Words by

Jóhannes Bjarkason

Photo by

Prime Minister's Office

The United Nations Continental Shelf Commission has formally approved Iceland’s rights and sovereignty of the Icelandic continental shelf. The approval marks the end of a 25-year-long process pursued by Icelandic authorities, RÚV reports.

The Icelandic continental shelf extends 570 nautical miles southwest of the Reykjanes Peninsula and reaches 370 nautical miles beyond Iceland’s territorial waters.

Foreign Minister and Liberal Reform MP Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said the acknowledgement to be a successful conclusion for Iceland. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, natural resources found in the continental shelf include oil, gas, precious metals, and geothermal energy.