Editing Economy of Iceland (section)

==Geography and resources==
Iceland occupies a land area of 103,000 square kilometers. It has a 4,790 kilometer coastline and a 200 nautical mile (370.4&nbsp;km) exclusive economic zone extending over 758,000 square kilometers of water. Approximately only 0.7% of Iceland's surface area is [[Arable land|arable]], since the island's terrain is mostly mountainous and volcanic.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sedlabanki.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=3363 | title=The Economy of Iceland | publisher=The Central Bank of Iceland | access-date=2006-06-22 | archive-date=2015-09-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100245/http://www.sedlabanki.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=3363 }}</ref>

Iceland has few proven [[mineral]] resources. In the past, deposits of [[sulphur]] have been mined, and [[diatomite]] (skeletal algae) was extracted from Lake [[Mývatn]] until recently. However, today most sulphur is obtained in the refining of oil. The diatomite plant has closed for environmental reasons. The only natural resource conversion in Iceland is the manufacture of [[cement]]. [[Concrete]] is widely used as building material, including for all types of residential housing.

By harnessing the abundant [[hydroelectric]] and [[Geothermal power|geothermal]] power sources, [[renewable energy in Iceland|Iceland's renewable energy industry]] provides close to 85% of all the nation's [[primary energy]]<ref name="Icelandic Energy Portal">{{Cite web|url=http://askjaenergy.org/iceland-introduction/energy-data/|title=Energy Data|work=Askja Energy - The Independent Icelandic Energy Portal|date=3 May 2012 |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> &ndash; proportionally more than any other country<ref>[http://www.iphe.net/IPHE%20Paris/Thursday%20Presentations/Iceland.pdf Presentation to the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627163008/http://www.iphe.net/IPHE%20Paris/Thursday%20Presentations/Iceland.pdf |date=2007-06-27 }}, ''Icelandic Ministry of Industry and Commerce & Ministry for Foreign Affairs'', published January 2005, accessed 2007-05-14</ref> &ndash; with 99.9% of Iceland's [[electricity]] being generated from renewables.

By far the largest of the many [[Icelandic hydroelectric power stations]] is [[Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant]] (690&nbsp;MW) in the area north of [[Vatnajökull]]. Other stations include Búrfell (270&nbsp;MW), Hrauneyjarfoss (210&nbsp;MW), Sigalda (150&nbsp;MW), Blanda (150&nbsp;MW), and more. Iceland has explored the feasibility of exporting hydroelectric energy via submarine cable to mainland Europe and also actively seeks to expand its power-intensive industries, including [[aluminium]] and [[ferro-silicon]] smelting plants.<ref>[https://askjaenergy.com/iceland-renewable-energy-sources/icelandic-power-plants/ "Power Plants".] November 10, 2011.</ref>