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Location:
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Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
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Geographic coordinates:
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62 00 N, 7 00 W
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Map references:
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europe
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Area:
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total: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
land: 1,399 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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eight times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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1,117 km
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Maritime claims:
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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
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Climate:
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mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
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Terrain:
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rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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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
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