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List All Cities in Iceland Listing cities Iceland database :
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Background
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Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
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Population
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308,910 (July 2010 est.)
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Government type
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8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
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Administrative divisions
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constitutional republic
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Independence
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Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
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International organization participation
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blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean
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Economy - overview
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Market value of publicly traded shares
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fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production; geothermal power, hydropower, tourism
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Agriculture - products
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-10% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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16.84 billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Industrial production growth rate
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16.48 billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - production
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production
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2,975 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Internet country code
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250,000 (2008)
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