Iceland explained to kids

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, with a population of about 360,000 and an area of 103,000 km2, making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, with Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country being home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence still keep summers chilly, with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate. Iceland is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral parliament, the Alþingi, as its legislature. It is a member of the European Economic Area, NATO, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations. Iceland maintains diplomatic relations with over fifty countries and participates in various international organizations, including the UN, the NATO Partnership for Peace, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Iceland is a founding member of the Nordic Council, and participates in Nordic cooperation programmes on a bilateral basis. Through the Nordic Council, Iceland also takes part in inter-parliamentary cooperation with the Nordic countries. Iceland has been a member of the European Free Trade Association since 1960 and is a part of the European Economic Area, which allows the country to participate in the single market of the European Union. Iceland is a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, and the country has a representative office to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark. Iceland is also a member of the Nordic Investment Bank, the European Environment Agency, and the Council of Europe's Development Bank.