,922.

LANDMARKS

  • Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (and the Diamond Beach) is situated in the southeastern part of Iceland, approximately six hours drive from Reykjavik. The encircling area is dominated by the great Vatnajokull Glacier which is Europe’s largest glacier.
  • The Blue Lagoon: Due to the unique turquoise color of the water people thought it to be poisonous, but Valur Margeirsson believed differently.
  • He had psoriasis and no cure worked. Valur decided to take a bath in the “dangerous” lagoon following advice from his doctor. Notably, after only a few baths he got better! Word spread and now for over 30 years, this place has been a world-class spa with a built-in bar, lava flooring, a steam cave, a sauna, a massage area in the water, and so much more.
  • Thingvellir National Park: One of the most visited places in Iceland and a UNESCO Heritage site.Thingvellir is greatly acknowledged today for its limitless beauty and geological wonders. It was once the gathering place to host the Althingi, the oldest parliament in the world.

Iceland Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Iceland across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Iceland worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Iceland, a country in Europe, which is a Nordic island nation with the capital and the largest city named Reykjavík. Iceland is distinguished through its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks protect massive glaciers.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Iceland Facts
  • Highlights
  • Names of Iceland
  • Discovering Iceland
  • No to Beer
  • Promoting
  • Nordic Countries
  • Unjumble the Words
  • The Firsts
  • Iceland Landmarks
  • My Flag

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Link will appear as Iceland Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 1, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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