Iceland, the second largest island in
Europe, is located south of the
Arctic Circle, between the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Greenland Sea. It is situated east of
Greenland and northwest of the UK. It is overall the eighteenth-largest island in the World. Unlike the neighboring island
Greenland, Iceland is considered part of
Europe and not of North America.
Iceland's geographical
location, over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and the presence of mantle plumes underneath it, make it one of the most volcanically active regions of the World. It also has a large number of glaciers, and the coastline is punctuated with bays and fjords. There is also an abundance of geysers.
The geographical position of Iceland is such that this place is relatively warmer than other countries that lie in the same latitude. Although Iceland is located near the Arctic Circle, the winters here are not that harsh and severe. The presence of the North Atlantic current lowers the intensity of the cold winter winds. Overall the climate of Iceland is predominantly temperate in nature.
An
important place in
Iceland is the
capital Reykjavik, which is the largest city, and houses most of the Iceland's population. Other important cities are
- Keflavik – houses the international airport and a NATO base,
- Akureyri- the second largest city in Iceland, a major area of residence and commerce,
- Hafnarfjörður – the third most populated town, houses industries, and
- Akureyri – the second largest urban area after the capital.
