As the capital and largest city of Iceland, and with an urban population of around 200,000, Reykjavík is the home of the majority of Iceland's inhabitants. Reykjavík, is the nation's nerve centre and government seat. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja, with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colourful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colours and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruce. Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík.