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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 Žingvellir 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 meters--6,970 ft. --above sea level), and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers:
and several smaller ones:
- MżrdalsjökullMyrdalsjokull is a glacier in the south of Iceland. It is situated to the north of Vik i Myrdal and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajokull. Its peak reaches 1493 m in height and its extension 595 km². The ice-cap of the glacier covers a dange, size 695 km²
- Drangajökull , size 199 km²
- EyjafjallajökullEyjafjallajokull is one of the smaller glaciers of Iceland. It is situated to the north of Skogar and to the west of the bigger glacier Myrdalsjokull. The ice-cup of the glacier covers a volcano (1666m in height) which has erupted rather frequently since, size 107 km²
- SnęfellsjökullSnaefellsjokull is a strato volcano with a glacier (isl. jokull on its top. Actually, the name of the mountain is Snaefell, but normally it is called "Snaefellsjokull" to discern it from two other mountains with this name. It is situated on the most weste,
Twenty percent of the land is used for grazing, and only 1% is cultivated. An ambitious reforestation program is under way. The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest, whereas the central highlands are totally uninhabited.
Because of the Gulf StreamThe Gulf Stream also known as the North Atlantic Drift is a powerful warm, swift Atlantic ocean current that flows along the coast of the Eastern United States and makes Ireland, Great Britain, and the Scandinavian countries warmer than they would be othe's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. In ReykjavķkReykjavik, Iceland City seal City nickname: Staersta smaborg i heimi" (The biggest small city in the world Location in Iceland Countynone ConstituencyReykjavik North Reykjavik South Area 274. 5 km² (106 mi²) Population Total ( 2003) Density 113,387 413 /, the average temperature is 11°C (52°F) in July and -1°C (30°F) in January.
Statistics
- Location:
- Northern EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se (mostly for cultural and historical reasons it is not considered to be a part of the AmericasThe Americas (sometimes referred to as America is the area including the land mass located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, generally divided into North America and South America. The term also usually includes the Caribbean, the islands), island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic OceanFor other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation The Atlantic Ocean is Earth's second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. The ocean's name, derived from Greek mythology, means the " Sea of Atlas". This ocean occupies an elongated,, 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
- Land boundaries:
- 0 km
- Coastline:
- 4,988 km
- Maritime claims:
- Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
- Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
- 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 fiords
- Elevation extremes:
- Natural resources:
- Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
- Land use:
- Arable land: 0%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Permanent pastures: 23%
- Forests and woodland: 1%
- Other: 76% (1993 est.)
- Irrigated land:
- NA km²
- Natural hazards:
- Earthquakes and volcanic activity; avalanches
- Environment--current issues:
- Eater 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, 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: Iceland, Volcanoes of Iceland, Rivers of Iceland, Waterfalls of Iceland, Fjords of Iceland, Lakes of Iceland
Geography of Iceland
Iceland
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