ICELAND in 1996 (History and Geography)

Area : 102 950 km2 Highest point : Oeraefajökull 2 119 m Iceland is the country with the lowest population density in Europe, with more than 10 % of its surface covered by glaciers including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe (1000 m thick in places). The 200 active volcanoes recorded on Icelandic territory have provided a third of the world's production of lava for the last 500 years. There are some 800 hot water springs (approximately 75°C) permitting the Icelanders to grow tropical plants (bananas etc.).