Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, famous for its unspoilt landscapes, waterfalls and geothermal activity. Among the vast lava fields are active volcanoes, boiling mud pools, hot springs and geysers such as the famous Strokkur, which erupts every 5-10 minutes. Iceland is one of only five places on the planet where boiling water and steam erupt through the Earth's crust - and hot water is also pumped from underground to supply much of the country's heating.
In contrast, Iceland's interior is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand and mountains and over 10% of Iceland's land area is covered by glaciers and ice caps. Many of these lie above volcanoes, and sudden volcanic activity can lead to glacial floods and eruptions.
On 21 March 2010, a volcano in Eyjafjallajökull erupted for the first time since 1821. The resultant cloud of volcanic ash brought major disruption to air travel across Europe. Another large eruption occurred on 21 May 2011, this time from the Grímsvötn volcano.
Iceland's summers are lush and green, with days lengthening until midsummer, when the sun dips down to the horizon but never sets. Winters are surprisingly warmer than in most places of similar latitude in the world and despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain ice-free throughout winter. It is also the time when the Aurora Borealis can be observed.
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