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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