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: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 (at Vatnajokull glacier) |
| Natural resources: | fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite |
| Land use: | arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2001) |
| 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air 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
Source: CIA World Factbook
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