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Geography of Iceland

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

Iceland Quickstats

  • Population: 301,931 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 103,000 sq km
  • Density: 2.9 /km² (222nd)
  • GDP (total): $11.38 billion (135th)
  • GDP (per capita): $35,586 (2005) (5th)
  • Literacy: 99%

Languages of Iceland

Useful to know

  • Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK)
  • Dial code: +354

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Iceland Internet

  • Usage: 225,600
  • Penetration: 76.5 %
  • Top Domain: .ic

WT eBusiness info:

  • Success Ranking: 100
  • Market testing: Untested
  • Overall risk: High
  • Overall reward: Low

e-maturity:

  • Tourism: 10%
  • eCommerce: 10%
  • Gaming: 10%
  • eLearning: 10%

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