Geography of Iceland

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A true colour image of Iceland captured by NASA's Aqua satellite on January 28, 2004.

CIA World Factbook map of Iceland

The ridge between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America

Iceland is rich in sulfur deposits.

Iceland is a large island with extensive volcanic and geothermal activity located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland immediately south of the Arctic Circle. It lies about 4,200 kilometers (2,600 mi.) from New York and 830 kilometers (520 mi.) from Scotland. The rift associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which marks the division between the European and North American plates runs across Iceland from the southwest to the northeast. This geographic feature is prominent at the Þingvellir National Park where the promontory creates an extraordinary natural amphitheater. Just over a thousand years ago Iceland's first parliament (Althing) was convened there.

About half of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,119 m (6,970 ft) above sea level), and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers:

• Vatnajökull (8300 km²)
• Langjökull (953 km²)
• Hofsjökull (925 km²)

and several smaller ones:

• Mýrdalsjökull, size 695 km²
• Drangajökull, size 199 km²
• Eyjafjallajökull, size 107 km²
• Snæfellsjökull,

Twenty percent of the land is used for grazing, and only 1% is cultivated. An ambitious reforestation program is under way. It is assumed that prior to human settlement in the 900s, trees covered about 30-40% of the island. Today, however, the only existing patches of birch forests are Hallormstaðarskógur and Vaglaskógur.

The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest, whereas the central highlands are totally uninhabited.

Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. In Reykjavík, the average temperature is 11°C (52°F) in July and -1°C (30°F) in January (Koppen:Cfc).

[edit] Statistics

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; slightly larger than Hokkaidō

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

4,988 km

Maritime claims

• Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or to the edge of the continental margin
• Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
• Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

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 fjords

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Jölkulsárlón Lagoon:-146 m, Atlantic Ocean 0 m
• Highest point: Hvannadalshnúkur 2,110 m (Aug.2005 new measurement)

Natural resources

Fish, hydropower, geothermal power.

Land use

• Arable land: 0.07%
• Permanent crops: 0%
• Permanent pastures: 23%
• Forests and woodland: 1%
• Other: 76% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

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 (MARPOL 73/78), 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

[edit] See also

• Volcanoes of Iceland
• Rivers of Iceland
• Waterfalls of Iceland
• Fjords of Iceland
• Lakes of Iceland
• Iceland plume

[edit] External links

• Igneous Lab: Iceland lavas