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.

About half of Iceland’s land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,110 m above sea level) and other wasteland. Around 10.2 % of the total land area is covered by glaciers, although these are now retreating at an accelerating rate.

20 % of the land is used for grazing, while only 1 % is cultivated. Iceland has lost most of the woodland that previously covered large areas of the country. 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 % of the island.

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 in July and 1 °C in January.

Map: Icelandic Landscapes
Map: Icelandic Landscapes