Iceland is a small state located on the island of the same name between Greenland and Norway, in the northern waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Active volcanoes, hot geysers, thermal pools and emerald mountains - all this is an amazing and many-sided Iceland, where there are many unique natural beauties of the north.
Geography and geology
From the point of view of geology, Iceland is a volcanic island formed by igneous lavas and basalt layers. It is located on the crest of the North Atlantic global tectonic seam, along which the North American and Eurasian lithospheric plates diverge.
This part of the ocean is restless today - there are many active volcanoes and geysers in Iceland. The island is quite young, it is only 20 million years old, and the formation of the earth's crust is still taking place here.
A tenth of Iceland is covered with glaciers, the famous Vatnayokull glacier, which is the largest in Europe, is found in this country.
The coastline of the island where Iceland is located is heterogeneous: in the south it is calm, with sandy beaches, and the northern part is indented with numerous fjords.
Beyond the Arctic Circle
Where is Iceland located? On which continent? The land of ice, as the name of the region is literally translated, does not apply to this or that continent, it is the northernmost island state in the world, and its capital Reykjavik is the northernmost world megalopolis. This is one of the eight powers in the world through the territory of which the Arctic Circle passes . It runs through the small coastal island of Grimsey and oceanic territorial waters in the north of Iceland.
The proximity of the Arctic Circle determines some of the features of Iceland - white nights in summer and a very short daylight in winter. The climatic zone where Iceland is located is characterized by a long polar night and a short day. In June, the sun rises at about 3:00, and sets only by midnight, and in December daylight hours last only five hours.
North Atlantic. Climate features
Where Iceland is located in the North Atlantic, the climate is harsh, it is never really warm here. The average July temperature is around + 20 ° C, and already in August it drops to +15 ° C.
In October, it gets cold in winter because of cyclones passing through the Atlantic, and in November there comes a period of darkness - daylight hours are gradually decreasing, the average daily temperature is decreasing. In winter, snowfall and strong winds are constant here. Often the only means of communication in remote areas is a helicopter.
The best time to truly experience the magic of the local nature is July and August. In summer, Iceland becomes like a huge scenery for a science fiction film - emerald grass is interspersed with fields of cooled lava, hills shimmer with all the nuances of green, snow caps set off the green slopes of the mountains, and the rivers become transparent-azure, filled with the waters of melting glaciers.
Volcanoes and Geysers
On the island where Iceland is located, more than 250 geysers are registered, the energy of which has long been learned to use for the benefit of man - it goes to the heating of houses, served in greenhouses and pools. The country's largest geysers, Geysir and Strokkur, are located in the southern Hoykadalur valley. This area has become one of the main tourist routes in the country. And if Geysir's eruptions can be expected for years, then Strokkur pleases visitors with fountains of hot water and steam every few minutes.
There are 27 volcanoes here, which is considered a very large number for such a small island as Iceland. Lava and ash eruptions occur here every five years, and earthquakes often occur due to the constant movement of tectonic plates.
Despite the natural disasters, the number of tourists who want to see the famous glaciers and swim in the thermal springs is increasing every year.
A secluded location in the northern latitudes and amazing natural conditions make Iceland one of the most attractive countries for travelers in Europe.