Iceland is an island country that lies just below the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is about 320 kilometres east of Greenland and about 1,050 kilometres west of Norway.

Iceland is sometimes called the Land of Ice and Fire because large glaciers lie next to steaming hot springs, geysers, and volcanoes. The country was named Iceland by an early settler who was upset by seeing the coastal waters choked with ice after an unusually cold and long winter.

But Iceland is not as cold as most places so far north. The Gulf Stream ocean current warms most of Iceland’s coast. Iceland is also a land of midnight sun. It is light almost 24 hours a day in June, and dark for a similar period in December.
The country with the chilly name is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations. Much of Iceland’s popularity is due to its natural features, which include glaciers, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes, portentous peaks and vast lava deserts.

In addition to its expansive landscape, it has a rich history and folklore tradition. However, Iceland’s appeal is tempered by the most expensive prices in Europe. That doesn’t mean it can’t be visited on a shoestring, but it does mean that budget travellers will have to work a little harder.