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: NEGL
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (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

NOTE: The information regarding Iceland on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Iceland Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iceland Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.