In 1956 boxing was banned here. Iceland is located near the Arctic Circle; as a result, the country experiences long summer days and perpetually dark winter nights. The Icelandic horse is are known for their unique gait known as the tolt. The final interesting fact about Iceland is that the small population (around 370,000 now) mostly lives in and around Reykjavik. Facts Ghost is the online facts collection site. Still, it took the residents of Reykjavk more than a hundred years to move out of the turf farms or sod houses that they had lived in for centuries. Icelanders have wholeheartedly embraced the internet. Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. The dried fish was also a symbol of the country's rich fishing industry, which has been a major part of the Icelandic economy for centuries. Alingi, the current parliament, was established in 1845 as an advisory body to the Danish monarch. One option for exploring Iceland is to rent a car for several days to a week and drive across the nation, including a tour around the Ring Road. Despite this, Iceland is home to a variety of unique and diverse plant life, including mosses, lichens, and wildflowers. This is due to the abundance of fish in the surrounding waters, which has allowed the country to become a major player in the fishing industry. Book Lovers Will Feel at Home in Iceland, No Naming your Baby Apple or Suri in Iceland, Go Beyond Facts About Iceland and See the Sights Firsthand, 30 of the Best Places To Visit In Iceland, What to Pack for a Winter Trip to Iceland, The Icelandic Horse All you Need to Know About this Beautiful Breed, Incredible Greenland The Final Frontier for Adventure Travel. Beer was illegal until 1989 This goes way back to prohibition times. Taco Bell, KFC, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Dunkin Donuts have all opened stores in Reykjavk. 19 Cool Iceland Facts Most People Go Their Whole Life Without Knowing. Lopapeysa are popular souvenirs for visitorsand they can be a great investment at the start of your trip if you plan to backpack around the country. Something I enjoyed seeing was on Will Ferrels Eurovision, The Story of Fire Saga where Rachel McAdams character was so liked by the elves that a band of Killer Elves known as Hulduflkgave them all the help they needed to make it to Eurovision. However, since tourists and visitors to Iceland are not required to have a visa, they are only permitted to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days. Glaciers Play a Role in Icelands Unique Topography, 11. In Iceland, you dont have to worry about those particular pests, because they simply dont have any. We are an Indian travel company founded in 2013 and excel at domestic and international tour packages including guided group tours, specialty tours, customized holidays, corporate MICE travel, inbound travel and destination weddings. Fun Fact, The Series Vikings touches on this fact in the final season. Iceland is a part of the Schengen Area, which allows people to travel freely between the countries in the area without having to show a passport. The farm was only demolished in 1980. Iceland does have sand flies, so youll still need to pack your bug spray. The majority of the country was still covered in ash up until the 19th century when the eruption of a volcano forced many people to flee. One of the fun facts about Iceland for all the tourists is that beer was outlawed in Iceland from 1915 until 1989 as a result of a vote in 1908. It's so much more than just the land of ice and fire. Icelanders have had to make do with their surroundings since they arrived on the island over a millennia ago. Iceland is also a great place for vegan and vegetarian dining! The highest concentration is in the suburb of Breiholt, where 20% of the population is either a first or a second generation immigrant, according to the 2011 census. 10 Interesting Facts About Iceland - Facts Ghost The last . Reykjavik Has A Steel and Glass creationMusic Concert Hall Why? It has a wealth of dramatic ice formations including Crevasses, rugged ridges, and sinkholes. From its stunning landscapes and . Iceland is home to the world's oldest surviving parliamentary body, the Althing. You won't find a single McDonald's in the whole country. Iceland's capital city Reykjavik. The Iceland Airwaves music festival takes place each fall in local venues. Since the population is also relatively smalljust over 300,000 peoplemany Icelanders have personal ties that have been maintained over generations. Copyright 2017 D - Travel ehf. Iceland is home to an impressive 270 species of birds, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. But neither could Icelanders build stone buildings. It wasnt until the 800s that Vikings from Norway came to settle what we now know as Iceland. Read more:News report: The Viking Age settlement that is emerging in downtown Reykjavk. Also Tonga: A Small Island Nation With a Big Fishing and Tourism Industry. Also Nicaragua: A Country of Natural Wonders. This was a unique form of money, as it was not only a valuable commodity, but also a practical one, as it could be stored for long periods of time without spoiling. : The Fascinating History of Snake Island. It is often eaten with fruit, nuts, and honey, and it is a very popular breakfast item in Iceland. What is Iceland known for? Interesting Facts About Iceland - Scandification 1. Required fields are marked *. Situated outside Hallgrimskirkja church, the well-known statue of Norse explorer Leif Erikson was gifted by the U.S. for the 1930 Althing Millennial Festival. Instead, they go out for lunch, and it is common for people to eat out for a quick bite during the workday. Sparkling glaciers, such as Vatna Glacier (Vatnajkull), Europe's largest, lie across its ruggedly beautiful mountain ranges; abundant hot geysers provide heat for many of the . Unlike countries with world-renowned cuisines, Icelandic fare has its roots in survival and is more likely to seem like homey comfort food than a five-star gourmet meal. These are now the two busiest airports in Iceland. The eruption lasted for six years and created a large amount of ash and dust, which blocked out the sun and caused significant damage to the ecosystem. 24. As a result of this, UNESCO designated Reykjavik as a City of Literature in 2011. One reason for musics importance in Icelandic culture may be its roots in rimur, rhyming ballads that can be traced back to the tradition of skaldic poetry of the 12th and 13th centuries. This is due to the fact that Iceland is a volcanic island, and the harsh climate makes it difficult for trees to survive. Iceland is a very new country in terms of settlement, which adds to its particular cultural history. Iceland Is Home to Europes First Parliament, 4. Despite this, Iceland is home to a variety of unique and diverse plant life, including mosses, lichens, and wildflowers. Weather: Surprisingly Iceland has very temperate weather throughout the year. Iceland offers some of the most spectacular landscapes in all of nature and serves as an excellent spot for those who want to get away from it all. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. Iceland Is Great for Adventurous Eaters, 16. is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. 7) The northernmost capital city in the world In Iceland, craft beer is quite popular. This belief has deep, strong roots that still show themselves in the present culture: In some cases, the construction of new businesses has been halted due to a fear that bulldozers might destroy an elvish home or community. Iceland was formed by volcanic activity, and the island was once completely covered in ash and lava. In fact, only 1% of the entire country is covered with trees. Facts about Reykjavik 2: a good place of living. 18 November 2015. In fact, the residents of Iceland dont really pay for many things. This UNESCO World Heritage site and volcanic island was formed in 1963 as the result of volcanic eruptions. Of course, there were always people who flouted the ban by keeping illegal dogs. The best times to view them are during the new moon in October, November, and December. In this post, we have gathered interesting Iceland facts to give you some insights about this amazing country. Neither did we! The island lies in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Greenland. One thing Iceland is known for is its wool industry. Top 10 Interesting Facts about Iceland 1. Read more:Guide: The street food of Reykjavk - Not just hot dogs anymore, No Starbucks Reykjavk has neither a Starbucks nor a McDonalds Photo/Starbucks logo. 6) People in Reykjavk lived in turf houses into the 1960s Join our weekly hand curated newsletter to have all the latest news from Iceland sent to you. Join 10,000 others who get our weekly emails! Want to find it on a compass? Viking history is so strong in Iceland that their language is quite similar to the Old Norse language of the Vikings. If you are lucky, you may even get to see lava flowing into the water while visiting. Yes, Icelanders believe in elves. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is between September and March when the nights are long and the skies are clear. Outside of this region, however, most of the places people live are small towns and villages; Iceland is highly rural. 77 Interesting Facts About Iceland - Page 3 of 3 - The Fact File Much of the Icelandic population believes in hulduflk (hidden people). In recent years, Icelands gained a reputation among backpackers, hikers and travelers seeking a little bit more adventure. By the summer of 1942, there were as many as 55,000 American and British soldiers in Iceland. In 2015, there were 211,282 people living in the capital region. Fast-food fans shouldnt worry though. 100 Facts About Iceland 1. 1. Iceland has the most books published per capita in the world, with five volumes produced for every 1,000 Icelanders. Iceland is one of the most environmentally-friendly countries in the world. In fact, the original site of the Althing marks the first parliament grounds in European history. Many restaurants offer lunch menus with sandwiches and other quick dishes. It is one of only two places on the planet where you can physically see the split between two of the tectonic plates. Despite plans to build a high-speed rail line between the city and Keflavik Airport, a national railroad network has never been developed in Iceland due to the small population and complicated geology. Over two thirds of the population resides in and around the northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavk. Instead of collars, cats in Reykjavk are tagged with microchips, which allow them to be returned to their rightful owners if they get lost. In fact, the record temperature in Reykjavik is just 78.3 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in July 2008. The Vikings knew they would be followed by enemies, and hoped that creating this confusion would send their enemies over to Greenland and leave them in peace. 10 Interesting Facts About Iceland That You Did Not Know, Facts about Europe Interesting and Intriguing at the Same Time, Fun Facts About France That You Are Unaware Of, 10 Famous Dishes of Odisha for the Foodie in You, List of the Top 10 Famous Hill Stations in India, 15 Places to Visit Near Bangalore Within 100 Kms, Adiyogi Shiva Statue, Coimbatore: Entry Fee, Timings, Directions. But dont plan on getting lost in the woods. As you travel through Iceland, youll notice that you dont come across any forests. As well as a history of Vikings, double gaited horses and folktales! Even the slightest change in the country's geology could awaken some of the most dormant volcanoes. 1. What was one of the first things the Vikings did when they got to their new island country? Even if it sometimes feels like a large metropolis, Reykjavk is a very small city. If youre brave, you can try harkarl, fermented shark that is considered by some to be Icelands national dish. Wash it down with brennevin, a potent type of vodka flavored with caraway seeds or angelica. In other words, Iceland is always at or near the top of the most quality of life indices, particularly when it comes to enjoying a tranquil and free existence. When processed together, the 2 coats make lopi, a type of wool only produced from Icelandic sheep. If parents want to give their child aname, that hasnt been used before, it has to be approved by the, Another thing that has been banned for along period of time was, Icelandic police officers dont carry any, Iceland was the first country in the world having a, There are many weird dishes you may find in Iceland, but one of the most bizarre is definitely r. 25 Fun Facts About Iceland That Most People Go Their Whole Life Without 10 interesting facts about Iceland for expats - FinGlobal 16 Feb 2020 Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has become a popular travel destination over the past few years. Iceland was settled by Norse explorers traveling west from Norway and Denmark. Some couples have even been known to get married outside in the middle of an active volcanic eruption! However, after the initial honeymoon phase, sales slowed. Remember to pack a jacket Settled by Norse Vikings who arrived from Norway in the 800s CE, Iceland has a unique cultural background full of history and colorful tales. I know what youre are thinking, yes, the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi came before her, but they were Prime Minister, not Presidents of their countries. 3.