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Iceland:
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Other pages in this profile of Iceland:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
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. |
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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 |
4,970 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier) |
Natural resources |
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite |
Land use |
arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
NA |
Natural hazards |
earthquakes and volcanic activity |
Environment - current issues |
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Environment - international agreements |
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 |
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 |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |