FACTS

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Area (only Total) total: 103,000 sq km

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Population: 304,367 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Icelandic

Government type: constitutional republic

Capital (Name): Reykjavik

Capital (Time Difference): UTC

Independence: 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

March 17 St Patrick's Day*

March 21 Good Friday1

March 23 Easter Day

March 24 Easter Monday

May 5 May Day

June 2 June Bank Holiday

August 4 August Bank Holiday

October 27 October Bank Holiday

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 St. Stephen's Day

*St Patrick's Day is moved to the Monday following if it falls on a Sunday.

1Not officially a holiday, but in practice normally given.

**Church Holidays

You should know:

An employer can may replace a public holiday (with the exception of Christmas Day and Saint Patrick's Day) by the church holiday immediately preceding it unless it falls on a Sunday. The employee must be informed of this at least 14 days in advance.

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday