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
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 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%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: 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

NOTE: The information regarding Iceland on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Iceland Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iceland Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.