Iceland

  • capital city: Reykjavík
  • population: 332,500
  • area: 102,775 sq. km.
  • languages spoken: Icelandic
  • currency: Icelandic króna (ISK)
  • Prohibition in Iceland began in 1915. In 1921 red and rosé wine (only) from Spain or Portugal (only) was permitted. Then all alcohol was un-prohibited in 1933 – except for beer – which was finally legalized in 1988. “Skal!”

A part of Europe but much closer to Greenland, more than two-thirds of Icelanders live in or around Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly national capital city. In spite – or because of this – Iceland has produced a steady stream of world-famous musical stars, from the medieval music group Voces Thules, to alt-rockers The Sugarcubes, singer Björk, the indefinable Sigur Rós and indie band, Of Monsters and Men.