Iceland,an island about the size of Kentucky,lies in the north Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and just touches the Arctic Circle.It is one of the most volcanic regions in the world.More than 13% is covered by snowfields and glaciers,and most of the people live in the 7% of the island that is made up of fertile coastland.The Gulf Stream keeps Iceland's climate milder than one would expect from an island near the Arctic Circle.
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
water:2,750 sq km
land:100,250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,988 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf:200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea:12 NM
exclusive economic zone:200 NM
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
Natural resources:fish,hydropower,geothermal power,diatomite
Land use:arable land:0.06%
permanent crops:0%
other:99.94% (23% permanent pastures) (1998 est.)
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,Biodiversity,Climate Change,Desertification,Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution,Wetlands
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; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe