We come back to Track

Independence movement (1814–1918)
In 1814, after the Napoleonic Wars, the Danish-Norwegian Union was divided into two separate kingdoms by the Treaty of Kiel, but Iceland remained a Danish dependent territory. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to become colder, leading to mass emigration to the New World, especially to the Gimli region in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which became known as New Iceland. Of the 70,000 population of the island, about 15,000 people then emigrated

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Denmark imposed severe trade restrictions on Iceland. Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and epidemics, contributed to the population decline. In the summer of 1627, Barbary pirates carried out several raids on the country (Il. Tyrkjaránið - "Turkish kidnappings"), during which hundreds of inhabitants were taken into slavery in North Africa and dozens were killed; it was the only invasion in Icelandic history with casualties[30][31]. A smallpox epidemic in 1707–1708 is estimated to have killed between a quarter and a third of the entire island's population.[32][33] In 1783, the Laki volcano erupted, which had devastating consequences[34]. In the years following the eruption, known as the "Misty Hardships" (Il. Móðuharðindin), more than half of all livestock in the country died, and about a quarter of the then population died of starvation

Reformation and early modern period
See also: Danish monopoly on trade in Iceland
Around the middle of the 16th century, as part of the Protestant Reformation, King Christian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all his subjects. Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hoular, was beheaded in 1550 along with his two sons. Subsequently, the country officially became Lutheran and since then the majority of the population has professed it.

Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and an unfavorable climate made life harsh in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. The Black Death swept through Iceland twice: first in 1402-1404, and then in 1494-1495[28]. In the first case, from 50% to 60% of the then population died, and in the second - from 30% to 50%Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and an unfavorable climate made life harsh in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. The Black Death swept through Iceland twice: first in 1402-1404, and then in 1494-1495[28]. In the first case, from 50% to 60% of the then population died, and in the second - from 30% to 50%

Icelandic democracy lasted until the 13th century, when the political system developed by the early settlers proved unable to cope with the growing power of the Icelandic leaders[27]. Internal strife and civil unrest during the Sturlung era led to the signing of the Old Treaty in 1262, ending democracy and bringing Iceland under the rule of the Norwegian crown. Ownership of Iceland passed from the Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) to the Union of Kalmar in 1415, when the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden were united. After the dissolution of the union in 1523, it remained a Norwegian dependent territory, as part of the Danish-Norwegian Union.

After the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Iceland's struggle for independence took shape and culminated in 1918 with the creation of the Kingdom of Iceland, which divided the current monarch of Denmark through personal union. During the occupation of Denmark during World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly to become a republic in 1944, thereby severing its remaining formal ties with Denmark. Iceland is credited with maintaining the world's oldest parliament, despite the fact that the Althing was suspended from 1799 to 1845.

The island was governed as an independent community under the leadership of the local parliament, the Althing, one of the oldest functioning legislative assemblies in the world. After a period of civil unrest in the 13th century, Iceland came under Norwegian rule. The creation of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Iceland followed Norway into this union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden left the union in 1523. In 1550, the Kingdom of Denmark forcibly introduced Lutheranism to Iceland

According to the Book of the Settlement of Iceland, the settlement of Iceland[en] began in 874 AD, when the Norwegian chief Ingolf Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island.[8] In subsequent centuries, Norwegians and, to a lesser extent, other Scandinavians emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (slaves) of Gaelic origin.According to the Book of the Settlement of Iceland, the settlement of Iceland[en] began in 874 AD, when the Norwegian chief Ingolf Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island.[8] In subsequent centuries, Norwegians and, to a lesser extent, other Scandinavians emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (slaves) of Gaelic origin.

The capital and largest city of Iceland is Reykjavik, which (together with surrounding areas) is home to more than 65% of the country's population. Iceland is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that rises above sea level, and its central volcanic plateau regularly erupts.[6][7] The interior of the country is a plateau with sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, and many glacial streams flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite its high latitude above the Arctic Circle. Due to its high latitude and location in the middle of the ocean, summers are cool, and most of the islands have a polar climate.

Iceland (Il. Ísland, IPA: [ˈistlant]about file - “country of ice” or “ice country”) is an island country located in the west of Northern Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean (northwest of Great Britain). In the north and northeast it is washed by the Arctic Ocean. The territory of the state consists of the island of the same name with an area of 103 thousand km² and small islands around it. The most sparsely populated country in Europe