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 are all amazing and diverse Iceland, where there are many unique natural beauties of the north.
Geography and geology
From the point of view of geology, Iceland is a volcanican island formed by igneous lava and basalt interlayers. It is located on the crest of the North Atlantic global tectonic seam, along which there is a divergence of the North American and Eurasian lithospheric plates.
This part of the ocean is restless today - Iceland has a lot of active volcanoes and geysers. The island is quite young, it is only 20 million years old, and the earth's crust still forms here.
The tenth part of Iceland is covered with glaciers, the famous Vatnajokudl glacier being the largest in Europe, is found in this country.
The coastline of the island, where Iceland is located, is inhomogeneous: in the south it is calm, with sandy beaches, and the northern part is riddled with numerous fjords.
Beyond the Arctic Circle
Where is Iceland? On which continent?The country of the ice, as the verbatim is translated the name of the region, does not belong to this or that continent, it is the most northerly island nation in the world, and its capital Reykjavik is the most northern world megalopolis. It is one of the eight powers in the world through which the Arctic Circle passes. It runs through the small coastal island of Grimsay and oceanic territorial waters in the north of Iceland.
The proximity of the Arctic Circle causes somefeatures of Iceland - white nights in the summer and a very brief light day in winter. For the climate zone, where Iceland is located, is characterized by a long polar night and a short day. In June, the sun rises around 3:00, and sits only at midnight, and in December a light day lasts only five hours.
North Atlantic. Features of climate
Where Iceland is located, in the North Atlantic, the climate is harsh, here it is never really warm. The average July temperature is about + 20 ° C, and in August it drops to +15 ° C.
In October, it becomes cold in winterbecause of cyclones passing through the Atlantic, and in November there comes a period of darkness - the light day gradually decreases, the average daily temperature decreases. In winter there are constant snowfalls and strong winds. Often the only means of communication in remote areas is a helicopter.
The best time to reallyfeel the magic of the local nature - July and August. In summer, Iceland looks like a huge scenery for a fantastic film - the emerald grass alternates with fields of cooled lava, the hills are shimmered with all the nuances of green, snow caps shade the green slopes of the mountains, and the rivers become transparent azure, filling with the waters of melting glaciers.
Volcanoes and Geysers
On the island, where Iceland is located,registered more than 250 geysers, whose energy has long been learned to use for the benefit of man - it goes to the heating of houses, served in greenhouses and swimming pools. The biggest geysers of the country, Geisir and Strokkur, are in the southern valley of Hyukadalur. This area has become one of the main tourist routes of the country. And if Geysir eruptions can be waited for years, then Strokkur pleases the visitors with fountains of hot water and steam every few minutes.
There are 27 volcanoes here, which is considered verymore for such a small island as Iceland. Lava and ash eruptions occur here every five years, and because of the constant movement of tectonic plates, earthquakes often occur.
Despite the natural disasters, the number of tourists who want to see the famous glaciers and swim in 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.
