National name: Iceland*** and the State of Iceland
(The Republic of Iceland, Islenska Lydveldid)
Independence Day: December 1 (1918)
National Day: June 17 (1944)
National day: June 17 (1944)
The flag: a rectangle with a ratio of length to width of 25:18, the field is blue.
Flag: rectangular in shape, with a ratio of length to width of 25:18. The field is blue, with a red and white cross dividing the flag into four pieces: two equal blue squares and two equal blue rectangles. The blue color represents the sea and the white color represents snow. Blue and white are the national colors of Iceland, reflecting the characteristics of Iceland's natural environment, i.e., in the blue sky and sea, there floats " the land of ice" - Iceland. Iceland has been a Norwegian possession since 1262, and was under Danish rule in the 14th century, so the cross on the flag is derived from the Danish flag pattern, indicating Iceland's historical relationship with Norway and Denmark.
National Coat of Arms: In the center is the coat of arms with the national flag. At the top of the coat of arms is a white falcon with a red tongue and gold claws and a dragon with white teeth and red tongue and gold claws, to the left of which is a black bull, and to the right of which stands an old man in white wearing a cloak. The falcon, the dragon, the bull and the old man are all legendary guardian gods. The stone at the bottom of the coat of arms represents Iceland's rocky, long coast.
National anthem: "Ode to the Millennium"
National bird: the white kestrel
National dignitaries: President Olafur r. grimsson, inaugurated in August 1996 and re-elected in August 2000.
Natural Geography: The area is 10.3 million square kilometers. Is Europe's westernmost country, located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, near the Arctic Circle, glaciers account for 8,000 square kilometers, the second largest island in Europe. The coastline is about 4970 kilometers long. The whole territory 3/4 is 400-800 meters above sea level plateau, of which 1/8 is covered by glaciers. There are more than 100 volcanoes, including more than 20 active volcanoes. The volcano of Varnadalsheinuk is the highest peak in the country, with an altitude of 2119 meters above sea level. Almost the whole country of Iceland is built on volcanic rocks, most of the land cannot be cultivated, and it is the country with the most hot springs in the world, so it is called the land of fire and ice. There are many geysers, waterfalls, lakes and fast-flowing rivers, and the largest river, the Sj?reurso, is 227 kilometers long. Iceland has a cold-temperate maritime climate, which is unpredictable. It is milder than other places at the same latitude due to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream. There are long days of sunshine in summer and very short days of sunshine in winter. The aurora borealis is visible in the fall and early winter.
Population: 27.6 million (2002). The vast majority are Icelandic, of Germanic origin. The official language is Icelandic, with English as the lingua franca. Nearly 90% of the population is Lutheran. The vast majority of Icelanders are of Germanic origin. Icelandic is the official language and English is the lingua franca.
Capital: Reykjavik (Reykjavik), population 109,763 (December 1999), average annual temperature 4.3 ℃. Nearly a third of the country's population lives in Reykjavik.
Brief history: Irish monks first emigrated to Iceland at the end of the 8th century, and Norwegian immigration to Iceland began in the second half of the 9th century. On June 16, 1944, the Icelandic Parliament formally dissolved the Icelandic-Danish Confederation, and on June 17, 1944, the Icelandic **** and State of Iceland was established; in 1946, it joined the United Nations, and in 1949, it became a member of NATO.
Politics: The ****peace system is practiced, with the parliament and the president*** sharing legislative power, the courts sharing judicial power, and the president and the government*** sharing executive power. The president is the head of state and is directly elected for a term of four years and may be re-elected. Parliament is divided into two chambers. Originally divided into two chambers, it was merged into a single chamber in October 1991 for a four-year term. Iceland does not have an army.
Economy: rich in fisheries, water and geothermal resources, but other natural resources are scarce, and petroleum and other products need to be imported. Industrial base is weak, in addition to the processing of fishery products and knitting and other light industry, industry to fishery products processing and aluminum refining and other energy-intensive industries. Fishing is the mainstay of Iceland's national economy, mainly consisting of capelin, cod and mackerel, with exports of fishery products accounting for more than 70% of total merchandise exports. Iceland's fishing fleet is well-equipped, and its fish processing technology is one of the world's leading. Iceland is located at a high latitude, with little sunshine, and only a few farms in the south produce 400 to 500 tons of crops annually. Arable land covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers, accounting for 1% of the country's total area. Livestock farming plays a major role and most of the agricultural land is used as fodder pasture. The corresponding wool spinning and tanning industries are relatively developed. Meat, milk and eggs are self-sufficient, while grain, vegetables and fruits are basically imported. Greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers can satisfy 70% of domestic consumption. The service industry occupies an important position in the national economy, including commerce, banking, insurance and public **** services, etc. Its output value accounts for about half of the GDP, and the number of employees accounts for more than two thirds of the total labor force. 1980 onwards, vigorously develop the tourism industry. The main tourist attractions include large glaciers, volcanic landscapes, geothermal geysers and waterfalls. Iceland's GDP per capita is more than 30,000 dollars, which is one of the highest in the world. The freshness and purity of the air and water there is the first in the world. The average life expectancy is 81.3 years for women and 76.4 years for men. Iceland eliminated illiteracy more than 100 years ago, and in 1999 Iceland became the country with the highest cell phone penetration rate in the world.
Military: According to the constitution, Iceland does not have an army; it joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949 and signed a defense agreement with the U.S. in 1951, with the U.S. being responsible for its defense. The United States has an air base and garrison in Iceland with military equipment and facilities such as fighter jets, submarine-hunting aircraft and radar stations. Iceland has a Marine Patrol Unit, equipped with patrol boats and a number of small airplanes, which is responsible for the protection of fishing zones and sea ambulance work.
Press and Publications: National newspapers include the Morning Post, the Daily News, and the Daily Times. There is one national radio station and one television station, of which the national radio station broadcasts five programs, two private television stations, and several private radio stations.
Diplomacy: In addition to maintaining partnerships with the United States and other Western countries, attention is paid to strengthening relations with countries in other regions, such as Asia, and actively participating in international affairs through the United Nations.
Relations with China: On December 8, 1971, Iceland and China established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. 1996, the two governments signed the Sino-Icelandic Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), which was the first DTA between Iceland and a country outside of Europe and North America.