Iceland is a Nordic country located in the north Atlantic, an island nation that is sparsely populated, with the majority of its inhabitants living in or around its capital, Reykjavik. It is famous for its hot springs (like the Blue Lagoon), geysers and active volcanoes. Lava fields cover a lot of the land and hot water is pumped from under the ground to supply much of the country’s heating.
Icelandic culture is founded upon its Scandinavian heritage, with most of its inhabitants descended from Norse and Gaelic settlers. The language is North Germanic and descended from Old West Norse and Faroese. Iceland is a wealthy country with a market economy that provides for its citizens via a Nordic-style welfare system.
Icelandic cuisine includes traditional dishes skyr (a thick yogurt), hákarl (cured shark), cured ram, singed sheep heads, and black pudding, Flatkaka (flat bread), dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally baked in the ground in geothermal areas, as well as Puffin, a local bird and delicacy that is often prepared through broiling.