Iceland is a European island nation, whose territory includes the island of the same name and some adjacent small islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Reykjavik.
It has a population of approximately 366,425 inhabitants and an area of 103,000 km².[1][6] Due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it is a country with significant volcanic and geological activity, a factor that greatly affects the landscape of Iceland.
The interior of the country consists of a plateau characterized by deserts, mountains, glaciers, and glacial rivers that flow to the sea through the lowlands. Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, it has a temperate climate, relative to its latitude, and provides a habitable environment.
Birds, especially seabirds, are a very important part of Iceland's animal life. During the summer months, the island is chosen as a breeding ground by many species of migratory seabirds, such as the puffin, the northern fulmar, and the kittiwake.
Among the inland birds, the whimbrel, the ptarmigan, and the red-winged thrush are easily observed.
The only native land mammal is the arctic fox. Other introduced mammals that have become feral include mink, voles, rats, rabbits, and reindeer.
Several species of cetaceans are common in Icelandic waters, such as the humpback whale, the blue whale, the minke whale, and the white-beaked dolphin, among others. Commercial whaling is practiced intermittently, along with scientific whaling.
Seals populate Iceland's coasts and coastal glacial lakes, particularly the harbor seal.
Polar bears occasionally visit the island, traveling on ice from Greenland. In June 2008, two polar bears were killed in the same month.
Iceland's domestic animals include sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, the Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic sheepdog.
Many varieties of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a major contributor to the economy, accounting for more than half of the country's total exports.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1930.01
01.01.1930
Parliament anniversary
10a
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
35a
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
1930.02
01.01.1930
Official stamps, overprint on 1930.01
10a
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
35a
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
1956.01
30.10.1956
Northern countries' day
1.50k
8
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
1.75k
8
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
= 1.50k
1959.01
25.11.1959
Definitives
90a
8
Common Eider Somateria mollissima
2k
8
Common Eider Somateria mollissima
= 90a
1960.01
01.03.1960
Definitives
25k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
1965.01
27.01.1965
Charity
3.50k
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
4.50k
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
1966.01
26.04.1966
Definitives
50k
78
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
1967.01
16.03.1967
Definitives
20k
58
Common Loon Gavia immer
1967.02
22.11.1967
Charity
4k
43
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Egg
5k
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
Egg
1972.01
22.11.1972
Charity
7k
52
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
9k
52
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
= 7k
1977.01
14.06.1977
European wetlands campaign
40k
8
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
1980.01
16.10.1980
Fauna
5v set
170k
54
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica
1981.01
20.08.1981
Birds
50a
217
Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
1k
43
European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
2k
168
Northern Raven Corvus corax
1983.01
08.06.1983
Fishing industry
2v set
11k
52
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
1986.01
19.03.1986
Birds
6k
238
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
10k
8
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
12k
104
Merlin Falco columbarius
15k
54
Razorbill Alca torda
1986.02
01.07.1986
National bank
2v set
250k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
1987.01
16.09.1987
Birds
13k
80
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
40k
226
Redwing Turdus iliacus
70k
40
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
90k
8
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
1988.01
21.09.1988
Birds
5k
49
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
30k
8
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
1989.01
02.02.1989
Birds
19k
49
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
100k
241
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
1990.01
15.02.1990
Birds
21k
8
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
80k
8
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
1991.01
07.02.1991
Birds
25k
34
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
100k
66
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
1992.01
06.04.1992
Europa
Sheet
55k
Not identified Not identified
55k
Not identified Not identified
1992.02
03.12.1992
WWF
5k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
10k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
20k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
35k
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
1994.01
07.10.1994
Stamp day, stamp on stamp
3v sheet
1989.01
35k
241
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
1995.01
18.09.1995
European nature conservation year
25k
240
Redpoll Acanthis flammea
250k
49
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
1996.01
07.02.1996
Birds
20k
68
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
40k
8
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
1997.01
04.02.1997
Birds
10k
8
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
500k
8
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
2001.01
08.11.2001
Birds
40k
227
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
250k
43
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
2002.01
07.11.2002
Birds
50k
49
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
85k
49
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
2003.01
13.03.2003
Nordia 03
250k
168
Northern Raven Corvus corax
MS
2003.02
04.09.2003
Birds
70k
238
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
250k
49
Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
2004.01
04.11.2004
Birds
55k
49
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
75k
49
Dunlin Calidris alpina
2004.02
04.11.2004
Christmas
2v set
45k
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
2004.03
04.11.2004
Christmas
Booklet
2004.02
45k
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
2005.01
03.11.2005
Birds
60k
8
Greylag Goose Anser anser
105k
224
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
2009.01
07.05.2009
Nordia 2009
200k
54
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica
MS
2009.02
05.11.2009
Birds
110k
54
Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia
130k
52
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
2010.01
04.11.2010
Christmas
sa
*
241
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
1 bird
*
241
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
2 birds
2010.02
04.11.2010
Christmas
Booklet, sa
2010.01
*
241
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
1 bird
2011.01
27.01.2011
WWF
*
8
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
*
8
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
*
8
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
*
8
Gadwall Mareca strepera
2011.02
15.09.2011
Protection of wetlands
*
49
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
2014.01
16.01.2014
Eagle
sa
*
78
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
2016.01
16.09.2016
Pourquoi-Pas?
sa
*
52
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
MS
2018.01
26.04.2018
Eggert Olafsson
sa
*
68
European Shag Gulosus aristotelis
2019.01
11.04.2019
Europa
sa
*
78
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
*
104
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
2020.01
29.10.2020
Christmas
2v seet, sa
*
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
