Geography of Iceland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Iceland
Native name: Ísland
Nickname: Land of Fire and Ice
CIA Factbook map of Iceland.png
Map of Iceland
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates 65°00′N 18°00′W / 65.000°N 18.000°W / 65.000; -18.000
Area 103,001 km2 (39,768.9 sq mi)
Area rank 18th
Coastline 4,988 km (3,099.4 mi)
Highest elevation 2,110 m (6,920 ft)
Highest point Hvannadalshnúkur
Country
Iceland
Largest city Reykjavík (pop. 118,861)
Demographics
Population 316,252 (as of 2008)
Density 3.1 /km2 (8 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Icelanders

The geography of Iceland entails the geographic features of Iceland, an island country at the confluence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Iceland is located east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle, atop the constructive boundary of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It lies about 860 km (534 mi) from Scotland and 4,200 km (2,610 mi) from New York City. One of the world's most sparsely populated countries, the republic of Iceland is almost completely coterminous with the main island – the world's 18th largest in area and possessing almost all of the country's area and population.

Iceland has extensive volcanic and geothermal activity. The rift associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which marks the division between the European and North American tectonic plates, runs across Iceland from the southwest to the northeast. This geographic feature is prominent at the Þingvellir National Park, where the promontory creates an extraordinary natural amphitheatre. The site was the home of Iceland's parliament, the Alþing, which was first convened in 930.

About half of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,119 m (6,952 ft) above sea level) and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers:

and several smaller ones:

Twenty percent of the land is used for grazing, and only 1% is cultivated. An ambitious reforestation program is under way. Fossilized tree pollen and descriptions by the early settlers indicate that prior to human settlement in the 9th–10th century, trees covered about 30 – 40 percent of the island. Today, however, there are only small patches of the original birch forests left, the most prominent are Hallormsstaðarskógur and Vaglaskógur.

The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest; the central highlands are totally uninhabited.

Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. In Reykjavík, the average temperature is 11 °C (51.8 °F) in July and 0 °C (32 °F) in January (Köppen: Cfc).

Contents

Statistics

Dettifoss, located in northeast Iceland. It is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, with an average water flow of 200 m3/second.
Geographic coordinates
[1]
Northern Europe (for cultural and historical reasons it is not considered to be a part of North America), between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the British Isles.
Map references
Arctic Region

Area
39,769 sq miles (103,001 km²)
  • Total: 103,125 km²
  • Land: 100,329 km²
  • Water: 2,796 km²
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
4,988 km
Maritime claims
  • Continental shelf: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) or to the edge of the continental margin
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
  • Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)
Climate
Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; cool summers, damp in the South and West
Terrain
Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, ice fields; coast deeply indented by bays and fjords
Elevation extremes
  • Lowest point: Jökulsárlón Lagoon: -146 m, Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest point: Hvannadalshnúkur 2,110 m
Natural resources
Fish, hydropower, geothermal power.
Land use
  • Arable land: 0.07%
  • Permanent crops: 0%
  • Permanent pastures: 23%
  • Forests and woodland: 1%
  • Other: 76% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
Earthquakes, volcanic activity, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst flooding (or jökulhlaups)
Environment—current issues
Water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment—international agreements
Geography—note
Westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Antipodes

Iceland is not antipodal to any land mass. The closest are the Balleny Islands off Antarctica, claimed by New Zealand. The antipodes of the northernmost of these, Young Island, lie between Flatey and Grímsey Islands off the north central Icelandic coast, about 10 km from either.

Maps and Images

  • True colour satellite image of Iceland in winter

  • Satellite image of Iceland

  • Map of Iceland showing major towns and geographical features

  • Active volcanic areas and systems in Iceland

  • Map showing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge splitting Iceland and separating the North American and Eurasian Plates

  • Ridge between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America

  • Iceland is rich in sulfur deposits.

  • Topographic map of Iceland

See also

References

  1. ^ "Iceland". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 6 May 2012. 

External links

Sovereign states
Dependencies and
other territories
Other entities