Geography of Iceland - Statistics

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 / 65°N 18°W / 65; -18
  • 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
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
4,988 km
Maritime claims
  • Continental shelf: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) or to the edge of the continental margin
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
  • Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)
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
Westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Read more about this topic:  Geography Of Iceland

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