Page last updated on February 21,

Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway

Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 1,393 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 183
land: 1,393 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
1,117 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:
arable land: 2.14%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 97.86% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

Geography - note:
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands