Why is Iceland so popular? 20 Exotic Facts about Iceland Country

Iceland country, whose name translates as “the land of ice”, is located on the island of the same name. Few travelers get to this harsh region, although it is quite beautiful and not as cold as it seems. The standard of living in Iceland is very high, in 2007 it received the title of the best country to live in.

Birthplace of Parliament – Iceland :

The birthplace of the parliament is not England at all, but Iceland. It was here that the althing (translated from Icelandic as “general assembly”) began to gather since 930. The first meeting was held in the Tingvedlir Valley, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beware of Volcano – Iceland :

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active zones on the planet. There are about 125 volcanic mountains on the island, among which there are active ones.

Foxes live in Iceland :

Only arctic foxes can be found among wild animals. It is also worth noting that there are absolutely no amphibians and reptiles on the island.

Most Peaceful Country – Iceland :

There is no permanent army in Iceland, so only 0.1% of the budget funds go to its maintenance. The police don’t even have a gun with them! This country has repeatedly been recognized as the most peaceful country.

The homeland for Writers – Iceland :

Iceland values its language and literary traditions, which go back to the ancient sagas. The tradition of writing books has been preserved here to this day, Icelandic authors publish more books per capita than in other countries.

Crazy Strange facts about Iceland Country :

The first Vikings visited Iceland in the 800s, which makes it a fairly young country compared to other European countries. When King Harald the Fair-Haired united Norway by 870, many residents of the country fled to the Icelandic island. The first settlement was founded by a noble Norwegian Ingolf Arnarson.

The horses that now live in Iceland are the descendants of the first horses that arrived with the Norwegians from the mainland. This makes them unique animals.

Iceland is one of the two places in the world where two tectonic plates diverge above the Earth’s surface. This place is called the Silfra Rift, which is part of the Tingvedlir National Park.

Surprisingly, another part of the country is covered with ice. Here is the largest glacier not only in the country but also throughout Europe. The Vatnayekull ice cap is located in an area of 8130 km2.

The amazing nature of Iceland is famous for the fact that there are practically no forests here. Before the Vikings settled, birch forests grew here, but the Norwegians cut down almost all the groves.

Iceland is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world.

Iceland is also one of several countries where whaling is still carried out. Although a moratorium on whaling was introduced in 1986, Iceland continues to do so.

Iceland covers an area of slightly more than 100 thousand square kilometers, which is approximately equal to the American state of Kentucky.

Icelanders do not have a surname in the traditional sense. They most often use only first names, even in the phone book of subscribers they write down without last names. The surnames of the inhabitants of Iceland are more similar in meaning to the patronymics in Russian: the father’s name + an indication that a particular person is his son or daughter.

That is why there is a special attitude to names in Iceland. There is a list of allowed names that are approved by the government. If an Icelander wants to give a child a name not from the list, you will need to get the approval of the Committee.

Iceland has a rather specific cuisine, mainly consisting of seafood. Various types of spicy, fried, salted, pickled fish and pickled meat, and even volcanic bread.

According to statistics, about 80% of Icelanders believe in the existence of elves and trolls. The beliefs are so strong that some roads have been changed in the direction to avoid the rocks. It is believed that fairy-tale creatures live in them, so it is better not to disturb the stones.

Facts about Iceland for Kids :

In Iceland, it is legally prohibited to have a turtle, snake, or lizard as a pet.

There is no railway system in Iceland at all.

Less than 1% of the soil in Iceland is suitable for plowing.

There are very few insects in Iceland and absolutely no mosquitoes. They don’t exist on the island at all!

More than 60% of the population lives in Reykjavik and the cities close to it. The total population of the capital and satellite cities is 202 thousand people.

Even though the Icelandic language is very close to Danish and Norwegian, it is unique. After several centuries, it remained close to the original version and practically did not change.

Conclusion :

Hope you enjoyed the crazy facts and strange pieces of information about Iceland Country.

If you are looking for peaceful cold places then Iceland must be on your list.

Don’t stop Enjoy Keep reading, I have picked some more interesting articles for you.

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