Last Names
Generally, many Icelanders do not have last names. Instead, they use a patronymic last name, meaning that they will take their father’s first name and add a suffix depending on whether it is a son or daughter. Usually, women don’t change their last name when they get married. Everyone is referred to by last name.
Last Names
Otherworldly Beaches
Iceland is known for its stunning beaches that are wildly different from the ones most of us are used to. If you visit Reynisfjara, you’ll be greeted with black sand that covers the whole shore as well as geometrically shaped basalt cliffs along the shoreline. The beach is located in Vík, the southernmost island in the country.
Otherworldly Beaches
Strict Baby Name Rules
While there are laws about baby naming in many places, Iceland is known to have stringent rules and conventions in order to make sure baby names adhere to the rules of the Icelandic language. Names must be approved for the official register, and any out of the ordinary names must be approved by the official Naming Committee after special permission is requested.
Strict Baby Name Rules
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
Iceland is home to a rare cloud sighting, which is certainly an appealing attraction for visitors. You can see the Polar Stratospheric Clouds, which happen when temperatures are low enough in winter and they appear like iridescent pastels all along the sky. This can be a once in a lifetime experience to see since it is so rare.
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
Gender Equality
Iceland is known for being one of the best places for gender equality, dating back to 1917, when the country granted women and men equal rights over their children. In 2000, they enacted the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights Irrespective of Gender in order to prevent discrimination. Many women are business owners in Iceland as well.
Gender Equality
No More McDonald’s
While you might be able to get a Big Mac in many countries outside of the U.S., Iceland is not one of them. The last McDonald’s in Iceland officially closed down in 2009 and there has not been another one opened since then. There is also not a single Starbucks to be found here either.
No More McDonald’s
Largest Banana Plantation In Europe
Although technically the largest banana plantations are in the Canary Islands, since these Spanish islands are not in Europe, Iceland by default is home to the largest banana plantation in the continent. Not something you would usually associate with the country, right? Using geothermal energy, the Icelandic Agricultural University grows up to 4500 pounds of bananas annually.
Largest Banana Plantation In Europe
Are You Related?
Since there are fewer than half a million people living in Iceland total, there’s a fair chance that when new people meet each other, they could be related somehow. ÍslendingaApp, or the “Book of Icelanders”, is an app that helps people determine whether they are related or not, especially if they are thinking of dating one another. The app was developed by college students in order to provide everyone with an easy approach to checking their genealogy.
Are You Related?
Elf School
While Reykjavík is a very modern city, did you know that you can take classes at the Icelandic Elf School in order to learn about Icelandic folklore? There you can learn all about the Hidden People of ancient Icelandic folklore, as well as 13 types of elves that the group believes in. The organization offers a full curriculum as well as certificate programs that visitors can obtain. About 54% of Icelanders believe elves are real!
Elf School
Book Buying Tradition
There is a tradition of book buying during Christmastime in Iceland called Jólabókaflóð. This means that everyone gets a book for Christmas, which helps explain why Iceland has one of the highest rates of books per capita in the world. Many books are released ahead of Christmas, and there’s also a tradition of reading new books and drinking hot chocolate on Christmas.
Book Buying Tradition
Babies Sleeping Outside
This might come as a shock to many people outside of Scandinavian countries, but this surprising practice is quite common in that part of the world, Iceland included. Babies are taken outside in order to nap outdoors, as many parents believe that the fresh air helps stave off illnesses and according to many sleep experts, cold temperatures are better for deep sleep.
Babies Sleeping Outside
The Comedian Mayor
In 2009, comedian and actor Jón Gnarr founded the Best Party, which started out as a satirical political group that eventually grew into a real one due to its overwhelming electoral success, which many believe was due to the 2008-2011 Icelandic financial crisis. He served as Major of Reykjavík from 2010 until 2014.
The Comedian Mayor
Early Closing
While opening and closing hours of shops vary all around the world, you might be surprised to learn that shops tend to close rather early and open pretty late, leaving you with a small window of time to shop. Many stores will close up at around 5pm and only open at around 9am the next day. Stores that are open outside those hours tend to be a lot more expensive.
Early Closing
Marriage On Decline
Iceland is generally less traditional when it comes to customs that are routine in many other countries. For example, it is not as common for people to get officially married here as opposed to other countries. More than half of children born in Iceland have parents that are unwed, and it is not considered to be a big deal at all. In the U.S., only about 32% of babies are born to parents who are not married.
Marriage On Decline
Glacial Rivers
As mentioned, Iceland is home to many natural wonders, and that includes incredible glacial rivers that form from their massive and ancient glaciers. These networks of rive channels start our flowing at the glaciers and head into the sea. This helps distribute nutrients necessary for the ecosystem that is passed along the way. When the river’s flow goes down, sediment is left on the river bed, which leaves behind the characteristic black volcanic sand that causes the splits in the channels.
Glacier Rivers
First Female President In The World
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is an Icelandic politician who was the 4th president of Iceland from 1980 until 1996, making her the first democratically elected female president in the world. She served for 16 years, which means she is to this day the longest serving elected female head of state in any country as of now.
First Female President In The World
Amazing Postal Service
Since Iceland has such a small population that is located all around the country, as you might imagine, the Icelandic Postal Service has quite a tough job. We can see that they truly go above and beyond to get letters to the right place, with help from very detailed instructions.
Amazing Postal Service
Working Multiple Jobs
As you might expect from the name, Iceland has long and brutal winters with short days that have longer hours in the dark than daylight. That means that many people try to fight off seasonal depression in many ways, including taking on several jobs in order to keep busy for longer.
Working Multiple Jobs
No Mosquitos
Even though you can find more than 1300 types of insects in Iceland, you will not find mosquitos here. Since the temperatures are so low in the country, mosquitos cannot survive here. While no mosquitos is always great news, look out for midges, which are similar critters than also bite.
No Mosquitos
Hundreds Of Volcanos
Since Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it sits directly on the tectonic plates between North America and Eurasia. These plates are always moving around, meaning spaces fill up with magma, which eventually cause volcanoes to erupt. With 130 volcanoes total in Iceland, 30 of which are active, this could be very concerning.
Hundreds Of Volcanos
Endless Rainbows
Iceland is not afraid to celebrate diversity and many places will paint rainbows in solidarity with Pride, including Seyðisfjörður, an eastern town that has its own Pride festival since 2014. Reykjavik also has an annual Pride festival and each year, a different street is painted rainbow in honor of the celebration.
Endless Rainbows
Viking Sword Role
When we think of Scandinavia, most of us will immediately think of the mighty Vikings, who first settled here during the 9th century. To honor their Nordic ancestors, the “Sword Road” was created by Icelanders. It is located on the Snaefellsnes, which is north of Reykjavik.
Viking Sword Role
Geothermal Heating
In order to take advantage of its natural resources, Iceland uses geothermal heating, not only to heat up homes but also to heat up parking lots and sidewalks in order to ensure that they do not accumulate snow and ice. This means that people here do not have to shovel snow, which is a great relief, and it is all done with natural energy.
Geothermal Heating
Northern Lights Alert
Many people travel to Iceland specifically for seeing the Northern Lights, a truly spectacular natural wonder. That’s why many hotels will include a “Northern Lights wake up call” in addition to regular services. This is a great way for visitors to be able to see the Northern Lights without having to worry about timing it correctly themselves.
Northern Lights Alert
The Blue Lagoon
Perhaps one of the most famous tourist attractions, The Blue Lagoon is located in a lava field by Grindavík in southwestern Iceland. The water is supplied by the Svartsengi geothermal power station nearby. The reason why it is that beautiful blue color is because of the high silica content of the water, which forms soft white mud on the bottom of the lake.
The Blue Lagoon
At Your Own Risk
While visiting Iceland’s geysers is one of the most exciting parts about visiting the country, there are many rules that visitors have to abide by in order to stay safe. Here is an example found at the first ever recorded geyser, which is located in southwestern Iceland, where you can also find exploding water spouts, mud pits that are boiling, and hot geysers that erupt.
At Your Own Risk
Heart Shaped Traffic Lights
Following 2008’s devastating economic crash, many of Iceland’s population were feeling worse for wear, as you might expect. The town of Akureyri decided to try to lighten the air by adding these heart-shaped traffic lights as a reminder to try to remain positive.
Heart Shaped Traffic Lights
Elephant Rock
Elephant Rock is an amazing basalt rock that was formed following several volcanic eruptions in the Western Islands. Though there was a lot of devastation caused, the molten lava formed this incredible structure that has become a notable landmark that many visitors come to see, creating a natural tourist attraction that can help the local economy.
Elephant Rock
Ice Cream Car Trip
Even though Iceland’s temperatures are quite cold, the locals cannot get enough of ice cream, and who can blame them?
Ice Cream Car Trip
Sheep Population
Usually, the amount of sheep in a country doesn’t compare with its human population, but this is not the case in Iceland. In fact, the sheep population is twice the human population there! This also explains why cheese and other products made from sheep milk is so popular in Iceland as well.
Sheep Population
No Wishing Wells
Many tourists instantly feel the need to toss coins into any well they encounter while on vacation, and this can extend to bodies of water as well. While they might think that this will bring them good fortune, that’s not the case in Iceland, where throwing coins into natural springs is absolutely forbidden.
No Wishing Wells
Only Native Land Mammal
There is just one native land mammal in Iceland, and it is the Arctic Fox. It is also called the White Fox, Polar Fox, and Snow Fox, and its fur actually changes color during different seasons. The color of their fur ranges from snow white to blue-grey and then brown. This can help them best blend into their habitat.
Only Native Land Mammal
Tourist Pledge
Iceland sees about 2 million visitors per year, which means that tourism is absolutely a huge part of their economy. Due to this, Iceland has created an Icelandic Pledge for tourists that will ensure that visitors respect the local nature, refrain from littering, be overall responsible, and just generally follow common sense.
Tourist Pledge
Between Tectonic Plates
If you visit Iceland, you’ll be able to visit the only place on earth where you can swim between two tectonic plates. There are even some passageways that are narrow enough that you can touch both of them simultaneously, meaning you’re touching two continents at the same time too. These cracks between continents has formed because the plates are slowly pulling away from each other.
Between Tectonic Plates
Female Workers On Road Signs
As mentioned, Iceland is one of the best places in the world in terms of gender equality. This is evidenced by the fact that you can see female workers depicted on road signs. While this seems like a small gesture, can you think of anywhere else where you’ve seen this kind of sign?
Female Workers On Road Signs
No Public Rail System
Even though Iceland seems so ahead of the time in many ways, one surprising fact is that there is no public rail system available here. The railway that does exist is only for goods and produce and not for public use. The reason behind this is because the population is too small and the weather is too harsh to justify creating a whole rail system.
No Public Railway System
Banned Dogs
Interestingly, between 1924 and 1984, dogs were banned from capital city Reykjavik. This is not because they were dog haters, but because there was a bad case of tapeworm that was circulating at the time, and it was discovered that dogs also carried tapeworms. Once the ban was finally lifted, residents of Reykjavik needed to obtain permits to get a dog.
Banned Dogs
Trees Planted On Graves
An example of Icelandic culture and folklore can be seen today in cemeteries. As seen in Hólavallagarður cemetery in Reykjavik, trees were planted on the graves in accordance with an old Norse tradition. This cemetery was once a Viking burial ground, and this tradition was continued in order to interconnect all of the generations of people buried here.
Trees Planted On Graves
Most Northern Capital In The World
Reykjavik is an amazing capital city, and it is actually the northernmost capital in the whole world. However, it is not the northernmost city in Iceland in general, that honor goes to Siglufjörður, a small fishing town in a fjord whose population is about 1200.
Most Northern Capital In The World
Longest Running Parliament
The national parliament in Iceland is called Althingi, and is the longest-running parliament in the world, having been founded in 930. Althingi is the first assembly that was attended by all free men, and has existed since then, even when Iceland was under rule of Norway’s King in the 13th century, as well as the Danish monarchy in the 14th century. After being disbanded in 1800, it was reinstated again in 1845.
Longest Running Parliament