Interested in learning more about the Land of Fire and Ice? Here are 20 fun facts about Iceland!
1. Iceland Has the Largest Glacier in Europe: Vatnajökull
Iceland is home to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Spanning over 3,000 square miles, the glacier covers 8% of Iceland’s landmass in the southeastern region of the country. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the glacier is currently retreating.
You can experience this natural wonder from above and below. In the winter months, explore its ice caves, or go hiking and snowmobiling on its surface year-round.
The area around Vatnajökull, formally known as Vatnajökull National Park, is best explored using a rental car from Firefly Iceland.
2.Iceland is a Country Without a Standing Army
Iceland doesn’t have a standing army, reflecting the nation’s commitment to peace. Despite this fact, the country is a member of NATO, has a Bilateral Defense Agreement with the United States, and maintains the Icelandic Coast Guard, which patrols its shores.
With a population of just under 400,000 and its remote location, maintaining a standing army is cost-prohibitive for Iceland.
3. You can Experience the Midnight Sun in Iceland Summer
Iceland’s proximity to the Arctic Circle means that the country experiences the Midnight Sun in the summer months!
The Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that allows for endless daylight hours. Because the earth rotates on a tilted axis and is angled towards the sun during the summer months, the sky never completely darkens. From late May to early August, there is light in the sky at all hours of the day.
With so much daylight, you’ll have endless hours to explore Iceland’s incredible sights. Be sure to rent a car so you have the flexibility and freedom to explore whenever you want!
4.Iceland is Home to the Northern Lights: One of the Best Places on Earth to View the Aurora Borealis
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights dancing above your head. The best time of year to witness this stunning phenomenon is winter, the darkest days of the year. Peak northern lights viewing is from October to March. You’ll also want to try to avoid going during a full moon, as light pollution can make the auroras more difficult to see.
5. Iceland’s Capital City is Reykjavik
Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, which literally translates to “smoky bay,” is a vibrant hub of culture and history. Located on Iceland’s southwestern coast, Reykjavik has been the capital since 1944, when Iceland declared independence from Denmark.
If you do decide to pick up a rental car for your trip around Iceland (and you should!), Firefly Iceland Car Rentals has an office in downtown Reykjavik at the Reykjavik Domestic Airport.
6. Iceland Has Over 200 Volcanic Lava Fields
Iceland’s landscape is punctuated with vast lava fields, including the largest in the world! You’ll find them all over the country, but the official count is at 200 different volcanic lava fields.
If you want to visit the world’s largest lava field, Eldhraun, it’s located along the southern coast of Iceland, just off the Ring Road. This sprawling lava field is 220 square miles and was created in the 18th century during the Laki eruption.
7.Iceland Celebrates Beer Day Every Year
March 1st is a special day in Iceland, it’s Bjordagur — Beer Day! This boozy holiday commemorates the end of a 74-year ban on beer in the country, which ended in 1989.
In general, most Icelanders celebrate by heading to their favorite pub or brewery. Some of the best in the country are RVK Brewery in Reykjavik and Seagull 67, just outside of Akureyri.
If you do decide to rent a car in Iceland, keep in mind that drunk driving is strictly prohibited. The legal blood alcohol content in Iceland is 0.02%, four times less than the United States!
8.The Blue Lagoon is One of Iceland’s Most Famous Hot Springs
If you’ve seen pictures of Iceland, chances are you’ve seen photos of the Blue Lagoon, a turquoise hot spring surrounded by lava fields. This is one of Iceland’s most famous hot springs, but what many visitors don’t realize is that it’s actually a man made hot spring.
The Blue Lagoon’s relaxing warm water is actually runoff from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant. This combines with the natural minerals that are found in the ground, mainly silica, which are said to have healing properties.
9.Iceland’s National Parks Cover Vast Areas of Natural Beauty
Iceland has three national parks, Vatnajökull, Þingvellir, and Snæfellsjökull. Each one of these areas protects an extra special feature of Iceland’s geography or history!
Vatnajökull National Park encompasses Europe’s largest glacier and some of the landscapes around it, with epic sights like Jökulsarlon lagoon and black sand beaches.
Þingvellir protects the Althing, where the Vikings met for hundreds of years and the origins of Icelandic parliament, as well as where the North American and Eurasian plates meet.
Snæfellsjökull is located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and includes the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano.
10.The Golden Circle is Iceland’s Most Popular Tourist Route
Not far outside of Iceland’s Golden Circle is the country’s most popular tourist route. A 186 mile loop, visitors will find interesting sights like geysers, waterfalls, and the Þingvellir National Park, which includes the Viking parliament and the area where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart.
11. Icelandic Horses Are One of a Kind
Icelandic horses are a unique breed, genetically isolated since the Vikings brought them to the country in the 10th century. Known for their stocky build and high endurance, especially in cold temperatures, Icelandic horses also have an extra gait known as tölt, or flying gait.
12.Iceland’s Hot Springs are World-Renowned
If there’s one thing you must do in Iceland, visit a hot spring. Bathing in warm water is a rite of passage in Iceland and every town has a heated public swimming pool and, most of the time, a nearby hot spring.
While the Blue Lagoon gets all the hype, there are hundreds of lesser-known hot springs scattered around the country. The best way to get to these hidden pools is by renting your own car to make driving out to their often remote locations easier.
13. Icelandic Folklore Includes Belief in Hidden People
Like many cultures around the world, Icelanders believe in elves and “hidden people”. It’s estimated that 54% of Iceland’s population believes in elves. Known as the alfar in Icelandic, these mythological creatures are interwoven into Iceland’s culture, popping up in Christmas traditions and folklore alike.
14.Iceland Has a Rich Birdwatching Culture
Iceland has an incredibly diverse bird population who flock to the island in search of food and nesting sites. Puffins are no doubt the largest avian draw to the country but other species like gyrfalcons (the largest falcons in the world), rock ptarmigans, arctic terns, golden plover, harlequin ducks, and whooper swans also draw in birdwatchers.
15.Icelandic Language Has Remained Pure for Centuries
Like its horses, the Icelandic language comes from Old Norse and has been isolated since the 9th century. A West Scandinavian language, many visitors find that Icelandic is a bit difficult to learn. Luckily, most Icelanders know how to speak English but learning a few phrases goes a long way. Here are a few phrases to know before your trip…
- Hello (English) – Hallo (Icelandic)
- Goodbye (English) – Bless (Icelandic)
- Thank you (English) – Takk (Icelandic)
- Yes (English) – Ja (Icelandic)
- No (English) – Nei (Icelandic)
16.Iceland is One of the Most Sparsely Populated Countries in the World
As the least densely populated country in all of Europe, almost 75% of Iceland is uninhabited. There are just 10 people per square mile, as opposed to 122 people per square mile in France. Most Icelanders live in or near the capital of Reykjavik.
This lack of population helps lend to Iceland’s dramatic landscapes and feeling of vast, untouched nature.
17.Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
If you want to uncover more of Iceland’s history, be sure to explore Þingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a national park and the meeting place of Icelandic parliament for hundreds of years. The area is also home to the exact point where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart from each other. You can walk between them and even snorkeling between them at the Silfra Fissure.
18. Iceland is Home to Several Active Volcanoes
They don’t call Iceland the Land of Fire and Ice for nothing. Located on mid atlantic ridge, there are over 30 active volcanoes strewn throughout the country! Some of the most famous are Hekla, Katla, and Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010 and caused mass travel disruptions throughout Europe.
Volcanoes have helped shape Iceland’s dramatic landscapes throughout the centuries, forming calderas, mountains, sweeping black sand beaches, and vast lava fields.
19.Iceland is a Country of Authors
Did you know that 1 in 10 Icelanders will write a book? The Icelandic literary tradition dates back hundreds of years, to when the first epic sagas were written in the 12th century.
Iceland also happens to have one of the highest literacy rates in the entire world, coming in at third on the list of most literate nations.
20.Icelanders Get Their Last Names in a Unique Way
In Iceland, you don’t inherit your father or mothers last name. Instead you inherit the first name of your father, which is then added to the term “son” or “dottir”, depending on if the baby is a boy or girl. For example, someone whose father was named Gunnar (a common Icelandic name) would have the last name Gunnarsson or Gunnarsdottir.
This also means that if you have the same last name as someone in Iceland, it doesn’t mean you’re related!
Conclusion
Iceland is a fascinating country, full of unique cultural traditions, jaw-dropping landscapes, and otherworldly phenomena.
If you’ve been convinced that your next trip should be to the Land of Fire and Ice after reading interesting facts about Iceland, be sure to book your rental car through Firefly Iceland Car Rentals. Having your own set of wheels ensures that you’ll have ultimate freedom to explore this magical country!
