Iceland

I am a place where the ground bubbles and steams, and where giant mountains of ice glitter in the sun. In the winter, my skies dance with amazing ribbons of green and purple light. I was born from fiery volcanoes deep beneath the cold ocean waves a very long time ago. I am a special island, sitting all by myself near the top of the world, where puffins nest on my cliffs and whales swim in my waters. I am a land of adventure and wonder. My name is Iceland, and I am known as the Land of Fire and Ice.

For a long, long time, I was a secret land, visited only by birds and sea animals. Then, one day, brave explorers in longships with dragon heads on the front sailed across the big sea. Around the year 874 CE, a Viking leader named Ingólfr Arnarson arrived on my shores. He saw a bay full of steam rising from the ground and decided to build the very first home there. He named the place Reykjavík, which means 'Smoky Bay', and it is my biggest city today. Soon, more families sailed to me, bringing their sheep, horses, and wonderful stories. They were clever people and wanted to make fair rules for everyone to live by. So, in the year 930 CE, they created a special meeting place outdoors called the Althing. It was one of the first parliaments in the whole world, where people gathered to make important decisions together and share news. I was so proud to be a home for people who believed in fairness.

Today, I am still full of amazing surprises. My volcanoes sometimes wake up and yawn, and my giant glaciers slowly carve new shapes into my land. My people have learned to use my fiery heart deep inside the earth. They use its heat to warm their homes when it is chilly and to grow yummy tomatoes in greenhouses, even when there is snow outside. They still tell amazing stories, called sagas, that were written down hundreds of years ago about my first Viking families. On June 17th, 1944, my people celebrated a very special day when I became a fully independent country, a moment I remember with great happiness. I love it when visitors come to see my powerful waterfalls, walk on my black sand beaches, and watch my dancing northern lights. I am a reminder that our planet is powerful and beautiful, and I hope I inspire everyone to explore the wonders of the world and take good care of our amazing home.