| Geography and Climate |
Iceland is located in Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK. Area comparatively slightly smaller than Kentucky.
Iceland has a temperate climate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers. Terrain consists of mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fjords. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Atlantic Ocean 0 m and highest point in Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m. Natural resources are fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite. Natural hazards are earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Environment—current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Geography—note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe.
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |