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 situated
 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 precipitation
 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 overgrown
 with birch wood, which by reckless waste and grazing, especially
 by sheep, was gradually reduced to such a degree that only scatlered
 remnants were left here and there. Buf of late steps have been