Iceland is a volcanic island nation in Northern Europe known for its dramatic natural landscapes, including volcanoes, glaciers, and geysers, situated between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A sparsely populated country with a capital city, Reykjavík, Iceland has a temperate climate due to the Gulf Stream despite its high latitude. The country's culture and economy are strongly influenced by its natural environment, with widespread use of geothermal energy and a Nordic-type social-market economy.