Geography of Iceland - Wikipedia Geography of Iceland This article was imported from the CIA World Factbook and may require rewriting and / or reformatting to meet Wikipedia 's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. Editing help is available. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2012 ) Iceland Native name : Ísland Nickname : Land of Fire and Ice Satellite image of Iceland Geography Location North Europe 65 ° 00 ′ N 18 ° 00 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 65.000 ° N 18.000 ° W ﻿ / 65.000 ; - 18.000 Adjacent bodies of water Atlantic Ocean Area 103,001 km ( 39,769 sq mi ) Area rank 18th Coastline 4,970 km ( 3,088 mi ) Highest elevation 2,110 m ( 6,920 ft ) Highest point Hvannadalshnúkur Administration Iceland Largest settlement Reykjavík ( pop. 118,861 ) Demographics Population 330,000 ( 2015 ) Pop. density 3.3 / km ( 8.5 / sq mi ) Ethnic groups Icelanders, Poles Additional information Time zone GMT ( UTC ) Iceland is an island country at the confluence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle, atop the constructive boundary of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge about 860 km ( 530 mi ) from Scotland and 4,200 km ( 2,600 mi ) from New York City. One of the world 's most sparsely populated countries, Iceland 's boundaries are almost the same as the main island -- the world 's 18th largest in area and possessing almost all of the country 's area and population. Contents 1 Geology 2 Statistics 3 Antipodes 4 Geological activity 5 Maps and images 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Geology Iceland has extensive volcanic and geothermal activity. The rift associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which marks the division between the Eurasian Plate and North American tectonic plates, runs across Iceland from the southwest to the northeast. This geographic feature is prominent at the Þingvellir National Park, where the promontory creates an extraordinary natural amphitheatre. The site was the home of Iceland 's parliament, the Alþing, which was first convened in 930. It is a common misconception that Þingvellir is at the juncture between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. However, they are in fact at the juncture of the North American continental plate and a smaller plate ( approx. 10,000 km2 ) called the Hreppar Microplate ( Hreppaflekinn ). About half of Iceland 's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert ( highest elevation 2,110 m ( 6,923 ft ) above sea level ) and other wasteland. Around 10.2 per cent of the total land area is covered by glaciers, although these are now retreating at an accelerating rate. The four largest Icelandic glaciers are : Vatnajökull ( 7764 km2 ) Langjökull ( 868 km2 ) Hofsjökull ( 827 km2 ) Mýrdalsjökull ( 542 km2 ) Other notable glaciers include : Drangajökull ( 145 km2 ) Eyjafjallajökull ( 70 km2 ) Tungnafellsjökull ( 33 km2 ) Þórisjökull ( 25 km2 ) Eiríksjökull ( 21 km2 ) Þrándarjökull ( 16 km2 ) Tindfjallajökull ( 11 km2 ) Torfajökull ( 10 km2 ) Snæfellsjökull ( 10 km2 ). Twenty per cent of the land is used for grazing, while only 1 per cent is cultivated. Iceland has lost most of the woodland that previously covered large areas of the country, but an ambitious reforestation programme is currently underway. Fossilized tree pollen and descriptions by the early settlers indicate that prior to human settlement, now thought to have occurred from around the year 800 onwards, trees covered between 30 and 40 per cent of the island. Today, however, there are only small patches of the original birch forests left, the most prominent being Hallormsstaðaskógur and Vaglaskógur. The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest, while the central highlands are all but uninhabited. Because of the Gulf Stream 's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. Reykjavík has an average temperature of 12 ° C ( 53.6 ° F ) in July and 1 ° C ( 34 ° F ) in January ( Köppen : Cfc ). Statistics Dettifoss, located in northeast Iceland. It is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, with an average water flow of 200 m / s. Location Island in North America ( Commonly regarded as a part of Northern Europe ), straddling the Eurasian and North American plates between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the British Isles. Geographic coordinates : 65 ° 00 ′ N 18 ° 00 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 65.000 ° N 18.000 ° W ﻿ / 65.000 ; - 18.000 Extent ( locations outside mainland in parentheses ) North : Rifstangi, 66 ° 32 ′ 3 '' N ( Kolbeinsey, 67 ° 08, 9 N ) South : Kötlutangi, 63 ° 23 ′ 6 '' N ( Surtsey, 63 ° 17, 7 N ) West : Bjargtangar, 24 ° 32 ′ 1 '' W East : Gerpir, 13 ° 29 ′ 6 '' W ( Hvalbakur, 13 ° 16, 6 W ) Map references Arctic Region Area 39,769 sq miles ( 103,001 km2 ) Total : 103,125 km2 Land : 100,329 km2 Water : 2,796 km2 Land boundaries 0 km Coastline 4,970 km Maritime claims Territorial sea : 12 nmi ( 22.2 km ; 13.8 mi ) Exclusive economic zone : 200 nmi ( 370.4 km ; 230.2 mi ) Continental shelf : 200 nmi ( 370.4 km ; 230.2 mi ) or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Temperate ; moderated by North Atlantic Current ; mild, windy winters ; cool summers, damp in the south and west Terrain Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields ; coast deeply indented by bays and fjords Elevation extremes Lowest point : Jökulsárlón Lagoon : - 146 m, Atlantic Ocean 0 m Highest point : Hvannadalshnúkur 2,110 m Natural resources Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite Land use Arable land : 1.21 % Permanent crops : 0 % Other : 98.79 % ( 2012 ) Irrigated land NA Total renewable water resources 170 km ( 2011 ) Freshwater withdrawal ( domestic / industrial / agricultural ) Total : 0.17 km / yr ( 49 % / 8 % / 42 % ) Per capita : 539.2 m / yr ( 2005 ) Natural hazards Earthquakes, volcanic activity, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst flooding ( or jökulhlaups ) 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution ( MARPOL 73 / 78 ), Wetlands, Whaling Signed, but not ratified : Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Geography -- note Westernmost European country ; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe Antipodes Iceland is not antipodal to any land mass. The closest are the Balleny Islands off Antarctica, claimed by New Zealand. The antipodes of the northernmost of these, Young Island, lie between Flatey and Grímsey Islands off the north - central Icelandic coast, about 10 km from either. Geological activity A geyser in Iceland A geologically young land, Iceland is located on both the Iceland hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs right through it. This location means that the island is highly geologically active with many volcanoes, notably Hekla, Eldgjá, Herðubreið and Eldfell Iceland has many geysers, including Geysir, from which the English word geyser is derived. With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating and electricity. See geothermal power in Iceland. The island is composed primarily of basalt, a low - silica lava associated with effusive volcanism as has occurred also in Hawaii. Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types ( composite and fissure ), many producing more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite. Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes with approx. 30 volcanic systems active. Maps and images True colour satellite image of Iceland in winter Satellite image of Iceland Map of Iceland showing major towns and geographical features Active volcanic areas and systems in Iceland Map showing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge splitting Iceland and separating the North American and Eurasian Plates Ridge between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America Iceland is rich in sulfur deposits. Topographic map of Iceland See also Extreme points of Europe Highlands of Iceland Iceland hotspot Iceland plume List of earthquakes in Iceland List of extreme points of Iceland List of fjords of Iceland List of islands of Iceland List of lakes of Iceland List of national parks of Iceland List of rivers of Iceland List of valleys of Iceland List of waterfalls of Iceland References Jump up ^ `` Plate boundaries, rifts and transforms in Iceland '' ( PDF ). JÖKULL No. 58, 2008. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland. Retrieved 19 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Heildarstærð jökla á Íslandi 2014 ( '' Total surface area of Icelandic glaciers 2014 `` ) '' ( PDF ). Loftmyndir ehf. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Forestry in a treeless land ''. Iceland Forest Service. Retrieved 12 October 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.rae.ac.uk/submissions/ra1.aspx?id=187&type=hei&subid=3463 Jump up ^ `` New View on the Origin of First Settlers in Iceland ''. Iceland Review Online. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Mánaðarmeðaltöl fyrir stöð 1 -- Reykjavík ( '' Monthly data for station No 1 -- Reykjavík `` ) ''. Retrieved 12 October 2015. Jump up ^ Carmichael, I.S.E. ( 1964 ). `` The Petrology of Thingmuli, a Tertiary Volcano in Eastern Iceland '' ( PDF ). J. Petrology. 5 ( 3 ) : 435 -- 460. doi : 10.1093 / petrology / 5.3. 435. External links Media related to Geography of Iceland at Wikimedia Commons Iceland articles History By topic Economic Military Nationality Prohibition Rulers Monarchy Timeline Settlement Commonwealth Christianisation Aristocracy Sturlung Era Reformation Danish trade monopoly Independence Movement Kingdom World War II Invasion Cold War Cod Wars Great Recession Geography Cities and towns Climate Earthquakes Extremities Fjords Geology Glaciers Highlands Islands Lakes National parks Regions Rivers Valleys Volcanoes Waterfalls Politics Administrative divisions Cabinet Constitution Elections Foreign relations Human rights Law Law enforcement LGBT history LGBT rights Military Parliament Political parties President Prime Minister Supreme Court Economy Agriculture Banking Communications Króna ( currency ) Outvasion Renewable energy Stock Exchange Taxation Tourism Transportation Society Demographics Education Healthcare Icelanders Languages Religion Culture Anthem Architecture Art Cinema Coat of arms Cuisine Flag Literature Media Music Names National costume Public holidays Sport Outline Index Portal Geography of Europe Sovereign states Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia Artsakh Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria Dependencies and other entities Åland Faroe Islands Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Svalbard Other entities European Union Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Iceland&oldid=836036048 '' Categories : Geography of Iceland Hidden categories : CIA World Factbook cleanup Articles needing additional references from May 2012 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Asturianu বাংলা Български Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Íslenska Italiano ქართული Lietuvių Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Română Shqip Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska Українська 中文 19 more Edit links This page was last edited on 12 April 2018, at 08 : 51. 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Question: what type of plate boundary does iceland lie on
Answer: constructive