Icelands Geography & Climate
Iceland's Geography & Climate
Iceland's GeographyIceland is the second largest island in Europe, located between latitudes 63°24´N and 66°33´N, close to the Arctic Circle. Iceland has a total area of 103,000 square km (39,756 square miles). From north to south the greatest distance is about 300 km (185 miles), from west to east about 500 km (305 miles).
The coastline is about 6,000 km (3,700 miles) and the shortest distances to other countries are 286 km (180 miles) to Greenland, 795 km (495 miles) to Scotland and 950 km (590 miles) to Norway. Its locations is about midway between New York and Moscow.
There are numerous islands around the coast, some of them inhabited. The largest being is the Westman Islands in the south, Hrísey in the north and Grímsey on the Arctic Circle.
Iceland is a very young country in geological terms, and the process of its formation is still ongoing. The country's interior consists entirely of mountains and high plateaus, devoid of human habitation. Its average height is 500 m above sea-level, the highest point being Hvannadalshnúkur in the Öræfajökull glacier in Southeast Iceland, reaching a height of 2,110 m (6,950 feet).
Iceland's Climate
Iceland cannot be considered a "warm" place by normal standards, but thanks to the Gulf Stream, temperatures are usually moderate all year round. Average temperatures in July are about 12 degrees C in Reykjavik and it is usually a bit warmer in the north and east of Iceland.
Iceland is a very young country in geological terms, and the process of its formation is still ongoing. The country's interior consists entirely of mountains and high plateaus, devoid of human habitation. Its average height is 500 m above sea-level, the highest point being Hvannadalshnúkur in the Öræfajökull glacier in Southeast Iceland, reaching a height of 2,110 m (6,950 feet).
Iceland's Climate
Iceland cannot be considered a "warm" place by normal standards, but thanks to the Gulf Stream, temperatures are usually moderate all year round. Average temperatures in July are about 12 degrees C in Reykjavik and it is usually a bit warmer in the north and east of Iceland.
It doesn't snow as much in Iceland as you may think either, especially in Reykjavik where there is usually very little snow to be seen, even in the winter. However in the north and east of Iceland and in the Westfjords, there is more snow in the winter and nice skiing areas to take advantage of it.
The biggest factor in Icelandic weather is its unpredictability, you never know what is going to happen next. A beautiful day can suddenly turn windy and rainy (and vice versa), and you may every weather imaginable over the course of a few days in Iceland, especially in late autumn and early spring. So be prepared for anything and always remember to dress in layers. The Icelanders have a saying: "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing."
