Iceland is the island home to Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost national capital city.
Iceland lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. Reykjavík is situated on Iceland’s southwestern coast and has been the country’s capital since Iceland became a sovereign state in 1918. The city is also Iceland’s largest urban area and its principal cultural, economic, and political center.
Iceland is both an island and an independent republic. It is famous for its volcanic landscapes, glaciers, geothermal springs, waterfalls, and strong connection to Norse history. The country sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates move apart.
A common mix-up is confusing Iceland with Greenland, which is geographically much larger but is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The Faroe Islands are also part of that kingdom, but they are a separate North Atlantic archipelago and do not contain Reykjavík.