Here are 10 interesting facts about Iceland:
1. Iceland is known as the youngest landmass on the planet and was one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans. Surprisingly, over 1,100 years ago Vikings from Norway discovered Iceland by accident.
2. Iceland was recently ranked one of the Eco-friendliest countries in the world and since almost all of the electricity in Iceland is produced using renewable energy sources. The capital city of Reykjavik won the Nordic Nature and Environment Prize in 2014 and is working towards a goal of being a carbon-neutral city by 2040.
3. Iceland has the longest work weeks in Europe. This means that, on an average, Icelanders work 45 hours a week – longer than any other country in Europe! On the other hand, Finland has the lowest work week with just 24 hours.
4. Beer was banned in Iceland till 1989. Iceland went through a prohibition of beer which began in 1915 and ended in 1989 after a referendum vote by the population. Now, every March 1st, the country celebrates “Bjórdagurinn” or “Beer Day” commemorating the end of a 74-year beer ban.
5. Studies show that 11% of the country of Iceland is covered by glaciers! Glaciers are one of the main attractions in Iceland, and to-date there are almost 269 named glaciers. Iceland is also home to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, which is equivalent to three times the size of Luxembourg or Rhode Island! No wonder where did it get its name from!
6. Did you know that, on an average, one out of ten Icelanders publish at least one book in their lifetime? The tradition of reading in Iceland dates back to the 13th century and with one out of ten Icelanders publishing a book in their lifetime, it is clear that Iceland is a very literary-focused country!
7. Now, we have all heard of Aurora or Northern Lights, isn’t it? But did you know that you can see these magnificent beauties from Iceland? September to March is the best time for this natural light show, although of course it is never a guarantee. This incredible natural occurrence is created when solar particles interact with the atmosphere in the Earth’s magnetic field.
8. Iceland does not have an army, navy or air force. Infact, the crime rate in the country is so low, with violent crime being practically non-existent, that even the Police doesn’t carry any guns.
9. There are no surnames in Iceland. Icelanders use the traditional Nordic naming system, which includes a last name that is comprised from their father’s or mother’s first name with the addition of dóttir or son.
10. Icelanders watch more movies than any other nation. On an average, every Icelander went to watch 5.3 movies in cinema in the year 2019. The second on the list is the United States with 4.9.
This was all for Iceland. Do let us know in the comments section if you found these facts interesting!
