
A map of Iceland showing major towns
and geographical features.

The ridge between the tectonic plates
of Eurasia and North America
Iceland
is
the second-largest island in Europe. The island is 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 from New York City
and 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 above sea level) and other wasteland. Eleven
percent is covered by three large
glaciers:
and several smaller ones:
Twenty percent of the land is used for grazing, and only 1% is
cultivated. An ambitious reforestation program is under way.
Fossilized tree pollen and descriptions by the early settlers
indicate that prior to human settlement in the 8-900s, trees
covered about 30-40% of the island. Today, however, there are only
small patches of the original
birch forests
left, the most prominent are
Hallormsstaðaskógur 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 in July and in January
(Koppen:
Cfc).
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
.
- *
- * North: Rifstangi, 66°32′3" N (Kolbeinsey, 67°08,9 N)
- * South: Kötlutangi, 63°23′6" N (Surtsey, 63°17,7 N)
- * West: Bjargtangar, 24°32′1" W
- * East: Gerpir, 13°29′6" W (Hvalbakur, 13°16,6 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: or to the edge of the continental margin
- * Exclusive economic zone:
- * Territorial sea:
- 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: Jökulsárlón 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, volcanic activity, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst flooding
(or jökulhlaups)
- 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
See also
External links