Ísland[‘istlant]), sometimes referred to in full as the Republic of Iceland (Lýðveldið Ísland), is a Nordicisland country marking the juncture between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The country has a population of 325,671 and a total area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), which makes it the most sparsely populated country in Europe.[5] The capital and largest city isReykjavík, with the surrounding areas in the southwestern region of the country being home to two-thirds of the country’s population. Reykjavík is the most northern capital in the world. Iceland is volcanically andgeologically active. The interior consists mainly of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.