Introduction

Iceland Travel Guide- Iceland is landlocked in the North Atlantic, between Greenland, Norway, and the British Isles. The capital is Reykjavik, the northernmost city in the world. According to the 2020 census, about 364 thousand people live in Iceland. This country got its name from the English word for the island because it is an island country.

Iceland is also called the land of ice and fire because it is full of volcanoes and geysers. Temperatures hover around zero degrees in winter, and summers are pretty cold, with an average temperature of ten degrees Celsius. The island’s interior is mostly covered with ice, and the outskirts are inhabited.

Iceland frequently tops lists of places you really must visit. The figures speak for themselves regarding the expansion of tourism. In 2017, there were seven times as many visitors to Iceland as there were residents. The number of visitors is almost a third higher than the previous year. So in just a year, it “exploded.”

Iceland in brief

For most of us, Iceland is associated with the singer Björk, born in this distant land, and with Vikings and snow. But it turns out Iceland has unique nature with geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, and waterfalls. Iceland’s nature is a source of inspiration for many photographers and artists. When you visit Iceland (summer or winter), the Icelanders will always welcome you very hospitably.

Capital: Reykjavik Is The Capital (The Northernmost Capital In The World)

Population: 348,580

Area: 103,125 Square Kilometers (18th Biggest Island In The World)

Language: Icelandic

Currency: Icelandic Kron

Highest Peak: Hvannadalsjökull (2109 Meters) Largest Glacier: Vatnajökull (8300 Square Kilometers)

Official language: In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic, which is a Scandinavian language.

Religion: More than 77% of Icelanders are Lutherans (Protestants) who belong to the Icelandic Church. About 10% of Icelanders are Catholics.

State structure

According to the constitution, Iceland is a parliamentary republic headed by a president elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of 4 years. The legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament – the Althingi, which consists of 63 representatives. The main political parties in Iceland are the Social Democratic Alliance, the Independence Party, the Green Left, and the Progressive Party.

Rivers and lakes

About 14.3% of Iceland is occupied by glaciers and lakes. The largest lakes are Þingvallavatn, Lagarfljót and Mývatn. There are many rivers in Iceland, and most of them spring from glaciers. Among the longest Icelandic rivers are Tjoursau (230 km) in the country’s south and Jökulsau au Fjödlum in the northeast. There are many salmon in the Icelandic rivers and trout in the lakes.

Culture of Iceland

The beginnings of Icelandic culture go back to the Norwegian tradition. This is because the Norwegian Vikings were the first to settle in Iceland. Some Viking traditions are still preserved in Iceland. Thus, at the end of January, Icelanders celebrate Men’s Day (Bóndadagur). On this day, Icelandic men used to jump around the house while singing songs loudly. In this way, they tried to calm the harsh January weather. Few Icelanders jump around the house on Men’s Day, but women present them with various gifts and flowers on this day. At the end of February, Iceland celebrates Women’s Day (Konudagur). On this day, Icelandic men bring coffee and flowers to their wives in bed in the morning.

Food in brief:

The main products of Icelandic cuisine are fish, meat, vegetables, dairy products, and cheese. Tourists in Iceland are advised to try the following traditional local dishes:

Hangikjöt – smoked lamb;

Harðfiskur – dried fish;

Saltkjöt – salted lamb;

Bjúgu – smoked sausage;

Þorramatur – marinated meat or fish (including shark meat); Lax is a salmon dish.

Skyr, a traditional Icelandic soft drink made from sour milk, resembles yogurt.

Interesting facts about Iceland

Every country has its own peculiarities, and that makes it unique. This is why people love to travel so much, to experience this diversity first-hand.

Here are some of the exciting things about Iceland, the written and unwritten rules that make this society unique and that will make you want to visit this beautiful island:

1. Most Icelanders believe in elves.

2. Volcanic eruptions occur on average every 4 years.

3. There are no forests in Iceland.

4. Beer was illegal in Iceland until 1989.

5. With 43.5 working hours per week, Icelanders have the longest working week in Europe.

6. The Icelandic language has remained unchanged since ancient Norse. This means that thousand-year-old texts are still easy to read.

7. Babies in Iceland are routinely left in strollers outside the home for afternoon naps.

8. There are no surnames in Iceland – Icelanders use the traditional Nordic naming system, which forms a surname consisting of the father’s (or mother’s) name with the addition of -dóttir (-daughter) or -son (-son).

9. 60% of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík.

10. The income from whale watching in Iceland exceeds that of whaling

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Iceland Travel Guide