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Thingvallavatn

(Encyclopedia)Thingvallavatn thēngˈgvätˌläväˌtən [key], Icelandic Þingvallavatn, lake, c.35 sq mi (90 sq km), SW Iceland, E of Reykjavík. It is Iceland's largest lake. On its north shore is historic Thing...

Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís

(Encyclopedia)Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís vĭgˈdēs fĭnˌbōgədôˈtĭr [key], 1930–, Icelandic teacher and politician, president of Iceland (1980–96). She first became a public figure as the director of the Re...

Neskaupstaður

(Encyclopedia)Neskaupstaður nĕsˈköüpstäˌᵺür [key], town (1993 pop. 1,619), extreme E Iceland, on the Mjóifjörður, an arm of the Norwegian Sea. It is the chief town of E Iceland and a fishing port with ...

Katla

(Encyclopedia)Katla, volcano, 4,961 ft (1,512 m) high, SW Iceland. One of Iceland's most active volcanoes, it is partly buried under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers its eruptive vents. Katla's most recent...

Akureyri

(Encyclopedia)Akureyri äˈkürāˌrē [key], city, N Iceland, at the head of the Eyjafjörður. The second largest city of Iceland, it is a fishing, commercial, and industrial center, ...

Faxaflói

(Encyclopedia)Faxaflói fäkˈsäflōˌē [key] or Faxa Bay, inlet, c.40 mi (60 km) long and c.55 mi (90 km) wide, W Iceland, between the Snaefellsnes and Reykjanes peninsulas. Most of Iceland's population live aro...

Gunnlaugsson, Sigmundur Davíð

(Encyclopedia)Gunnlaugsson, Sigmundur Davíð, 1975–, Icelandic political leader. He worked as a journalist and comedian for Iceland's national radio before he joined the conservative Progressive party and entere...

Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir

(Encyclopedia)Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir äsˈkĕr äsˈkĕrsôn [key], 1894–1972, Icelandic statesman, president of Iceland (1952–68). He was a member of the Icelandic parliament from 1923 to 1952, headed the govern...

Vestfjarða

(Encyclopedia)Vestfjarða vĕstˈfyärˌᵺä [key], peninsula, c.80 mi (130 km) long, NW Iceland, between Breiðafjörður and Húnaflói and extending into the Denmark Strait. The peninsula, c.90 mi (140 km) wide...

Öraefajökull

(Encyclopedia)Öraefajökull öˈrīväyöˌkütəl [key], mountain, Vatnajökull National Park, SE Iceland, rising from the Vatnajökull glacier. Öraefajökull is an ice-covered, three-peaked volcano. The largest...