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# Iceland/Geography

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Location: Northern Europe, island between the [Greenland Sea]? and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom

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: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 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: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 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?, Whaling?
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; more land covered by glacier?s than in all of continental Europe

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Last edited August 3, 2001 8:00 am (diff)
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