The nature here is inspiring and the people are very friendly.
This island will not leave you indifferent. It is not surprising that Iceland has a huge number of writers - environment able to motivate to create something interesting and unusual.
In Iceland, you can also notice many unusual things, and here you will learn about the most interesting of them.
1. The most popular food in Iceland is hot dogs. They are sold almost everywhere - at gas stations, restaurants and roadside establishments.
2. In 1998, a study was conducted which found that the majority of Icelanders believe in the existence of elves.
Some believe that elves may be different sizes, from a few centimeters to 3 meters in height.
They can live in houses, sometimes multi-story, and if you leave them alone, they will simply mind their own business.
Iceland on the map
3. Almost all electrical energy Heating in Iceland comes from geothermal and hydroelectric power plants.
4. In Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, there is a Phallological Museum, which displays preserved mammal penises.
5. Since 2010, strip clubs have been illegal in Iceland.
10. Reykjavik is the northernmost city of all the cities of the independent states.
Life in Iceland
11. In Iceland, in the cold, you can see strollers with children left to breathe by their parents. fresh air while the kids are sleeping.
12. In most cases, Icelanders do not have a surname in the usual sense for us. Their surname is actually their father's name, but with the prefix -dottir (daughter) or -son (son). For example, Olafur Jónsson means that Olafur is the son of Jónsson.
13. Until 1989, beer was prohibited in Iceland.
14. Iceland has the best ratio of pools per capita in the world. Thanks to the wealth of geothermal energy, anyone in the country can visit a swimming pool, even an outdoor one, for a modest price.
How to live in Iceland
15. Iceland does not have a standing army.
16. The climate of Iceland is not as cold as many people think. The average air temperature in winter is about 2 degrees Celsius.
Take a look if anyone is interested before the trip, and we will continue about Iceland. So …
1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, about 320 thousand people live here, and before the Second World War the population of the country was only 50 thousand.
2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when a couple separates or divorces, they always try to maintain good relations. Cases when ex-boyfriend doesn't communicate with ex-girlfriend or ex-spouses do not talk to each other extremely rarely, because in any case, almost all of their friends and acquaintances are common.
3. Instead of surnames in Iceland there are patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “son” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if this is a daughter) is added to the father’s name, which results in, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia is the daughter of Palmars.
4. If the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but after the mother’s name.
5. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, the doors of houses are often not locked, car keys are thrown in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or store.
6. In Reykjavik, it is considered normal to go out to the nearest grocery store in your pajamas.
7. Residents of Reykjavik almost always pay for purchases with bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash payments are not accepted here.
8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is harmful to health, so in winter everyone here sniffles, that is, sorry, they suck in the snot.
9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent; even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems.
10. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think; the temperature here rarely drops below -6 degrees.
11. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets at 16.00. In summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing; in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.
12. Absence sunlight in winter it is compensated to some extent by the northern lights; they can be observed constantly, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to them.
13. Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all residents of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, are required to take fish fat, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.
14. Almost all residents of Iceland have profiles on Facebook; according to the latest data, Iceland is an active country on the social network.
15. Even if a resident of Iceland for some reason does not have a profile on Facebook, he can still be easily found on the Internet. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the ja.is website, where they indicate their first and last name, telephone number, address and place on the map where their home is located.
16. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed towards you, he demonstrates this by touching you every now and then.
17. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local women like to dye their hair a darker shade.
18. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required, most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, which is also why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik.
19. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay pride parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.
20. The most popular professions in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter is trying to get an education in a creative profession, and at the same time plays in some rock or folk band.
21. For the reason described above, the services of designers, for example, in order to come up with an apartment design or wedding dress, no one uses it here. Residents of Iceland are sure that each of them is their own artist, so they prefer to come up with both the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress themselves.
22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.
23. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, they take the competition for young performers very seriously, and during the live broadcast the whole country watches what is happening on TV.
24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland; the last one closed in 2008 during the crisis.
25. The most popular names in Iceland: male - Jon and female - Guvrun. Old mythological names are also still common, such as aðalsteinn, which means "main stone".
26. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use Everyday life not full, but abbreviated versions of names, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dubby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppie, Jon - Nonny, etc.
27. The language of Iceland has remained virtually unchanged over the past 1000 years, so it contains letters that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read ancient Viking sagas in the original without any problems.
28. The local population generally loves to read; today, according to some sources, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.
29. The cost of wine in Iceland is often influenced not by the year of its production or quality, but by strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost several times less than a 15-degree babble.
30. Not in Iceland armed forces, their functions are performed to some extent by the coast guard.
31. Police in Iceland do not carry weapons and are not issued pistols.
32. Residents of Reykjavik, for the most part, are terrible at parking; they can abandon their car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place are of little help.
33. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources; gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.
34. There is no need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes; it is still poured from the tap. This is water from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely suitable for drinking.
35. But it’s hot tap water Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.
36. Taking a hot thermal bath is a popular evening activity in Reykjavik; the cost of visiting when purchasing a subscription is about 5 euros.
37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a system central heating, which distinguishes the country favorably from Italy or France, where you have to pay for every time you turn on the heater.
38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic legislation allowed residents of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is due to the fact that in the past, Turkish pirates often robbed Icelandic ships and coastal villages.
39. To this day, Icelandic legislation allows residents of the country to kill polar bears for food.
40. Liquorice is very popular in Iceland; it is added to any dish, plus they produce chocolates filled with licorice.
41. A national dish Iceland - hakarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. If you don’t chew it and just swallow it, it’s still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you’ll feel the “magical” taste of urea. The fact is that the Greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot underground or in a basement for three months. The creators of The Simpsons mocked the taste of this dish in one of the episodes of the animated series.
42. In Iceland they eat mainly fish, and all dishes are topped with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of fish may not be recognized.
43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, and Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and they also love Coca-Cola.
44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which leads to difficulties when building a house or road. Before starting construction, local “witches” are consulted to determine whether this or that stone can be moved, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, Icelanders have to perform magical rituals, for example, keeping the stone in honey for some time.
45. 2,148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on the revival of Icelandic and Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to traditional marriage registration.
46. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus, there are 15 more Santa Clauses in Iceland different types, by and large, they are all elves, in whom the locals believe.
47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a children's playground.
48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted sheep's wool jacket with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time.
49. Icelanders are proud to have the oldest undissolved parliament in the world, it is called Alþingi and was founded in 930.
50. Residents of Iceland are very trusting; when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous place of work, but simply take the newcomer’s word for it.
51. In the Icelandic Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, so-called “necropants” made from the flayed skin of the lower body of a dead person are on display. To receive them, the Icelandic sorcerer had to secure the person’s consent during his lifetime, and after death, dig up the body from the grave and rip off the skin in one piece. Then the ritual required stealing a coin from the widow and placing it in the scrotum of the necropants along with a special sign drawn on a piece of paper. It was believed that wearing such pants would allow you to quickly get rich.
52. Every Icelandic citizen has access to the website Íslendingabók, a genealogical database containing information about family ties all Icelanders since the 18th century. The task of compiling such a database could be solved thanks to the not very large population of the state (just over 300 thousand) and the fact that Iceland throughout its history was weakly influenced by both emigration and immigration. Many young people use this site to check if their new lover is their first cousin, to rule out the possibility of incest. Another popular use of the site is to check the degree of your relationship with famous personalities. For example, every Icelander can find out how many generations later he is related to Björk.
53. The most famous representatives of Icelandic folklore are the Huldufólk, or hidden people, who are often identified with elves. According to legends, these creatures hide in the mountains, although some Icelanders build small houses for them in their gardens and even small churches in order to convert the elves to Christianity. Sometimes in Iceland, building or utility projects are changed to avoid disturbing the supposed habitats of the elves, and in 2004 the Alcoa Corporation even had to obtain a certificate from a government expert that the chosen site for an aluminum smelter was free of hidden people. Surveys show that the number of Icelanders who accept or are confident in its existence is greater than those who doubt or completely deny elves.
54. Iceland is predominantly inhabited by coastal areas, and people travel around the country mainly along the coastal strip. Historically, Icelanders refer to the northwest edge of the island as west, the northeast edge as north, the eastern edge as east, and the Reykjavik area as south. Therefore, linguistic incidents are possible: when heading from the northwestern outskirts towards the northeastern outskirts, an Icelander says that he is going “north”, although in fact he is moving east, and when heading from the southwestern outskirts towards Reykjavik, i.e. in fact to the north, the Icelander says he is going “south”.
55. Until the 1990s, Iceland had a law according to which a foreigner wishing to take Icelandic citizenship must adopt an Icelandic name or change his name according to the traditions of the Icelandic language. But exceptions were made for celebrities. When the Soviet conductor and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy emigrated to Iceland, the country's government added a new name to the official list of permitted names: “Vladimir Ashkenazy.”
56. In Scandinavian countries, dishes made from rotten or fermented fish are common. For example, the Icelandic dish hakarl is made from rotten shark meat, and the Swedish surströmming is made from sour herring.
57. Most residents of Iceland do not have a surname that is familiar to us, but are identified by their first and patronymic names. For example, Magnus Karlsson is Magnus, the son of Karl, and Anna Karlsdottir is Anna, the daughter of Karl.
59. In the Scandinavian countries (Norway and Iceland) the highest birth rate in Europe is among the indigenous population, not the immigrant population. The Scandinavians initially relied on improving the quality of life of the child, and not on increasing the number of births.
60. Detifoss waterfall, located in Iceland, is considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe: it discharges about 500 m³ of water per second. The splashes from it are visible at a distance of a kilometer, and in sunny weather the waterfall is certainly decorated with a rainbow.
62. For a long time, negotiations between representatives of the Scandinavian countries were conducted “in Scandinavian style” (in Swedish, Norwegian or Danish), but in last years Scandinavian languages are increasingly being replaced by English at the request of representatives of Finland and Iceland
63. The largest glacier in Europe, Vatna Jökul (“water-providing glacier”, 8.5 thousand sq. km, which is equal to the area of all glaciers of the European subcontinent) is located in the southeast of the country.
64. According to European Union statistics, more than 25% of the energy consumed by Scandinavians comes from renewable sources. For comparison, we note that for other European countries this figure is, on average, only six percent.
65. According to experts, Iceland, Germany and Norway finance health care the most - more than 9% of the state budget.
66 Reykjavik is the northernmost metropolis in the world (64 north latitude), founded in 874. Reykjavik got its name from the eruption of geothermal steam from geothermal springs, and it literally means “Smoky Bay”.
67. The widest “boiling” river in the world is Deidartunguver north of Reykjavik. The water consumption in these cascades of boiling water gushing from hot springs is 225 liters. per second.
68. The longest living creature on Earth was found off the coast of Iceland. It turned out to be a mollusk. Scientists counted the number of rings on its shell and found that the creature’s age is 405-410 years.
69. The territory of Iceland covers 103,300 square meters. km, of which glaciers occupy 11,000 sq. km, and the lakes are 2,700 sq. km. The country is rich in forests, stretching over an area of about
1,511 sq. km. The largest lake in the country is called Dingvallavatn, and the highest peak is Hvannadalshnukur.70. The country has a population of more than 300,000 people, of which about 150,000 people live in the capital. Part of the population settled along the coastal areas. Many inland regions of the country are not suitable for habitation. The average life expectancy of Icelanders is 80 years.
71. Because Iceland has many volcanoes, 30 of which have erupted in the last two hundred years, they are used to produce geothermal energy. The rivers flowing through the country provide it with hydroelectric energy. Since there are many rivers here with hot water, the country receives heating that does not pollute the environment.
72. The Scandinavians settled in Iceland at the beginning of the 9th century. The founder of the capital is the Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarson. Thus, people here use the Viking language, which was refined by many civilizations. Residents of the island bear their father's names rather than their surnames. Consequently, members of the same family have different surnames, which can confuse foreigners.
73. Icelanders use the heritage of antiquity by introducing some modern changes. They live in perfect harmony. There are many artists in the country who are specialists in the art of singing and composing.
74. At different times of the year, many colorful festivals are held here, and thematic exhibitions are often organized. The country has excellent culinary traditions, where seafood delicacies occupy an important place.75. Iceland is one of the first countries in the world to have a republican government. The country is now governed by a parliament called the Althing, which consists of 63 members. These members are elected every four years. The head of state has no influence on the country's politics.
76. The country's economy largely depends on fishing. Most people in the country work in the fishing industry and other related industries. Today's government is focusing on the tourism industry, and the second largest industry, close to fishing, is the export industry. The bulk of the country's income comes from seafood exports.
77. Iceland is a recognized member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).78. Many activities on the island are attracting more and more tourists. These include whale watching, bird watching, hiking, horse riding, skiing, cycling, fishing, kayaking and excursions to glaciers.
79. Less than one percent of the world's population will be able to pronounce the word Eyjafjallajukutl. This is Iceland's most famous volcano. Of the several thousand people surveyed, only 0.005% were able to pronounce this word.
80. From July 1, 2010, striptease was banned in Iceland. Today, this is the only European country where this type of dance is prohibited.81. Despite the strong physical condition of the majority of the population, the most widespread sport in the country is chess. In 1931, parliament was dissolved for vacation due to the arrival of the famous Russian chess player Alexei Alekhine.
82. Today, more than 11% of Iceland's territory is covered by glaciers. The Parliament in Iceland has been in operation since the tenth century, namely since 930, and is considered the oldest working parliament in the world. It still works today.
83. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, the northernmost capital of planet Earth. Back in the ninth century, the first settler of the island built a farm on the site of the capital, from which the country began to expand in all directions. His name was Ingolf Arnarson. Translated from the ancient Celtic language, Reykjavik reads “Smoking Bay”.84. In 1963, the new island of Surtsey appeared in the ocean off south coast Iceland as a result of a volcanic eruption.
86. Iceland is the largest island of volcanic origin.
87. The Scandinavians settled in Iceland at the beginning of the 9th century. The first settler is the Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarsson.
88. Iceland produces 4 times more books per capita than the United States.
89. In Iceland there is a special phallic museum, which displays 150 penises of more than 40 species of mammals, as well as a collection of related objects. There is no human phallus on display yet, but the museum curator has already secured consent to receive this exhibit after death from an eighty-year-old farmer who is still in a “sexual” state.
90. The central part of the island in winter is so harsh and so similar to the lunar landscape that NASA worked with its astronauts to reach the surface of the Moon in Central Iceland.
91. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is the first female president in Europe and the second in the world. Icelanders are very proud of this fact. She was elected in 1980 and remained as president for 4 terms, until 1996.
92. The area of the country is 7 times larger than the area of the Moscow region.
93. The 1 Icelandic krona coin features a cod, the 10 krona coin features a herring, the 50 krona coin features a crab, and the 100 krona coin features sea bass. The Icelandic currency is called isk in abbreviation.
94. There are no trees in Iceland. Or rather, there are individual trees and artificial plantings, but there are no dense forests. The first Icelandic settlers are to blame for this. When the field was exhausted they burned new site forests and sowed barley on it. Gradually, the forests on the island disappeared, and today soil erosion is one of the main problems of the country.
95. Icelanders are very proud of their language, and in every possible way resist what they consider to be the harmful influence of other languages on Icelandic. There is even a special language commission, the main goal of which is to protect Icelandic from the penetration of foreign words. When any foreign concept or definition comes into use in the country, the commission specially invents or finds an Icelandic equivalent for it.
96. There are few cats in Iceland.
97. There are no railways in Iceland. It is preferable to travel on regular roads in Iceland in a 4x4 jeep. Optimally - on a super jeep with huge wheels, more than a meter long.
The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -
What is Iceland interesting and famous for? 9 facts about the country that cause bewilderment, admiration, surprise and sometimes baffle.
Despite the harsh northern climate, remoteness and far from cheap services, Iceland is a popular tourist destination. Even experienced travelers who have traveled halfway around the world say that a holiday in Iceland is the most exciting experience they have had in their lives, and it is rare to see something like it in other places.
So, what is Iceland most interesting about?
Reykjavik looks like a country town, but it is the capital of the "Iceland"
1. Names of cities, streets and main attractions. Don't try to remember them. All that will remain in your memory is Reykjavik and its main shopping street, Laugavegur. Words like “Hallgrimskirkja” (a skyscraper with a view of the entire city from the top) will have to be written down. The names of glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls are also difficult to pronounce.
2. Wherever you go, there will be waterfalls. Driving through the fjords, you gradually get used to the fact that this is an ordinary landscape here. The highest waterfall is Glymur, but there are also more beautiful waterfalls on the island, for example, Hroenfossar near the town of Borgarnes or the huge cascade of Dynjandi waterfalls. It is difficult to list even the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, there are so many of them.
The largest number of tourists in Iceland is concentrated in the south (the route is called the Golden Circle). This is partly due to its proximity to the capital and the fact that there are a large number of waterfalls.
Don't forget that you may need a raincoat to avoid getting wet. At an air temperature of +13 (even at the height of summer), splashes of water are not a very pleasant thing.
3. If you come to Iceland in July, then you are in for another unforgettable sight: the whole country is covered purple flowers lupine, among which herds of sheep and horses roam freely.
4. The northern sun is very insidious and shines constantly in the summer. Therefore, despite the cool weather, sunscreen is a must in Iceland. The main piece of clothing is not a jacket, as one might think, but a swimsuit, because hot baths are everywhere here.
5. What is Iceland famous for first of all? , which amazes not only with its amazingly colored water, but also with the number of people who want to visit it.
Despite the fact that the lagoon is called a “tourist trap,” swimming in it will be remembered for a long time. Although it will most likely not be “swimming”, but soaking, since the depth of the lagoon is no more than 1.6 m. The entrance ticket costs from 35 to 165 euros, depending on the chosen procedures. A similar geothermal source in the north of the country in Mývatn is no worse.
What is interesting about Iceland? First of all, waterfalls!
6. In the western part of the island it seems that you are on the lid of a boiling cauldron. Hot springs come out of the ground, and steam spreads around. In the north there is an area called "Hverir", where all this seething smells of sulfur, and there is no vegetation. It is not for nothing that the crater of the volcano located nearby is called “Viti”, which means “hell” in Icelandic.
The crater itself looks very peaceful and has long been filled with turquoise water, but the surrounding landscape bears little resemblance to the landscape of planet Earth.
7. Unusual beaches with completely black sand and basalt rocks in the form of pillars.
8. Another miracle of Iceland - dark tunnels several kilometers long. If a car is moving towards you, you must flash your headlights and drive to one of the marked safe zones.
Don't forget that in Iceland you will need a raincoat to avoid getting wet. At an air temperature of +13, splashes of water are not a very pleasant thing.
9. It would seem Iceland and diving- incompatible concepts. However, in Thingvellir National Park they offer to put on a warm wetsuit and explore the rift between the North American and Eurasian seas with a mask and snorkel. tectonic plate. The entertainment is not for the faint of heart, as after half an hour of being in the ice water it seems that your nose is already frozen.
The largest number of tourists in Iceland is concentrated in the south (the route is called the Golden Circle). This is partly due to its proximity to the capital and the fact that there are a large number of waterfalls.
The main attraction of Iceland is its nature. Therefore, if you are traveling on your own, it is best to rent an SUV to see as much of the beauty of this country as possible, enchanting with its pristine nature.
Most tourists begin their acquaintance with the country from the capital and largest city of the island – Reykjavik. You shouldn’t spend a lot of time exploring the city’s attractions, since the main beauties are located outside the city. One or two days is enough to get acquainted. What to see in Reykjavik? Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church is definitely worth a look (and it's not the most difficult name in the Icelandic language). The church amazes and at the same time attracts and evokes respect with its simplicity. There is no pomp here. You can just come, sit on a bench and think about something lofty. There is also the opportunity to attend an organ concert. The organ is also a unique attraction. The instrument weighs 25 tons and its height is 15 meters. For an additional fee, you can climb the church bell tower, from which you can see the city at a glance.
After visiting the Lutheran Church, take a stroll along the northern embankment. The embankment offers a beautiful view of Mount Esja, named after one of the popular Icelandic female names. Fans of mountaineering can go to Esya. There are routes of various difficulty levels.
While walking along the embankment, pay attention to unusual sculpture called Sunny Wanderer. Although the sculpture externally resembles the skeleton of a warlike Viking ship, as conceived by its creator, it symbolizes progress and movement forward.
Being on the embankment, it is impossible not to notice the Harpa Concert Hall - perhaps the most unusual building in Reykjavik. The building somewhat resembles a beehive; its walls are made in the form of multi-colored glass honeycombs.
In the area of the same northern embankment, Nauthólsvik Beach is located - the only beach in Iceland where you can swim. Don't miss the opportunity to plunge into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean! This small piece of coastline is fed by hot water from a geyser, thanks to which the water temperature near the shore reaches 14-18 degrees. After exploring all the beauties of Reykjavik, hit the road to meet glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and volcanoes. As you move from one attraction to another, stop at one of the moss-covered lava fields. You can take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the moss. The feeling is incredible! It’s like you’re walking on a huge cotton blanket, warm and very soft.
On your way, you will probably come across herds of sheep grazing on their own more than once. Summer in Iceland is short, so as the season begins, sheep are turned out to pasture to gain weight. It is incredible, but true, that there are several times more sheep on the island than people. There is also a high chance of meeting horses. There are, however, not as many of them in the country as there are sheep. Icelandic horses are a special breed, characterized by their short stature, stockiness and high endurance. It is worth noting that Icelanders are very protective of this breed and do not allow it to be mixed with others. There is even a law according to which it is prohibited to import horses of other breeds into the country.
Glaciers of Iceland
Iceland is quite suitable for independent tourism. Along the road you will see many signs pointing to some natural attraction. By the ending in the title, you can guess what awaits you ahead. For example, "jokull" is a glacier. The Myrdals glacier, where my friends and I found ourselves just by turning off the road following a sign with a name ending in “jokull,” turned out to be not at all like the glaciers that my imagination had pictured. From a distance it looked like just a gray-black mountain. The fact is that in 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in Iceland, and because of the settled volcanic ash, the glaciers acquired such an unusual “dirty” color. However, if you go into the crevice of the glacier, you can please the eye with amazing color transformations: from gray at the top to white, turning into soft blue, at the bottom. It's worth seeing.
Three most interesting waterfalls
There are countless waterfalls in Iceland. I will dwell on three of them, truly majestic and beautiful:
- Gullfoss (translated as "Golden Falls"). Stunningly beautiful two-level waterfall. Powerful streams of the Khvitau River roar and fall from a height of 32 meters (11 meters upper level and 21 meters lower) into a canyon whose depth reaches 70 meters.
- Seljalandsfoss. This 60-meter-tall beauty is located on the picturesque slopes through which the Hamragardar River flows. It is famous for the fact that thanks to the indentation in the rock, the waterfall can be seen from all sides.
- Skogafoss. Located on the Skougau River. This is one of the largest waterfalls in the country. Its height is 60 meters, width – 25 meters. There is a hiking trail to the place where the river begins its fall, from which (observing all precautions, of course) you can take stunning photos on the edge of the cliff with the waterfall in the background.
The most famous place in Iceland where you can see geysers is the Haudakalur Valley. There are about forty of them here, including the famous Geysir (translated as “Big Geyser”), from which all the hot springs get their name. Nowadays, Geysir erupts less frequently than before, only a few times a day, and may completely subside for an indefinite period. Another famous hot spring in the Valley of Geysers is the Strokkur Geyser. It erupts every five to ten minutes. If you are wearing good waterproof clothing, even when standing behind a fence, safe distance, you can experience the power of the flows of water erupted by this geyser falling to the ground and now slightly cooled.
Surroundings of Krafla volcano
The center of volcanic activity in Iceland is the Krafla volcano. There is a hiking trail along the foot of the volcano, from which you can see pools of seething mud and “enjoy” the warm sulfur aroma that they exude. As for the landscapes in the vicinity of the volcano, they are simply unearthly: turquoise-milky puddles of water on cracked earth in all shades of yellow and brown colors.
Iceland in some unimaginable way combines on its territory the cold of glaciers, the melt water of which feeds the waterfalls, and the heat of volcanoes and geysers. I told only about a small part of the beauties of this amazing country, because beauty is synonymous with the incredible, pristine nature of Iceland.
Iceland, an island country in the North Atlantic, has recently become a fashionable short-term holiday destination. The most famous information given in tour operator brochures concerns natural and climatic features - volcanic landscapes, treeless plains, glaciers, cool summers and temperate Cold winter, northern lights and midnight sun. Maybe, Interesting Facts about Iceland listed below will seem quite unexpected and entertaining to you.
- Iceland was settled approximately 1,100 years ago. Many believe that the local population has exclusively Norwegian roots. However, this is not quite true. Genetic studies have shown that a significant proportion of the inhabitants can trace their ancestry back to the Celts, brought to the island as slaves by the Vikings from Ireland and Scotland, as well as the English, Belgians, south-west Germans and Swiss. Iceland is one of the few countries that has a bank genetic information for all its inhabitants.
- The Icelandic language has remained unchanged since the time of the ancient Norse, so medieval texts are still easy to read. , is probably the most difficult word in the world press that humanity had to learn in 2010 due to the eruption of this volcano.
- Iceland has been under Norwegian rule since 1262, and Denmark since 1380. The country gained independence in 1944.
- According to the Economist Intelligence Index 2011, Iceland ranks 2nd in the world for the following indicator: high quality life.
- 65% of Icelandic children were born out of wedlock - the highest rate in the world.
- The length of the Lautrabjarg cliffs, located at the westernmost point of Europe, is more than 14 km, their height is 440 m. This is the world's largest breeding ground for birds - millions of puffins, northern cormorants, guillemots and razorbills.
- In Iceland there is a joke about the paucity of trees: “If you get lost in an Icelandic forest, you just need to get up.”
- Ants and mosquitoes are absent on the island.
- Since 2010, Iceland has legalized same-sex marriage with the right to adopt children.
- Knitting is a national passion that is shared by the male population of the country.
- Peculiarities national cuisine sometimes they surprise, sometimes they just shock. Icelanders don't like to eat what they consider ugly creatures, such as cod, and crabs were generally thrown back into the sea until the 1950s. But there are very specific dishes, such as súrsaðir hrútspungar (boiled and emasculated sheep testicles), haukarl (rotten shark meat), lundabaggi (sheep genitals soaked in milk) and svid (scorched sheep head). Whale and seal meat are also traditionally consumed.
- Opinion polls have shown that the majority of Icelanders believe in elves. According to popular belief, elves live in rocky areas, have witchcraft powers and can cause a lot of trouble to those who invade their territory. Famous pop star Björk attributes the bright individuality of Icelandic musicians to some extent to the influence of the magic of the elves.
- While 24 hours of summer daylight may seem like an unusual sight to some, Icelanders use the “lighting” to play golf longer. Still would! The country has the most long duration working week in Europe (43.5 hours), therefore, there is not much time for rest.
- In Iceland, handball is the national sport. Everyone in the country knows the names of all the players of the national team, whose victories are celebrated very solemnly.
Iceland, due to its remote location and natural isolation from the rest of Europe, has developed a unique culture. Despite the processes of globalization, Icelanders manage to maintain their own identity among other peoples of the world. There is something mystical in the attractiveness of Iceland that makes those who have once visited this amazing country return here more than once. Maybe the elves are doing magic?