Iceland's Geography | Iceland Geography

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: 4,988 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 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Natural resources: Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use: Arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2001)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

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 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

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The information here has been derived from Public Domain Sources such as the CIA World Factbook. No liability can be taken for any inaccuracies. You can use the maps, flags and facts presented here however you choose.