Iceland, of course, is no longer just the mythical land of fire and ice that we imagine it to be. Those early settlers quickly established the foundations for a civilised society by creating the world’s first parliament. Today, the country with its population of just over 310,000 people, spread over 100,000 square kilometres, has suffered a banking and financial crisis along with the rest of us. The capital, Reykjavik, is a small, clean city known for its colourful and stylish architecture. The city centre is full of shops, art galleries, cafés and bookshops. In 2000, Reykjavik was very deservedly awarded the title of Europe’s City of Culture, thanks to its impressive art collections and museums, and lively nightlife. However, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind me following my arrival, and travelling out towards the volcanoes and lava fields, Iceland’s legendary landscape begins to emerge and visions of those early settlers return. Perhaps it is the long winter nights often spectacularly lit up by the Northern Lights, or the extraordinarily long summer days with up to 22 hours of daylight that bring a magical, almost spiritual quality to this land and its people. It is with no surprise then, that shortly after my arrival in a small village en route to the famous Blue Lagoon, that my hosts in the hotel insist that I join them and their family out on the lawn for a party that fills the air with laughter and delight well into the small hours. Scan the article to find out what the population of Iceland is. Write your answer. What is the population of Iceland? __________________________