Iceland:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Iceland:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Location	Definition Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates	Definition 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references	Definition Arctic Region
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 4,970 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate	Definition temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain	Definition mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources	Definition fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Total renewable water resources	Definition 170 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.17 cu km/yr (34%/66%/0%) per capita: 567 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards	Definition earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues	Definition water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note	Definition 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

Iceland: Geography

Iceland:
Geography