temperature than might be expected. At Reykjavik the annual mean 
temperature is + 4.1° C. (39.4 F.); the mean temperature in January, 
the coldest month of the year, is + 1.2° C., while in July, the warmest 
month of the year, it is 4 10.9° C. But the state of the weather 
is very unsettled, exhibiting not only sudden changes from day to day, 
but the same season may from year to year show great fluctuations in 
the weather conditions. 
The warm current of The Gulf Stream which, as a rule, encircles 
the land, has a marked influence on the climate. But as Iceland is situa- 
ted at the outer edge og the Gulf Stream, cold currents from the Polar 
basin occasionally touch its northern and, especially, its eastern coasts, 
imparting a great deal of chilliness to the weather. The Polar ice, too, 
has a considerable influence on the climate, for during the latter part 
of the winter and in spring it is always near the north-western coast 
of the land, and sometimes piled close against its shores. When this 
ice arrives in large masses or sheets, it blockades the harbours and 
considerably lowers the temperature. The floes are most frequently 
seen on the north, but sometimes also on the east coast, while to the 
southern shores and the west coast, farther south than the Lifrabjarg, 
they hardly ever come. From September to December Polar ice is 
rarely seen near the Icelandic coasts. 
As the country is very mountainous, there is rarely the same kind of 
weather all over it at one and the same time. Southerly winds are 
generally accompanied by precipitation in the south, by dry weather 
and warmth in the north. On the other hand, when the wind blows 
irom the north there is fair weather in the south, but cold and pre- 
cipitation in the north. In wintertime storms are frequent, and often rise 
fo a gale of wind, whereas calm weather is rare. In the south the annual 
precipitation in the lowlands amounts to 1300 mm., while it is still 
heavier in the mountains, or about 2000 mm. The north is much drier, 
with an annual precipitation not exceeding 300—400 mm. Fogs are 
rather frequent on the eastern and (though in a less degree) on the 
northern shores, while the southern and, especially, the western coasts 
have but few foggy days a vear. Thunderstorms are very rare. 
FLORA 
At the time of its colonization Iceland (i. e. the lowlands) was over- 
grown with birch wood, which by reckless waste and grazing, especi- 
ally by sheep, was gradually reduced to such a degree that only scat- 
lered remnants were left here and there. Buf of late steps have been