It is mainly a plateau where the highest peak is the Öraefajökull volcano at 2,119 meters above sea level.
There are over 200 volcanoes, which have produced a third of all lava on earth since the year 1500 A.D. and numerous glaciers, the largest being Vatnajökull, 5,226 km2 in area. Iceland also has a great number of geysers and over 250 thermal springs.
The climate is humid, with windy winters and fresh summers.
The population is descended from Scandinavian, Scottish and Irish colonists, and its density is one of the lowest in Europe.
Iceland’s economy rests primarily on industrial fish processing.
