Iceland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located near the Arctic Circle, between Greenland and Norway. An island of 103.000 km2 (40,000 square miles), it is about the same size as Hungary and Portugal, or Kentucky and Virginia. Iceland is the second largest island in Europe, following Great Britain, and the 18th largest island in the world. The coastline is 4,970 km, and Iceland maintains a 200 nautical-miles exclusive economic zone. It takes approximately five hours to fly from New York to Reykjavík, and three hours from London.
Iceland is one of the youngest landmasses on the planet, and consequently home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes. The island owes its existence to a large volcanic fissure in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet. Even today, the country is growing by about 5 cm per year, as it splits wider at the points where two tectonic plates meet.
In 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted and in 2011 Grímsvötn. The latest volcanic eruption was in Holuhraun from August 2014 to February 2015. The eruption produced a lava field of more than 85 km2 (33 sq mi) and 1.4 km3 (0.34 cu mi) – the largest in Iceland since 1783.
On March 19, 2021, after a long series of earthquakes in Reykjanes, a volcanic eruption began at 20:45 just east of Fagradalsfjall in Geldingardal. The eruption started slowly and lasted until September with a few breaks. You can read more about that eruption here.
Iceland’s highest peak is Hvannadalshnjúkur, standing 2.110 metres (6841 ft) over sea level. and over 11 percent of the country is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe. Its land mass comprises glaciers (12,000 km2), lava (11,000 km2), sand (4,000 km2), water (3,000 km2) and pasture (1,000 km2).
Iceland is the least populated country in Europe. Almost 80% of the country is uninhabited, and much of its terrain consists of plateaux, mountain peaks, and fertile lowlands. There are many long, deep fjords and glaciers, including Europe’s largest, Vatnajökull. Its landscape’s is characterized by waterfalls, geysers, volcanoes, black sand beaches and otherworldly steaming lava fields.
Iceland has very mild, coastal weather, stemming from the Gulf Stream. The weather is also affected by the East Greenland polar current curving south-eastwards round the north and east coasts. The average summer temperature in Reykjavik is 10.6°C/51°F in July, with average highs of 24.3°C/76°F. The average winter temperature in Reykjavik is similar to New York City’s, about 0°C/32°F in January (average highs are 9.9°C/50°C). The weather can be very unpredictable and often changes in an instant.
Source and photo: www.iceland.is
and www.nat.is
About 330 species of birds have been recorded in Iceland Of these only about 85... more
The Atlantic puffin The Atlantic puffin comes to Iceland for nesting in... more
Reykjanes eruption number three On July 10th, 2023, after a rather short... more
Iceland is full of unique natural features The geologically young island sits... more
Budarhalsstod The station is located on the Tungnaa River and takes advantage... more
Popular bathing lagoons in Iceland Back to nature!!! Blue Lagoon Sky lagoon... more
Vatnsfell Power Plant Vatnsfell is an Icelandic hydroelectric power station... more
Hrauneyjafoss Power Station The Hrauneyjafoss Station is Iceland’s third... more
Geldingadala eruption number two On March 19, 2021, after a long series of... more
Tindfjallasel, Hungurfit replaces the older cabin of the Air Rescue... more
Volcano in Reykjanes Beginning On March 19th, 2021, after weeks of multiple... more
NATIONAL PARK THINGVELLIR!!! Thingvellir-The Parliamentary Plains are the... more
Two winged flies Within this family are about 380 species in Iceland The... more
Beetles (Coleoptera) About 240 species are endemic, 150 in nature, 30 indoors... more
Husavík has a rich history of whale watching, which is one of the most popular... more
The Mid-Atlantic ridge comes ashore on the Reykjanes peninsula The... more
Landsvirkjun's energy exhibition is located in Ljósafoss Power Station, and is... more
Sultartangi Power Plant The Sultartangi Station, located 15 km northeast of... more
When Landsvirkjun was established in 1965, it embarked on the construction of... more
The Westman Islands’ volcanic system comprises 70-80 volcanoes and their... more
Blanda Power Station The Blanda Station is located in north Iceland, near the... more
This lava cave, Raufarholsshellir, is within easy reach just east of the main... more
Among the first things that visitors to Iceland usually notice are that it is... more
The Icelandic Forest Service (IFS) is a government institution responsible for... more
Exploration and Planning started already in 1947 and was continued for two... more
The Blue Lagoon was created accidentally by the condense discharge from the... more
The plant is located on one of the major high temperature areas of the... more
For your own safety it is of highest importance to take necessary precautions... more
Those, who visit the northernmost capital of the world, notice immediately the... more
Iceland cannot boast of many species of wild animals compared to many other... more
The arctic fox (Alopex Lagopus) is believed to have occupied Iceland since the... more
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus, formerly Thalarctos maritimus) is also called... more
Rabbits imported as pets have become a part of the wild fauna of severaæ parts... more
Picture Great Skuas The extensive alluvial or outwash plains (sander) of the... more
Picture: Oyster Catcher In the capital and its vicinity, there are several... more
About 50 km from Reykjavik and only a short distance from the main road, Lake... more
The mountainous and indented northwest peninsula has several places of... more
In the northern lowlands, between the villages of Hvammstangi and Blonduos,... more
Most of the interior plateau is devoid of vegetation, except in a few areas,... more
In common grey seal areas outside Iceland it seems to be polygamous According... more
Adult males are 7-10 m long and weigh 4½-10 tons and females are 5½-8½ m and... more
The hump back whale (Lat Megaptera novaeangliae) in Icelandic waters is 12,5-13... more
The minke whale (Lat Balaenoptera acutorostrata) seldom grows longer than 9 m... more
The males are about 18 m long and the females about 19,5 m The males weigh 50... more
The sei whale (Lat Balaenoptera borealis) is 12½-15 m long in Icelandic waters... more
Blue whales (Lat Balaenoptera musculus) in Icelandic waters are 22-25 m long... more
In Icelandic waters the average size of male adults is 8,4 m and 7½-8½ tons,... more
Males are 6-8 m long and weigh 4-5 tons, females 4-6 m, and 2-3 tons The... more
Fully grow adult males are 17-20 m long and weigh 40-52 tons Females are 8-17 m... more
Adult males are about 3 m long and weigh 250-370 kg Females are 2½-3 m long... more
Adult males weigh about 7 kg and are less than 2 m long Females are equally... more
Adult males are 1,8-2,6 m long and weigh 80-140 kg Females are 1,7-2,3 m long... more
Adult males are 4,2 – 5,5 m long and weigh 1-1,6 tons Females are 3-4,1 m... more
Adult males around Iceland are 4-6 m long and weigh 1,2 – 1,6 tons and the... more
The northern bluefin tuna (giant gluefin tuna - Lat Thunnus thynnus) inhabits... more
The toad crab's (Lat Hyas araneus) habitat is in shallow waters all around... more
The spotted catfish's (Lat Anarrhichas minor) habitat is above the ocean floor... more
The life cycle of a sea urchin (Lat Echinus esculentus) starts by spawning... more
The sea or arctic char (Lat Salvelinus alpinus) is mainly to be found in the... more
Salmon (Lat Salmo salar) fishing was practised in Iceland from its earliest... more
The saithe's (Lat Pollachius virens) habitat is in the North Atlantic Ocean,... more
The plaice's (Lat Pleuronectes platessa linnaeus) habitats are in the Northeast... more
The opah's (Lat Lampris guttatus or luna) mouth is toothless and can be... more
The ocean perch (Lat Sebastes marinus) lives near the sea floor close to land... more
The northern horse mussel (Lat Modiola modiola) is one of the most common... more
The megrim's habitats are off the coasts of Europe, from the Trondheim's Bay in... more
The lumpfish (Lat Cyclopterus lumpus) has no scales and the ventral fins form a... more
Scallops aggregate in patch-like groups, and commercially fishable... more
This mussel (Lat Arctica islandica or Cyprina islandica) is the most common of... more
The halibut's (Lat Hippoglossus hippoglossus) habitat on the ocean floor in the... more
The Greenland halibut's (Lat Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) habitat is in the... more
The American eel (Lat Anguilla rostrata) and the European eel (Lat Anguilla... more
In front of both dorsal fins are hollow, poisoned spikes The dogfish's (Lat:... more
According to the continental drift theory, the Eurasian and North American... more
The processes by which molten rock material, or magma, rises from the interior... more
Average volume of rivers (m3/sec): Olfusa / Hvita at town Selfoss: 423 ... more
Glacier Hofsjokull East (1069m) is located east of Glacier Vatnajokull, between... more
Eyjafjallajokull glacier eruption On March 20th 2010 (spring equinox), shortly... more
Vatnajokull National Park is Europe's larges National Park after merging of... more
The Icelandic cattle they originated from cattle brought from Norway during the... more
History and background The modern Icelandic Sheep is a direct descendant of... more
The Icelandic horses live to a ripe old age, commonly to 35-40 The oldest... more
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland's only native dog The Nordic settlers, who... more
Documented sources confirm that the settlers originally brought the... more
The basking shark (Lat: Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish species... more
About Gigjokull As one of Eyjafjallajokull Glacier´s Outlets, Gigjokull was... more
The Ice Ages are periods in the earth's history when a significant, extended... more
About Krokslon Reservoir River Tungnaa was gradually eroding a chasm through... more
About Graenalon Lagoon Glacial Lagoon Graenalon is a constantly changing body... more
About Sultartangi Reservoir Rivers Thjorsa and Tungnaa were dammed just east... more
About Kvislaveita Lake The National Electricity Authority started work on the... more
About Eyjafjardara Estuary River The River Eyjafjardara Estuary, which is... more
About Hofsa Vopnafjordur A large river in the Vopnafiord region, fished with 6... more
About Kudafljot River The glacial river Kudafljot in south Iceland has a large... more
About Fnjoska River This is rather a large run off and spring fed river, which... more
About Heradsvotn River Heradsvotn runs through the wide Skagafjordur Valley in... more
The total area of this small glacier is about 19 km² It is located just north... more
The glacier Drangajokull is the northernmost of the country Because of its... more
About Kaldbakur Mt Kaldbakur (998 m) is the highest mountain of the Westfjords... more
About Maelifellshnjukur Mt Maelifellshnjukur (1138 m) is located to the south... more
Metamorphosis in High Temperature Areas Yellow colours: Often pure sulphur... more
The Mountain Massif Dyngjufjoll in the southern Odadahraun lava area has an... more
The southern and Snaefellsnes volcanic areas are clear examples of the... more
Research boreholes confirmed dykes in excess of 50% of the structure at the... more
Hverfjall This prototype of a Tuff Ring was created during a 2-3 days’... more
Craters Grabrok, in the extremely beautiful area surrounding Bifrost and the... more
The Reykjanes Zone is a so-called Rift Zone (thoelite) Earthquakes are frequent... more
The northern lights (latin: aurora borealis) are a spectacular natural colour... more
The first ideas concerning a hydroelectric power station in the Ellidaar Valley... more
River Gonguskardsa is a run off river, which spills into the Skaga Bay, just... more
The National Electric Power Works (RARIK) were licensed by law to build a 2,000... more
In 1933 an auxiliary power station was built on Lake Laxarvatn a short distance... more
About Rjukandi Power Plant River Fossa drains the Snaefell’s Glacier It... more
River Fljotaa has its sources in the northern mountains of the Ogres’... more
River Smyrlabjargaa runs through County Sudursveit It mostly collects run off... more
The road up to Skalafellsjokull glacier is only 16 km long, but takes almost an... more
Volcanic activity on the peninsula still exists in this Flank Zone extending... more
About Island Surtsey The eruption, which created this and other islands around... more
The Westman Islands, "The Pearls in The Ocean", is an archipelago of 15 islands... more
The idea of harnessing the geothermal energy of the Bjarnarflag Area was first... more
The Hofsjokull (The Temple Glacier; 1760m) is a round shaped icecap in the... more
The Northern Part of National Park Vatnajokull This park was established in... more
Grimsvotn, under the centre of the Vatnajokull Ice Cap, is a large central... more
The glacier snout Eyjabakkajokull is the easternmost of the other much larger,... more
Glacier Eiriksjokull (1,675 m) has an area of about 22 km sq and rests on top... more
The Dyngjuhals is a wide ridge east of Lakes Gaesavotn It is about 20 km wide... more
About Kirkjufell Mt Kirkjufell (964 m) is a prominent rhyolite mountain on the... more
About Lambatungnajokull This glacier snout flows down into the Skyndidalur... more
The Long Glacier (1355m) is the second largest in Iceland It has an area of... more
The Myrdalsjokull glacier (1480m) is the fourth largest glacier with an area of... more
About Sigalda This hyaloclastite (moberg) ridge rises 550 m above sea level to... more
This glacier tongue is the largest of the many such of the icecap Vatnajokull... more
The glacier Torfajokull peaks at 1,190 m above sea level and its total area is... more
The Odadahraun lava desert This is the vastest lava area of the country The... more
Mt Tungnafell (1,392 m) is a convex and steep mountain in the northern slopes... more
Oraefajokull is the highest mountain of the country, 2,110 m, and stretches to... more
Vatnajokull (2110m) was named after sub-glacial lakes in a very volcanically... more
Glacier Breidamerkurjokull counts among the largest glacier tongues of the... more
This low mountain is one of the northern outposts of the Heimaey Island It... more
Eyjafjallajokull (Directly translated: "The Island Mountains’ Glacier") or... more
“Floaaveitan” (irrigation) was built in the years 1918-1927 It covered... more
About Floi Nature Reserve This nature reserve covers a part of the eastern... more
Hellisheidi Power Plant This power plant is situated at the foot of Mt... more
The Southern Part of National Park Vatnajokull The second national park,... more
The Parliamentary Plains are the most important historic site of the country... more
About Deildartunguhver This is probably the most voluminous natural hot spring... more
The Snaefellnes glacier (1446m) has an area of about 7 km² It covers a cone... more
The Snaefellsjokull National Park was officially established on the 28th of... more
NAT and Must see in Iceland have handpicked the best tours in Iceland so you don't have to.