Iceland, officially known as the Republic of Iceland, is an island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean just outside the Arctic Circle and ironically has a warm temperate climate. It covers an area of 40,000 square miles with a population of 332,529, thus is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. It is a volcanically and geologically active country with plateaus containing sand and lava fields. The country’s capital and largest city are Reykjavík which is the heart of the country’s economy. This fact has promoted the settlement of a large number of Icelanders in the city. Iceland is a unitary parliament republic headed by the president elected after every four years.
Biggest Cities In Iceland
Reykjavík
Reykjavík, the capital and the largest city in Iceland, is the northernmost capital city in the world. It is located on the Faxa Bay's southern shore in Southwestern Iceland. It is believed to have been established in 874 AD, but there were no urban developments until the 19th century due to the establishment of a trading town. The town has a subpolar oceanic climate and is prone tom winds. The summers are cool with temperatures of up to 15 degrees Celsius and cold winters with temperatures dropping to below zero degrees Celsius.
Kópavogur
Kopavogur, Iceland’s second largest city, is located in the Capital Region, Southwest Constituency. It covers an area of 31 square miles with a population of 33,205 and was established in 1948. The town is mainly made up of a residential area, but some commercial and industrial sites have been established over time.
Hafnarfjörður
Hafnarfjörður is a port town and municipality located on the southwest coast of Iceland in the Capital Region, Southwest constituency. It encompasses a 55 square mile area with a population of 28,200 making it the third biggest city in the country. It is home to various local industries and variety of events.
Akureyri
Akureyri is a small city in Northeast Constituency, Northeastern Region, Iceland. It encompasses an area of 53 square miles, and a population of 18,191.settlements in the town began in the ninth century, but it was until the 16th century in 1786 that a municipal charter was given. After the Second World War, there was a major rural to urban migration; this enabled the town to grow at a faster rate. It has a mild climate with am ice-free harbor thus is an important fishing center and port.
Reykjanesbær
Reykjanesbær is a municipality on the Southwest constituency, Southern Peninsula in Iceland. It was established in 1994 when inhabitants of Keflavik, Njarovik, and Hafnir town agreed to merge the smaller towns. It is the fifth largest municipality Iceland with an area of 56 square miles and a population of 15,379.
Other Cities In Iceland
Garðabær is a municipality in the southwest constituency, capital region of Iceland. The town was first settled in during the 9th century, but it was established as a municipality in 1878. It covers an area of 29 square miles with a population of 14,453. Mosfellsbær is a town in Southwest constituency. It spreads across an area of 71 square miles with a population of 9,075. Árborg is a municipality in Iceland and encompasses an area of 61 square miles and a population of 7,889. Akranes is a port town and municipality in the Northwest constituency in the western region of Iceland. It received a municipal charter in 1942 and had a general population of 7,000 with an area coverage of 3.5 square miles.
Biggest Cities In Iceland
Rank Biggest Cities in Iceland Urban Population
1 Reykjavík 130,345
2 Kópavogur 33,205
3 Hafnarfjörður 27,357
4 Akureyri 18,191
5 Reykjanesbær 15,379
6 Garðabær 14,453
7 Mosfellsbær 9,075
8 Árborg 7,889
9 Akranes 6,699
10 Fjarðabyggð 4,675
By Kenneth Kimutai too
•culled from www.worldatlas.com
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