The world is composed of numerous countries and it is just amazing how each one has something unique to offer. But some countries are a bit more unusual than others. And one of them is Iceland.
Source: Unsplash
Tourists who get to visit Iceland always feel fascinated by its geothermal and natural beauty. But what blows their mind the most is the eccentric and almost otherwordly lifestyle they have in Iceland. Read on to know what makes Iceland, unlike any other country.
Iceland has more than a hundred volcanoes
There are 130 volcanoes in Iceland and there are 32 active volcanic systems. The most common type of volcano that you can find on the island is the stratovolcano, which is the classic cone-shaped peak with a crater on top.
Source: Herald Weekly
Iceland sits right on the tectonic plates that separated North America and Eurasia. These plates are still in constant motion, causing the volcanoes on the island to erupt from time to time.
Swimming between tectonic plates
Iceland is the only place in the whole world where you can swim between two tectonic plates. Some gaps are so narrow that you can even touch both sides at the same time. We wonder what happens if you happen to be swimming around the area and an earthquake strikes?
Source: Herald Weekly
What makes this experience more unique is the fact that touching the two tectonic plates puts you in a position where you are touching two continents at once. Plus, the area also has the cleanest water in the world.
Dogs were banned
Now before dog lovers start reacting violently, this happened a long time ago and it was done for a good reason. Dogs were banned in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital because they were disease carriers.
Source: Herald Weekly
This ban happened from 1924 to 1984. During this time there was a tapeworm issue going around and dogs were discovered to be the carriers. Tapeworms are very dangerous because they caused a wide variety of intestinal issues and sometimes led to death. Ever since the ban was lifted, Reykjavik residents had to apply for permits to own a dog.
Iceland is home to the fountain of youth
Iceland is home to the famous Blue Lagoon, a man-made geothermal pool said to have a lot of health benefits. The best thing about it is that when you take a dip and spread silica mud on your skin, you can improve your skin and prevent premature aging, which is why the Blue Lagoon is called the fountain of youth.
Source: Herald Weekly
The famous spa and geothermal pool is a part of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark and is located about 45 minutes away from the city of Reykjavik. It is open all year round and the waters remain warm no matter what season it is.
Icelanders do not have surnames
Did you know that Icelanders have no family names or surnames? A majority of them have a patronymic last name, wherein they carry their father’s first name and adds a suffix for son or daughter.
Source: Herald Weekly
When women get married, they also do not change their names. Last names are no big deal at all since everyone calls each other by their first name – no matter what profession or social status they have.
Baby names are a big deal
If last names are no big deal for Icelanders, baby names are a different thing. Naming your baby is such a serious thing that the government is actually involved in the process. We are not kidding!
Source: Herald Weekly
There is a strict rule that all names must conform to the Icelandic language and there is an official registry of approved names. If the baby name you want is not on the list, you have to request permission from the official “Naming Committee” of Iceland.
There is an elf school in Iceland
Elves are a big deal when it comes to Icelandic mythology and folklore. And some Icelanders are open to the possibility that elves are real. You can find tiny houses in some areas of Iceland, created for these elves.
Source: Herald Weekly
In the city of Reykjavik, you can find an Elf school that offers lectures on the folklore and myths of Iceland. They also offer guided tours. According to the school, there are 13 different kinds of elves in Iceland.
No to wishing wells
Wishing wells are always a pleasure to see. The concept is simple – throw in some coins and make a wish. Some even believe that it could give you good luck. But for a country where elves are a big deal, you will find it surprising that the idea of wishing wells are not tolerated.
Source: Herald Weekly
Signs like this one are put up everywhere to warn tourists. Come to think of it, it does make sense. Coins are just polluting the area – might as well give your loose change to charity as the sign suggests.
Iceland does hot dogs differently
Icelanders have a huge thing for hot dogs. And there is a good reason for it because they do hot dogs differently over there. Once you’ve had a taste of the famous Iceland hot dog, you probably would never see hot dogs in the same way again.
Source: Herald Weekly
This is because the hot dogs in Iceland are made out of lamb meat. The hot dog is then paired with Iceland’s style of ketchup, with is made with apples or if you want, sweet mustard. The hot dog is then topped off with crispy or raw onions, regular ketchup, and apple slices.
Iceland has unrealistic beaches
The beaches in Iceland are out of this world. It would make you feel like you are on another planet. The beaches of Reynisfjara in particular have striking black sand and the shoreline has geometric basalt cliffs scattered all over it.
Source: Herald Weekly
Iceland is simmering with volcanic activity, which makes some of the shore lines in the country completely black. The black sand is a volcanic rock that has been ground down over the years.
Iceland has only one native land mammal
Did you know that out of all the land mammals roaming in the country, only one is a true native to the land? This creature is the arctic fox, which is also referred to as the snow fox, white fox, or polar fox.
Source: Herald Weekly
You might be expecting a fox with fur as white as snow but as you can see from this picture, the arctic fox is not always white. The colors of their fur would change along with the season.
Icelanders bake bread on the ground
Icelanders have “lava bread” or “volcano bread.” This is rye bread that is baked underground where there are hot volcanic sands. This is one treat that you must try if you visit the country.
Source: Herald Weekly
This tradition of using hot ground as an oven has been going on for generations. With ground temperatures hot enough to bake bread, this is proof that the geothermal activity in Iceland is unmatched.
Dating is tough in Iceland
Iceland is a small island nation with under half a million citizens. And with most families staying on the island all their lives, dating can be difficult for the locals. This is because there is a huge chance you could be related to anyone.
Source: Herald Weekly
So, a group of college students created an app for Icelanders so that they could screen out their potential dates and make sure they avoid an uncomfortable reality. The app is called “ÍslendingaApp” and is also known as “Book of Icelanders.”
Sheep outnumbers humans in Iceland
Another thing that makes Iceland stand out is the fact that the sheep population is more than double the human population in the country. It is a fascinating fact that always blows the minds of tourists.
Source: Herald Weekly
But aside from the fact that Iceland has fewer people in it compared to other countries, the sheep population makes sense. With low temperatures happening most of the year, Icelanders need all the wool sweaters and blankets that they can get. Having a lot of sheep around ensures they do not run out.
Trees are planted on graves
Some Icelanders practice an old Norse tradition when it comes to burying their loved ones. This tradition is planting trees on the graves of their loved ones. A great example is the tree-filled Hólavallagarður cemetery in Reykjavik.
Source: Herald Weekly
The Hólavallagarður cemetery was originally a Viking burial ground. When relatives plant trees on the graves and the trees grow, people place their hands on the trees and feel that they are connected to their loved ones who have passed away.
Iceland has the most unique clouds
The polar stratospheric clouds are one of Iceland’s most mesmerizing attractions. These are the type of clouds that happen only in winter when Iceland experiences high latitudes and low temperatures.
Source: Herald Weekly
What makes them so amazing is the fact that these polar stratospheric clouds paint iridescent pastel hues on Iceland’s sky. For some winter tourists, witnessing these clouds can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Books are a traditional Christmas gift in Iceland
Books are a big deal in Iceland. Icelanders have a Christmas tradition called “Jólabókaflóð” which translates into “Christmas book flood.” In this tradition, everyone gets a book for Christmas.
Source: Herald Weekly
Icelanders love literature. It is a country full of bookworms. To prove that, Iceland holds one of the highest rates for books per capita despite being a small island with less than half a million citizens.
Iceland has a sword road
Vikings settled in Iceland in the 9th century. In honor of their sword-wielding descendants, the Sword road was created. As the name suggests, this is a road that looks like a sword from above.
Source: Herald Weekly
You can find this unique road in the Snaefellsnes peninsula, which is in the northern part of Reykjavik. It definitely makes a pretty aerial shot. This road leads to a lot of tourist sights so it is unlikely that you would miss it.
Horses are not allowed to return once they leave Iceland
The horses from Iceland are considered to be very special and quite expensive since they are the world’s purest breed. Although Icelandic horses are mostly pony-sized, they are known to have a long lifespan.
Source: Pixabay
Icelandic horses are bred in an isolated manner for thousands of years. In order not to change that, there is a strict protocol that once an Icelandic horse leaves the island, they are no longer allowed to return and mingle with the Icelandic horses.
Icelander babies take their naps outdoors
While the rest of the world keeps their babies indoors as much as possible, in Iceland, it is not uncommon to see babies taking their naps outdoors. It is a common tradition in Scandinavian countries.
Source: Herald Weekly
This Scandinavian tradition comes from the belief that the fresh air will help ward away illness. Sleep experts say that the cold air in the country can even help babies get better sleep quality.
There are no mosquitoes in Iceland
Mosquitoes are pesky insects that leave painful and itchy bites. Not only that but they can be disease carriers too. If you hate mosquitoes, you will be glad to know that there is not a single mosquito in Iceland.
Source: Pixabay
This is because Iceland’s low temperatures make it impossible for mosquitoes to live there. However, Iceland has 1,300 types of insects and some of them can be just as annoying as mosquitoes.
Iceland has the largest banana plantation in Europe
This fact surprises people because most of them think bananas can only grow in the tropics. But thanks to their use of geothermal energy, it is possible for Iceland to grow bananas locally.
Source: Herald Weekly
The Icelandic Agricultural University can harvest up to 4,500 pounds of bananas each year. Technically, Spain’s banana plantations in the Canary Islands grow more than that number but they are not located in Europe so Iceland bags the title.
Iceland has the largest glacier in Europe
The largest glacier in Europe is the Vatnajökull, which means “water glacier,” and it covers 8% of the island’s total land mass. It is believed that there are ravines, mountains, and dormant volcanoes somewhere beneath the dense layer of ice.
Source: Herald Weekly
The famous glacier is a part of Vatnajökull National Park, which was founded in 2008. You can find this park in the southwest part of Iceland. Unfortunately, the glacier is melting due to climate change – the good news is that it is not shrinking and melting at an alarming rate yet so tourists can still enjoy it for a good number of years.
Marriage is not a big deal in Iceland
Iceland seems to be a small, traditional, and conservative country. But it turns out they are not as traditional when it comes to conventions and customs since getting married is not that popular in Iceland.
Source: Herald Weekly
The majority of the babies in Iceland are born to unwed parents. This could be scandalous to other countries but in this Arctic state, it is the norm. And it is no big deal! Could this be an effect of them not having last names?
There is no McDonald’s in Iceland
McDonald’s is a fast food chain that you can usually find in every country but Iceland is one of the few that does not have one. There was a time when McDonald’s came to the country but the last one closed in 2009 and a new one has not opened up since then.
Source: Herald Weekly
The fast food chain closed down in Iceland because of a financial crisis. It turned out to be too expensive to run a McDonald’s store in the area because they had to import a lot of menu items.
Aurora borealis alert
Most tourists go to Iceland to witness the northern lights or the aurora borealis. After all, this is a natural event that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Naturally, you would not want to miss it on your trip.
Source: Herald Weekly
Hotel establishments in Iceland offer an additional service where the hotel staff will alert you if the northern lights make an appearance. This way, you do not have to waste a good night’s sleep waiting around for the aurora borealis to show up.
Iceland is the best country for gender equality
Iceland stands out in the world for being recognized as the best country for gender equality. A recognition that Iceland has held for nine years straight. Women in the country are enjoying a lot of opportunities and accomplishments.
Source: Herald Weekly
The women in Iceland are supported by a progressive-right movement. A lot of women in the country are enjoying success as business owners. There are also a lot of success stories involving female Icelanders.
The world’s first female president is from Iceland
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was elected as Iceland’s fourth President, making her the first democratically elected female President of the country. Her victory also had her making a mark in world history as the first female president in the world.
Source: Herald Weekly
Finnbogadóttir’s win happened during Iceland’s 1980 presidential campaign. She ran against three male candidates and won with 33.6% of the votes. Finnbogadóttir did such a good job that when she ran again after her term, she had more than 90% of the votes.
Iceland does not have an army
Another interesting fact about this country is that it does not have an army, which is quite surprising given its Viking background. In case something happens, Iceland will depend on the defense capabilities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Source: Pixabay
The closest thing Iceland has to an army is its coast guard. And the only biggest conflict the coast guard has ever seen was the “Cod wars” with the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. Iceland won the dispute and got its fishing rights. No other country has challenged them yet so far.
The police in Iceland are not armed
Iceland does not have an army but they still do have its police forces. And strangely, their police do not have any weapons or firearms. This is because the police have found they have no use for these weapons when carrying out their duties.
Source: Herald Weekly
The crime rate in Iceland is so low and violent crimes are almost non-existent. Their most “dangerous year” so far was back in 2017 when they had four murders. Because of this, it is not a surprise that Iceland is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world.
Iceland’s business hours
While the rest of the world has shops closing way beyond dinner time, Iceland stores operate differently. Business hours in this country often come as a surprise to tourists. So if you plan to do some shopping in Iceland, pay attention.
Source: Herald Weekly
Most of the stores close their doors at 5 PM and then open at 9 AM. Just like your regular office hours. A store that remains open beyond 5 PM usually will charge late-hour customers a higher price.
Hearts in traffic lights
When you drive around the town of Akureyri in Iceland, tourists often get surprised when they see the red stop light. This is because it is in the shape of a heart. This happens to be a little way the town of Akureyri wanted to lift the mood.
Source: Herald Weekly
You see, the heart fixtures were installed in 2008. At that time, Iceland was going through a devastating economic crash. The red heart traffic light serves as a reminder to everybody to stay positive despite the country’s economic situation.
Iceland is home to numerous glacial rivers
Part of Iceland’s raw and natural beauty is its beautiful and ancient glacial rivers. The bejeweled waters come from Iceland’s glaciers and the runoff has been carving the landscape for centuries.
Source: Herald Weekly
Glacier rivers are also called “rivers of ice.” Most of Iceland’s glacial rivers often journey toward the Atlantic Ocean. The largest glacial river in Iceland is the Kúðafljót, which can be found in the southern part of the island.
Icelanders love their ice cream
Normally, you would expect people surrounded by ice to be fond of hot food. But it turns out that Icelanders love eating ice cream no matter how low the temperature gets. They have a dedicated word for eating ice cream.
Source: Pixabay
The word is “ísbíltúr” and it means “ice cream car trip” because Icelanders love to eat this sweet treat while going for a long drive. Would you want to eat ice cream under the coldest conditions?
Iceland thrives on sustainable energy
Tired of your high and ever-increasing electricity bill? Consider moving to Iceland. Electricity prices are so low on the island, it is almost as good as free to our standards. Icelanders are definitely enjoying cheap power.
Source: Herald Weekly
This is because most of Iceland’s power production comes from renewable energy sources like geothermal power and hydropower. The country is a leading force for sustainable energy.
Iceland is the smallest nation in the World Cup
Football fans may know this little Iceland fact already. Iceland is the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. The team’s nickname is “Strákarnir okkar” which means “our boys” in Icelandic.
Source: Herald Weekly
And Iceland’s team is not made up of players who have been training most of their life for the sport. Most of the players have regular day jobs from farmers to dentists. Despite this, their team is actually good.
There are no private health insurance and hospitals in Iceland
Iceland is one of the few countries in the entire world that can boast of its healthcare system and everything is paid for with their taxes. Icelanders can get services in the hospital for free.
Source: Herald Weekly
The Icelandic healthcare system is recognized as the world’s second-best healthcare system. This is according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in The Lancet. The system is just so good there is no need for private hospitals or health insurance.
Icelandic kids learn three languages in school
Aside from their native Icelandic tongue, students are also taught the Danish and English languages in school. Tourists are impressed with the fact that Icelanders speak English well.
Source: Herald Weekly
It is estimated that 80% of the kids in Iceland can understand basic English. The fact that they are trained at a young age to learn multiple languages makes it easier for Icelandic adults to learn more languages later on.
It is hard to learn the Icelandic language
While most of Iceland’s citizens can speak multiple languages, there are only a few foreigners that can boast of speaking Icelandic. This is because the Icelandic language is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world.
Source: Pixabay
People will be impressed with your ambition and hard work if you are determined to learn the language. The Icelandic language is known for its archaic vocabulary and complex grammar rules.
A majority of Iceland is uninhabited
If you are looking for a vacation getaway that is far from the crowds, Iceland is the destination for you – especially if you are the type who appreciates nature and the great outdoors. Because of its unique topography, only 20% of the island is inhabited by humans.
Source: Pixabay
This leaves a lot of remote and uninhabited areas to explore. But it is always recommended that you explore these areas with a local tour guide. You would not want to get lost in these remote areas since most of them have zero phone service available.
Agriculture in Iceland
Due to the unique land and weather conditions of Iceland, only 1% of the island is considered suitable for growing crops. But the harsh climates and restricted growing conditions did not stop Iceland’s farmers from finding ways to produce crops locally.
Source: Herald Weekly
Farmers can grow a variety of food crops such as potatoes. carrots, cabbage, turnips, cauliflower. and kale. They are also able to grow subtropical crops like peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers thanks to greenhouses heated with geothermal energy.
Iceland has a pledge for all tourists
Iceland is a beautiful country so it is no surprise that it gets a lot of tourists. The country gets over 2 million tourists every year. And while Icelanders want everyone to enjoy and have a good time, they also want tourists to respect their land.
Source: Herald Weekly
So, this Icelandic pledge was specifically created for all visitors. It stands as a reminder for all tourists to be responsible. Tourists go through this pledge when they arrive. It does help most of them manage their expectations too.