Iceland is located directly on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates North America from Eurasia, the Eastern and Western hemispheres. These two major tectonic plates (which are the land we live on) are moving apart at the rate of 2 cm (.8 inch) a year and will eventually split the country in two halves… in about a billion years.
Over 85% of Iceland’s energy needs comes from its own renewable energy sources, the vast majority of which is geothermal (produced from Earth’s internal heat). Virtually 100% of the country’s electricity is provided by geothermal energy (over 90%) and hydroelectric renewable sources.
Iceland has among the cleanest, safest and best tasting water in the world, with some 95% of its drinking water coming from springs. It is not treated with any chemicals because it is not necessary.
Icelandic sheep outnumber the country’s native human population by over 2.3-to-1 with over 800,000 of the unique breed.
The land surface of Iceland is primarily defined by its 130 volcanoes, 32 of which are currently active, creating its dramatic volcanic landscape of mountain ridges and extensive plateaus of moss-covered lava beds that meet the glacial rivers and ice.
Volcano eruptions are seen more as attractions rather than dangers causing people to flee. Earthquakes are generally minor and very infrequent.
Over 45 natural geothermal hot springs are spread across Iceland, and they are safe to swim in, even amidst freezing temperatures.
Swimming pools are very popular in Iceland, which has the highest number of naturally-heated pools per capita in the world. All of them are geothermally heated, and they are used year-round. In 1940, Iceland passed a law that made swimming lessons mandatory for school students in grades 1 to 10.
Iceland (which is a land mass) and Greenland (a vast body of ice) were purposely given their names by their Viking explorers trying to keep people away from Iceland which they began to settle in the 9th century.
The only native land mammal in Iceland is the Arctic fox.
One of the most serious environmental problems in Iceland is the loss of vegetation by wind erosion. Vegetation covers (in many areas only sparsely covers) only about 25% of Iceland’s land mass. (Government of Iceland – Icelandic Flora and Fauna)
About 40% of Iceland was forested prior to human settlement over 1,100 years ago, which was almost completely stripped for its lumber. But in 1908, the Iceland Forest Service was established to help reforest the country by planting new trees. As a result, Iceland slowly began replanting forests, achieving 2% reforestation today. Iceland’s goal is for 5% of its land to be covered by forests by 2070 and 12% by 2100.
Domestic animals by far outnumber the native Icelandic human population by over 3-to-1 Shell are the most populous domestic animals numbering ~800,000 followed by about 80,000 horses. Then there are the populations of dogs (58 different breeds including the popular Icelandic Sheepdog), cattle, chickens and rabbits, among others.
The Arctic Fox is the only native land animal living in Iceland. The Walrus was a native Iceland mammal but vanished soon after human settlement started around 874 C.E.
