Reykjavík is the northernmost capital city of a sovereign state in the world. Its name translates to 'Smoky Bay,' so named by the first Norse settlers due to the steam rising from the area's many geothermal hot springs. Iceland is a land of extreme geological activity, sitting directly atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. This allows Reykjavík to be one of the greenest cities on Earth, with nearly 100% of its space heating and hot water provided by geothermal energy. The city is home to the Althing, which is the oldest surviving parliament in the world, established in 930 AD. Despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle, the city stays surprisingly temperate in winter due to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. A major landmark is the Hallgrímskirkja church, designed to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland’s landscape.