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The surface of Iceland east of 102.950 km2 (three times that of Belgium for 280.000 hab.), is 500 km of is in west and 300 km (maximum) of north in the south. In 1963, Iceland gained 2,5 km2 following a volcanic eruption which gave rise to a new island of the archipelago of Vestmann. The volcanic activity is not that benefit, in 1973 in the island close to Heimaey, a volcano suddenly awoke after 6000 years of sleep to almost completely bury the capital of the island. There was only one victim, the other inhabitants of the island were evacuated.
Livable surface represents less than 20% of the territory, mainly the coastal areas. The interior of the country, deprived of road, is quasi deserted. Approximately 10% of the territory are covered with lava (Iceland has some 200 active volcanos), 11% is covered with ice (Iceland has the largest glacier of Europe: Vatnajokull larger than all the other joined together European glaciers)… The three quarters of the country are deprived of vegetation. The climax is the mount Hrannadelshnúkur (2119 m).
Iceland is an island, it has between 5000 and 6000 km of coasts. Iceland thus does not have a terrestrial border with its neighbors.
Reykjavik is located at 2.475 km of Bergen (Norway), 3.184 km of Paris, 6.517 km of New York, 287 km of Greenland, 789 km of Scotland.
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