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Location:
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Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
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Geographic coordinates:
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65 00 N, 18 00 W
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Map references:
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Arctic Region
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Area:
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total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Kentucky
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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4,988 km
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
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Terrain:
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mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
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Natural resources:
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fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
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Land use:
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arable land: 1%
other: 70% (2001 est.)
forest and woodlands: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 28%
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes and volcanic activity
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Environment - current issues:
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water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Environmental Protection through Criminal Law, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Oil Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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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
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