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119 Willow Springs Lane

Aledo, Texas 76008

May 30, 2013

Mr. Barack Obama

President1600 Pennsylvania Ave NWWashington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Obama,

On your request, I traveled to Iceland. Through my observations I have

created a report that I believe you will find beneficial.

Icelands political system is a parliamentary representative democratic

republic. The power is broken into three parts: the president,lafur RagnarGrmsson, the prime minister, Sigmundur Dav Gunnlaugsson, and Althing. Thepresident is elected for four years via popular vote, and does not have a

term limit. The prime minister is appointed by the president, and exercisesexecutive authority. The Althing is the parliament of the country, and is theworlds oldest parliament. Member of the Althing are voted in by the peopleof Iceland.

Most of the population lives in the capital city, Reykjavik, or insuburbs around it. Though among the most populous cities are Kpavogur,Hafnarfjrur, Akureyri, and Reykjanesbr. Icelands population isestimated at 321, 857, as of February 2013.

The economical system of Iceland is a mixed economy with high levelsof free trade and government intervention. Its industry include fishprocessing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal

power, hydropower, and tourism. The primary agricultural produce isfish. Icelands economy depends upon its exports, which are aluminum,

ferro-silicon alloys, machinery and electronic equipment for thefishing industry, software, and woolen goods. Its chief imports aremachinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, andtextiles.Icelandic is the primary language of Iceland, but English and Danish

are compulsory subjects in the school curriculum, as both languagesare widely understood and spoken. Other commonly spoken languages areFaroese, German, Norwegian, and Swedish. Danish is mostly spoken in away comprehensible to Swedes and Norwegians- it is referred to asskandinaviska. The breakdown of religious affiliation (seen in figure

1.a) is as follows: Church of Iceland: 76.18%, Other Christian 11.33%,Other and not specified 5.91%, Unaffiliated 5.16%, Germanicneopaganism 0.68%, Buddhism 0.38%, Islam 0.24%, Bah' Faith 0.12%.The life expectancy is approximately 81.8 years, and the literacy rateis 99%. The breakdown of ethnic groups (seen in figure 1.b) is asfollows: Icelandic 93.44%, Polish 2.83%, Others 3.73%.

Icelands physical features are exceptionally beautiful. It is a landof everlasting snow, and is about 40,000 square miles. It has over 20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93lafur_Ragnar_Gr%C3%ADmssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93lafur_Ragnar_Gr%C3%ADmssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93lafur_Ragnar_Gr%C3%ADmssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmundur_Dav%C3%AD%C3%B0_Gunnlaugssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B3pavogurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafnarfj%C3%B6r%C3%B0urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjanesb%C3%A6rhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjanesb%C3%A6rhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafnarfj%C3%B6r%C3%B0urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B3pavogurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmundur_Dav%C3%AD%C3%B0_Gunnlaugssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93lafur_Ragnar_Gr%C3%ADmssonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93lafur_Ragnar_Gr%C3%ADmsson

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active volcanoes, most noteworthy are Oraga Jokull,Hekla, and SkaptaaJokull. The lava streams that cause apocalyptic havoc can be seen on aday to day basis. Iceland contains immense lava deserts and arid drearwastes, with boiling mud and hot springs, and creeping glaciers andsnow-covered jokulls. Beautiful sunsets are not a rare sighting, andthe Aurora Borealis is visible from September to October and March to

April.

You also requested a brief early history. According to my sources, in860, a man named Noddodr discovered Iceland. Then, in 874, InglfrArnarson became the first permanent Nordic settler, starting thesettlement of Iceland.

Based upon this information, I think Iceland is an excellentcandidate for a trade agreement. Their geothermal energy can beharnessed to further both their and our economies, and their metalexports can be utilized by the United States. I highly recommendIceland as a trade partner.

Regards,

Alex Jordan

Central Intelligence AgencyAnalytic Methodologist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ing%C3%B3lfr_Arnarsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ing%C3%B3lfr_Arnarsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ing%C3%B3lfr_Arnarsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ing%C3%B3lfr_Arnarson