About half of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,119 meters--6,970 ft. --above sea level), and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers:
and several smaller ones:
Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. In Reykjavik, the average temperature is 11°C (52°F) in July and -1°C (30°F) in January.
Location: Northern Europe (mostly for cultural and historical reasons it is not considered to be a part of the Americas), island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom.
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
North: Rifstangi, 66°32',3 N South: Kötlutangi, 63°23',6 N West: Bjargtangar, 24°32',1 W East: Gerpir, 13°29',6 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total:
103,125 km²
land:
100,329 km²
water:
2,796 km²
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky; about half the size of Great Britain
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; cool summers, damp in the South and West
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Jölkulsárlón Lagoon:-146m,
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Hvannadalshnúkur 2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
23%
forests and woodland:
1%
other:
76% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity; avalanches
Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe