Geography of Iceland
Location: | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK |
Geographic coordinates: | 65 00 N, 18 00 W |
Map references: | Arctic Region |
Area: | total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km |
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Kentucky |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 4,970 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
Climate: | temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers |
Terrain: | mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier) |
Natural resources: | fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite |
Land use: | arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | NA |
Natural hazards: | earthquakes and volcanic activity |
Environment - current issues: | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note: | strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe |