I’m not the only person who has a bad case of the Iceland bug. It seems that nearly everyone I talk to has either been or wants to desperately visit this small island in the North Atlantic. There’s just something mystical about Iceland, something that grabs a hold of our collective travel souls and refuses to let go. I’ve been a couple of times and am already plotting my return visits; the allure is just too strong. Add to that the fact it’s a short and easy flight from both North America and Europe, and it really is the perfect destination for a quick getaway. In trying to better understand what makes it so special though, I uncovered some strange and weird facts about Iceland that I thought I’d share with everyone. If nothing else, I guarantee it’ll only make you love this fun but slightly odd country that much more.
- A majority of Icelanders believe in elves.
- At about 39,000 square miles, Iceland is small – close to the size of Ohio.
- There is a volcanic eruption every 4 years on average.
- There are no forests in Iceland.
- Beer remained illegal in Iceland until 1989.
- At 43.5 hours per week, they have the longest work week in Europe.
- The Icelandic language remains unchanged from ancient Norse. That means 1,000-year-old texts are still easily read.
- Babies in Iceland are routinely left outside to nap.
- There are no surnames or family names in Iceland – Icelanders use the traditional Nordic naming system, which includes a last name that is comprised from their father’s (or mother’s) first name with the addition of -dóttir (-daughter) or -son.
- 60% of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík.
- Iceland’s revenue from whale watching exceeds any income from whaling.
- Usually a temperate country, not too hot or cold, the highest temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) at the Eastern fjords in 1939.
- Iceland had the first democratically elected female and openly gay Prime Ministers.
- Consumption of Coca–Cola per capita is higher than in any other country.
- But there aren’t any McDonald’s Restaurants anywhere in Iceland.
- In 2010 Iceland banned strip clubs.
- Roughly 85 percent of Iceland’s energy is from renewable resources, and well over half of that is geothermal alone.
- Icelandic horses display two additional gaits as compared to all other breeds.
- First names not previously used in Iceland must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee.
- Iceland was one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans.
- Icelanders watch more movies than any other nation.
- Iceland is home to one of the world’s oldest democracies; established in 930.
- In Iceland owning a pet snake, lizard or turtle is against the law.
- The country’s national sport is handball.
- Iceland does not have an army, navy or air force.
- Mosquitoes do not exist in Iceland.
- The Icelandic police don’t carry guns. Crime in Iceland is very low and violent crime is practically nonexistent.
- Per capita Iceland has the highest number of book and magazine publications and 10% of the country’s population will publish a book in their lifetimes.
- Icelandic telephone directories list Icelanders by first name alphabetically.
- In 2010, 97.6% of Icelandic population had Internet connection.
- Raw puffin heart is considered a delicacy.