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 the second-largest island in Europe. The island located east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle, atop the divergent boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies about 4,200 km (2,600 mi.) from New York City and 830 km (520 mi.) from Scotland.

Iceland has extensive volcanic and geothermal activity. The rift associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which marks the division between the European and North American tectonic 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 amphitheatre. The site was the home of Iceland's parliament, the Alþing, which was first convened in 930.

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 (695 km²)
• Drangajökull (199 km²)
• Eyjafjallajökull (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; 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

Geographic coordinates

Northern Europe (for cultural and historical reasons it is not considered to be a part of North America), between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the British Isles.

• 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, ice fields; 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

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

• Extreme points of Europe
• Extreme points of Iceland
• Fjords of Iceland
• Glaciers of Iceland
• Glacial lake outburst flood
• Iceland plume
• Iceland hotspot
• Lakes of Iceland
• List of islands off Iceland
• List of volcanoes in Iceland
• Plate tectonics
• Rivers of Iceland
• Volcanoes of Iceland
• Waterfalls of Iceland

[edit] External links

• Igneous Lab: Iceland lavas