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Iceland is a volcanic island nation in the northern Atlantic Ocean, sandwiched between Greenland, Norway, the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Faroe Islands. Among the last of the large islands uninhabited by human beings until the 9th century, Iceland is incredibly geologically active, and has many volcanoes and geysers. The land is composed primarily of cooled lava (basalt). One of the youngest islands in the world, Surtsey, is controlled by Iceland. This island rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions in the 1960s.

Iceland's main natural treasures are its protected areas, namely the nature reserves (protected for their importance for wildlife and landscape); natural monuments (protected due to special geological formations, e.g., volcanoes, fossils, minerals, waterfalls etc.); and country parks (protected for their importance for outdoor recreation and as habitats and ecosystems). The island also protects 31 species of plants. All of these cosseted gifts of nature are worth looking into if you are one of those tourists that are interested in expanding and cultivating your mind in the lands of Iceland.

Also home to the mystical Blue Lagoon, the island boasts four awesome National Parks. Thingvellir, "Symbol of the Icelandic Consciousness," is in a rift valley between the American and European geological plates. Lake Thingvellir here contains species of fish found nowhere else in the world.

The Snaefellsjokull National Park isn't less exciting. Steeped in mystery and romance at the foot of a volcano and glacier, it is the only park that reaches from the seashore to the mountaintops.

The Jokulsargljufur National Park was formed by the torrents gushing down from the Vatnajokull glacier. The largest waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss, is also right here!

Finally, the Skaftafell National Park is in an area also affected by catastrophic floods from the same glacier, but here visitors discover a green oasis among barren sands spewed out from beneath the ice.

One of the favorite activities of tourists in Iceland is whale watching, and you will find many along the coast. Besides all this nature, Iceland will also impress you culturally. Indeed, a vacation in Iceland may just prove to be your best, most mystic vacation yet!

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