20 Fun and Interesting Facts About Iceland
The Land of Fire and Ice has become a tourism darling in the past couple of years – and for good reason: Iceland is an incredible country, with features that you won't find anywhere else in the world.
I took my first trip to Iceland back in 2012, expecting to find a Scandinavian country with some cool scenery. And while I DID find those things in Iceland, I discovered that the country was full of surprises of all sorts that I hadn't been expecting.
These unique features are a big part of what has taken me back to Iceland more than once! (I've visited a total of 3 times, in fact.)
While definitely European/Scandinavian in nature, the country of Iceland is unique in so many ways that I felt its quirkiness deserved an entire post of its own. From elves and trolls to glaciers and volcanoes, here are 20 fun Iceland facts that make it the incredibly cool country that it is.
Here's a cool video from Iceland
20 Fun Facts About Iceland
1. Viking Ties
Iceland was settled by Vikings from Norway sometime in the 800s. This fact makes Iceland a fairly “young” country when it comes to settlement, and also contributes to its distinct cultural background. The Icelandic horses in the country today are unique in the fact that they are direct descendants from the horses the Vikings first brought over from mainland Europe.
RELATED: The Horses of Iceland
And a bonus fun fact for you: The Vikings are the ones who gave both Iceland and Greenland their names, purposefully mis-naming them both so that their enemies would hopefully go to ice-covered Greenland instead of following them to where they actually settled in Iceland.
2. First Parliament
Iceland is home to the very first parliament grounds in Europe. In the year 930 AD, the first Parliament met in Iceland in what is today Þingvellir National Park. The site has since been dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its cultural, historical, and geographical significance.
3. Tectonic Plates
The “geographical significance” part of Þingvellir being dubbed a UNESCO site is due to the fact that this is one of only TWO places in the entire world where you can see two of the earth's tectonic plates meeting above the earth's surface (the other is in Africa). The North American and Eurasian plates jut up out of the ground here in Þingvellir, moving apart roughly 2 cm per year.
You can even go diving/snorkeling between the plates in nearby Þingvallavatn Lake.
RELATED: Iceland's Golden Circle
4. Volcanoes
Because it's located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland is an incredibly active country geologically. There are more than 125 volcanic mountains in the country, a handful of which are still very active, and another handful that could easily awaken and become active as the country changes and grows.
Iceland experiences a volcanic eruption roughly once every 4 years, though the past few years have seen one eruption or more each year (we all remember Eyjafjallajokull, right?). Because of this constant activity, a good portion of Iceland is covered in lava fields.
5. Hot springs for all
Because of all the volcanic activity going on beneath Iceland, the country is filled with geothermal activity – and hot springs.
There are a couple famous commercial thermal pools and baths in Iceland (like the famous Blue Lagoon near the airport and the Mývatn Nature Baths further north) that are man-made but filled with natural geothermal water. And then there are the “wild” hot springs that people swim in that come in all different forms from small pools to heated rivers.
And in Iceland, these hot springs and pool are used year-round, even during the winter months.
RELATED: Relaxing at Iceland's Blue Lagoon
6. Eco-Friendly
Iceland is perhaps the most eco-friendly country I know of. And the kicker is, they don't even have to try very hard. Because the whole country is essentially “alive” with volcanic activity, the nation harnesses hydro and geothermal energy to power more than 80% of the country.
Very few fossil fuels are burned here (there are even some hydrogen buses driving around Reykjavik!), and most homes are heated using geothermal water that's pumped up from beneath cities and towns.
7. Glaciers
Surprisingly, another large section of Iceland (11%) is covered in glaciers. Glaciers are responsible for carving out everything in Iceland that hasn't been shaped by magma and earthquakes, making for a landscape more unique than any other country I've visited.
RELATED: Chasing Ice and Battling Mother Nature in Iceland
8. No Forests
Iceland was formed by some pretty harsh phenomena: volcanoes and glaciers. Much of the country was carved out by slow-moving glaciers, chewing up the land and gouging deep valleys into it.
But, contrary to popular belief, trees DO grow in Iceland. However, when the Vikings arrived, they forested the crap out of it, cutting down almost all the native tress in the country. Today, reforestation is being attempted, but you'll still definitely notice the lack of forests when you visit.
9. No mosquitos
Speaking of things that Iceland is lacking… the country is devoid of creepy crawlies like snakes and poisonous spiders. The island is also free from mosquitos. Scientists are puzzled by why mosquitos are missing from Iceland, but I somehow don't think anybody misses them!
Unfortunately, Iceland DOES still have biting midges (sand flies), which can sometimes be even worse than mosquitos.
10. Preserved Language
While very close to Danish and Norwegian, the Icelandic language remains totally unique. Words with far too many consonants abound, and syllables seem to just blur together.
Unlike other languages that have changed drastically over the centuries, Icelandic remains very close to its original roots. A Bible from the early 1500s (the first one printed in Icelandic, which can be found in a folk museum in Skógar) can still easily be read by Icelanders today.
Not unsurprisingly, the Iceland language has a lot of words to describe weather – including more than 150 different ways to describe wind.
11. Elves and Trolls
The majority of present-day Icelanders (more than 50%, I was told) believe in the existence of fantastical beings such as elves and trolls. There are many amusing stories and legends about these creatures, and Icelanders go so far as to postpone construction projects if it's believed that something is going to be built where elves currently live.
Large fallen rocks in fields are said to be frozen trolls, and one guide told us that the smell present in Iceland isn't from sulphur at all — it's the smell of the trolls' dirty bath water.
12. No McDonald's
As astonishing as it sounds, Iceland is one of the few countries I've been to where McDonald's restaurants do not exist! Yes, you can find KFC and even Taco Bell in Reykjavik, but forget about picking up a Big Mac or some Chicken McNuggets — you won't find them here! In fact, Reykjavík is the only capital city in Western Europe without a McDonald's.
McDonalds DID open a restaurant in Reykjavik back in the 1990s, but the chain was not popular enough to survive and pulled out, never to return.
13. Weird Foods
Iceland makes up for its lack of fast food with its bevy of interesting traditional foods. Along with things like whale, puffin, and dried fish, visitors can also try fermented shark, sheep's head, and even pickled ram's testicles. The even weirder part is that some of these dishes can be found in just about ANY kind of restaurant in Iceland (including a Mexican place that advertised “traditional Icelandic dishes”).
Oh, and the most popular food in Iceland? Hot dogs.
14. Commercial Whaling
Fishing is Iceland's main industry, and the nation remains one of just a few in the world that still allows commercial whaling. This, of course, is quite controversial, and has caused tension between the peaceful country and other nations.
15. Beer is cherished
Iceland celebrates Beer Day (Bjórdagurinn) each year on March 1. This is to celebrate that fact that beer is once again legal in Iceland. From January 1, 1915 to March 1, 1989 (that's 74 years!), beer was banned in the country.
The 1915 ban was much like Prohibition in the United States, and banned all alcohol in Iceland. Restrictions were lifted on some alcohol as time passed, with things like wine and liquor legal again by the 1930s. But it took a lot longer for the country to allow beer again.
Today, there are lots of microbreweries in Iceland (just like in most other countries), and you can even relax in a beer spa close to Akureyri in northern Iceland.
16. Small Population
The entire country of Iceland (which covers roughly the same area as the U.S. state of Kentucky) only holds a population of a little over 300,000 (as opposed to Kentucky, which has a population of more than 4.3 million). This small population makes for a largely rural country, and a capital city which feels like a really big small town.
17. It's all in the name
Like some other Scandinavian cultures with Viking histories, name conventions in Iceland are a little different. There are no traditional surnames here; instead, Icelandic people have patronymic last names, with their last names deriving from their's father's name. This is why almost all Icelanders' last names end in either -son or -dottir (daughter).
And, speaking of names, Iceland has a “naming committee” that keeps an official register of approved Icelandic names. There are many names that are banned, and anyone wanting to name their child something that's not already on the list has to submit it for approval.
18. Very little crime
There is little crime in Iceland, and virtually no violent crime. The country does not have a standing army, and its police officers do not carry guns.
19. A nation of book lovers
Along with having a high proportion of published authors (roughly 1 in 10 people in Iceland will publish a book, according to the BBC), the country has is home to one of my favorite holiday traditions – and it involves books.
The day before Christmas in most parts of the world is simply known as Christmas Eve. But in Iceland, it's more than that: it's the day on which family members exchange books as gifts, and spend the evening reading them.
There are so many new books published in Iceland before the holidays each year that there's a word for it: Jólabókaflóðið, or the Christmas book flood.
20. Northern Lights and Midnight Sun
Being located very close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland experiences long winter nights and long summer days, with almost 24 hours of darkness/twilight in December and nearly 24 hours of daylight in June.
Because of this, Iceland is a great place to see both the Northern Lights and experience the Midnight Sun. Though, both of these can be made difficult to see thanks to Iceland's ever-changing weather.
RELATED: 12 Crazy But Cool Things You Can See in Iceland
Practical Iceland info
Thinking of planning your own trip to Iceland? Here are a few tips:
How to get to Iceland: Iceland is just a 4- or 5-hour flight from the East Coast of the US, or about 3 hours from the UK. There are multiple airlines that fly there, including some budget airlines.
Where to stay in Iceland: Reykjavik is a great base, especially in the winter months since most tours start and end there. I recommend the Rey Apartments for both location and coziness (plus, having a small kitchen helps cut down on food costs!).
Book your accommodation in Iceland:
Booking.comWhat to pack for Iceland: Essentials for winter include silk leggings and a thermal shirt, warm socks like Heat Holders, a waterproof outer layer (I like my Columbia ski pants), and some winter hiking boots. (And I recommend most of these no matter what season you're visiting!)
And if you're visiting Iceland in summer? You'll definitely still want warm layers, a good rain jacket, and waterproof hiking boots.
Check out my complete Iceland packing list for more suggestions!
Read more about Iceland:
- Tours Worth Paying for in Iceland (and When to Save Your Money)
- 12 Crazy But Cool Things You Can See in Iceland
- A 10-Day Itinerary for Iceland in Winter (Without Renting a Car)
- 48 Hours in Reykjavik
Which of these Iceland facts surprised you the most?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Hi! I just returned from a photography workshop in Iceland! I was astounded by this country. I’ve started a new website and my first blog post will be about Iceland! I enjoyed reading these fun facts and the photos you took! Great job!
Ooo, a photography workshop in Iceland would be amazing!
The fact about the mountains isn’t really true… All mountains are volcanic, but there are two types of them; First, the ones that form as volcanic eruptions under glaciers but don’t manage to break their way through the ice, then the glacier eventually melts and after stands a mountain with near vertical slopes and a flat top due to the movement of the glacier. Sure, the glacier helps giving the mountain it’s shape, and it might even possibly eventually divide one mass of a mountain into two mountains, creating a fjord, but they are still mountains. The mountain was there but couldn’t be seen until the glacier was gone. The second type of mountains are the ones created by eruption after the Ice age glacier cap had melted, usually erupting on fissures, hence sometimes creating valleys , as the volcanoes are often parallel to each other, erupting on a wide area of fissures that cross the entire island due to the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Mountains can be created by a) Clash of the tectonic plates (like Alps, Himalayas, Andes) or b) Volcanic activity… just saying… :-þ
Thanks for the science lesson!
I have a four day stopover on my way to Europe in April. I can’t wait!
Whoohoo! I hope you love it! I’m actually considering a stopover myself on my way to Europe this summer… we’ll see, though!
6. No Mountains ???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mountains_of_Iceland
Sure you (and Wikipedia) can call them mountains. But Iceland was actually shaped by glaciers! So, technically, there are only valleys and then the higher land that wasn’t scraped away by the ice (the “mountains”).
i plan to go there one day. i live in florida and own a lawn service. with all those gorgeous girls there i may not want to come back. i think america is losing out and is becoming 3rd world. i see on the news kids in school with no food or home im so sick of it here. but…how will i import my dodge ram hemi 4×4 to iceland?
You might just have to buy a new truck in Iceland. 😉
[…] warm for Spring Break, I decided to go in another direction — north again, this time to Iceland. The Land of Fire and Ice has been on my radar for quite a few years, and I decided that 2012 would […]
Ah, love it! Can’t wait to visit Iceland – another one on the list for next year for sure. Thanks for all the great tips.
You will have the best time! Even with crappy weather, I loved traveling there!
One of the top 5 most photogenic countries in the world per head of population…true story.
I believe it!
Iceland used to have a McDonalds but then lost it because (I think) the price of ingredients was just too much, it would have made it very expensive so finally they closed a few years ago.
I’m sure they are better off.
I’m sure they are better off, too. 😉
I’m from iceland and mcdonalds had been here for a long time and made a lot of money and had 3-5 outposts here but the guy who owned the rights invested in the wrong companys and went broke but now his girlfriend owns one of the places and it’s called metro and is alot like mcdonalds!
But I think people should stop freaking out over the whailing since the whale population around iceland is rising and we are not killing that many of them the nation that actually kills the most whales is usa and we dont complain about that we hunt whales for food (somebody wonderd what else we do with them, dont know what he means but we did send keiko to the usa who went on to star in free willy, no need to thank us) and our hunting of whales is sustainable! Ok they are beutiful animals and very majestic but so are bulls (male cows) and they are sacred in india but the people that hate whaling dont say much about geneticaly mutated cows and chickens! That’s worse from my point of view
Just look at how sheeps and cows are raised in iceland walking around in open nature and cared for with almost complete freedome! That’s why our food is so damn good and when you see this then you can say we are cruel to animals! 🙂 and yeah I know some whalers they respect the whales and are more like the old native americans! It’s not a whaling blood bath like some would like you to think
Thanks for sharing such unique insight, Gosi!! Interesting about the McDonald’s… I actually love that you don’t have any there!
I had no idea that Free Willy came from Iceland! That’s awesome. 😉
I agree with you on almost everything, but the USA doesn’t actually kill the most whales. It is actually Japan.
McDonald’s went out of business in Iceland like 2 years ago. They were popular but they required them to ship everything in from Germany, instead of locally, and it was too expensive. They also had Burger King at one time, but they went belly up too. Here is another fun fact, they have the most profitable Domino’s chain in the world, and eat more pizza per capita then any other country. Most people don’t truly believe in elves and trolls, it is more of tradition. My husband is Icelandic and I have been there a few times. 🙂
I didn’t know that about the pizza! I also heard they drink a ton of Coca Cola there.
Great to hear you had such a great time in Iceland! I am looking forward to reading about your trip and hearing any recommendations you have. I’m dying to know whether you saw the northern lights? I think I am going to be a bit late for them by the time I get there at the beginning of May.
I have tons of Iceland posts coming up over the next few weeks, so definitely check back every few days!
Sadly, no, I did not get to see the northern lights. 🙁 But that’s just an excuse to go back, right??
Wow, no Mc Donalds. Hahaha.
Nope! I love how that’s a fun fact that seems to surprise people the most!
No McDonalds! Awesome, haha
Isn’t it, though??
I’m in the middle of planning my trip to Iceland in June and found this in my inbox!! I’m only going for a week and my primary goal is to take loads of photos for my website. I’m trying to figure out how to do this, and the few activities I want to do (snorkeling the rift, the phallic museum etc.) without dying of exhaustion.
And on the McDonalds point. I live in Bermuda and you won’t find any here either!! There’s no franchises allowed here so you won’t find any of them. Except one KFC (they got in before the law was made).
Well Iceland is a fantastic place to take tons of great photos! Will you be able to rent a car while you’re there? That would probably be the best way to see the most in the summer (because there is certainly A LOT to see!). But if you won’t have a car, there are tons of companies that offer full-day tours to all different parts of the country from Reykjavik. That’s how I saw everything!
I did diving in the Silfra… it was absolutely amazing!!! The water was soooo clear. Definitely do the snorkelling 🙂
I don’t regret not doing it on this trip since I fully intend to go back to Iceland someday, but it’s definitely something that will be on my “must do” list for next time!