22 interesting facts about Iceland: an amazing island of legends and natural wonders

Iceland fascinates with its picturesque and mysterious landscapes. This is not just a northern country with a harsh and unpredictable climate, but an island with pristine nature that fascinates with the harmony of the elements. This is a land of glaciers and volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls, green and emerald valleys and black sand beaches. Here you can dive deeper into the legends not only about the Vikings, but also hear mystical stories about elves and trolls. At the same time, ancient traditions on the island are closely intertwined with the latest technologies. Iceland has a lot to surprise you, and we would like to share some informative and surprising facts about this country with you:

1. The population of Iceland is 393,600 inhabitants. The Icelanders are the ancestors of the Vikings who moved to the island from Norway at the end of the ninth century.

2. The city of Reykjavik is not only the capital of the country, but also the northernmost capital of the world. Most of the population of the entire island lives in and around this city.

3. Icelandic is recognized as one of the oldest languages in Europe. This language has been preserved since the Viking times, having undergone virtually no significant changes during this period. The country’s natives can read Old Norse texts fluently in the original language. And more than 90% of the population has the skills to communicate in English.

4. The country’s parliament is called the Althing, and it is the oldest in the world, as it was founded in 930.

5. There is no railroad transportation on the island, although this decision has been considered by the government more than once. The decision to abandon railways was prompted by the fact that Iceland has a fairly small population, most of whom have their own cars.

6. In 2024, the world’s largest plant for pumping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere was opened on the island. The principle of its operation is based on the action of a giant vacuum. This is the second such plant in Iceland, but it is ten times larger than the one launched in 2021.

7. There are about 200 volcanoes on the island, 33 of which are active and erupt almost every 4 years.

8. Currently, 23 species of mammals are found in Iceland, but only the polar fox is native to the island, as it lived here before humans came to this land.

9. The most powerful waterfall in Europe is Dettifoss, which is located in Iceland. Its fall height is 45 meters, which is only 8 meters less than Niagara Falls. The first local settlers called Dettifoss the “king of waterfalls” because they were amazed by the power of the falling water flows.

10. Iceland is also a unique country because there are no mosquitoes here. According to scientists, these insects could not take root here because of the rather harsh weather conditions. Mosquitoes do not have enough warm periods to reproduce their offspring, and when it gets cold, they simply die.

11. Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland and in the whole of Europe. It covers more than 8% of the island and has an average thickness of 400 meters.

12. The island is one of the leaders in the use of alternative energy. Iceland’s energy needs are covered by 85% by renewable sources. This percentage is provided by hydropower and geothermal sources.

13. There are more than 800 geysers in the country, some of which rise from the earth’s interior to a height of 50 meters.

14. Iceland ranks second after Finland in the ranking of countries with the cleanest drinking water. The country cares about the environment, and there are no industries in the country that would pollute nature. You can enjoy clean artesian water on the island by simply turning on the tap.

15. This is an exceptional place to admire the beauty of the northern lights. You can observe this extraordinary phenomenon here very often – 8 months a year.

16. Iceland ranks high in the ranking of countries where people live the longest. The average life expectancy here for men is 77 years, for women – 82 years.

17. The country is a member of NATO, but it does not have a regular army. The island’s armed forces are partially represented by the coast guard. And Icelandic police officers do not even always carry firearms, as the crime rate is quite low.

18. Stories about elves and trolls are not just fiction and legends here. According to surveys, some residents believe in their existence. That’s why the warning signs on the island “Beware of Trolls!” are not just a joke or a lure for tourists.

19. The mysterious landscapes of Iceland can be seen in several episodes of Game of Thrones, because it was here that they were filmed.

20. Since 1915, the country has had a dry law. Over time, the ban on alcoholic beverages was eased, but this did not apply to beer. This drink was only allowed on the island in 1989. In honor of the lifting of the ban, some residents still celebrate March 1 as Beer Day.

21. There are certain restrictions on pets on the island. These restrictions especially apply to exotic species such as turtles, lizards and snakes.

22. The vast majority of Icelanders do not have surnames, only first names and patronymics. The latter can be either the name of the father or the mother. The particles “son”, meaning son, and “dottir”, meaning daughter, are added to it. For example, a family has a boy named Carl and a girl named Linda, whose father is Jons. Their names would be Karl Jonsson and Linda Jonsdottir, respectively.