Iceland is a Nordic Island located just under the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic ocean between Norway and Greenland. It is 103,000 km2 (40.000 square miles in size and geologically a rather young land or about 20 million years old created by volcano activity at the mid Atlantic ridge. The mid Atlantic ridge runs right through Iceland from Southwest to Northeast making Iceland highly geologically active with many volcanoes. There are about 30 active volcanoes today. The climate of Iceland is by the sea, subarctic due to the warm gulf current so it is usually a warmer climate in Iceland compared with places of similar latitude in the world. It is also one of the least populated countries in the world with a population of 350,000 people of which 70% live in the capital area, Reykjavík.

The diverse nature of Iceland is something that cannot be found anywhere else, it is a land full of contrasts. The highlands of Iceland are the largest area of undisturbed nature in Europe as well the largest uninhabited. In Iceland there are black sand deserts in the highlands and glaciers in the centre of the island. Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe. There are mountains and rock formations with the highest mountain in Iceland at 2.119 meters. As well as black sand beaches, vast meadows, marshes, a variety of lakes, hot springs and geothermal areas both at high temperature such as Geysir. In the English language today, the word Geysir is used to describe a hot spring that discharges steam and hot water. Iceland also has many geothermal pools with the perfect temperature to take a dip and relax in. To add there are countless rivers of both glacial and clear water, many famous waterfalls, some of them world famous. The unique beauty and wonder that the nature in Iceland evokes has made many sites in Iceland world famous. The vivid contrast of glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal areas has earned Iceland the aptly named, land of fire and ice as well as the land of extremes.