Location: Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway

Map references: Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 103,000 sq km
land area: 100,250 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

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

Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 78%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
natural hazards: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

NOTE: The information regarding Iceland on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Iceland Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iceland Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.