Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a population of around 120,000 (and over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík Area) it is the heart of Iceland's economic and governmental activity.
Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement, established around 870.
Temperatures very rarely drop below −15 °C (5 °F) in the winter. The city's coastal location does make it prone to wind, however, and gales are common in winter. Summers are cool, with temperature fluctuating between 10 to 15 °C (50 to 59 °F), sometimes exceeding 20 °C (68 °F).
The highest ever recorded temperature in Reykjavík was 26.2 °C (79 °F), recorded on July 30, 2008.
Reykjavík is not a particularly wet city, but it nevertheless averages 148 days with measurable precipitation every year.
Reykjavík was ranked FIRST on Grist Magazine's "15 Greenest Cities" list in 2008.
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