• Iceland Information  >> Geography

 Formed by oceanic volcanic eruption, Iceland straddles the North Atlantic Ocean, connecting North America and the European continent. Its strategic geographical position is increasingly apparent in the discussion about the Northern Routes for international maritime transportation. There is also the interest of opening the North Pole Routes by opening direct flight between Iceland and China for transit to the East Coast of U.S. and Canada.

Area:       103,000 km2, equivalent to the size of Zhejiang or Jiangsu province of China.
 
Capital:    Reykjavík, the most Northern capital in the world with 118,326 inhabitants (Jan, 2010).
 
Terrain:    A land shaped by volcanic activities, glaciers and ocean, with unique landscape all over the country,  characterized by flat mountains, glaciers, clean lakes, black sands and deeply indented fjords.

Climate:   Temperate; moderated by Gulf stream. There are mild, windy winters and damp, cool summers. Average temperature in recent years in Reykjavík: in Jan. 1°C and in Jul.12°C.