Suggested Reading: The Little Book Of Hidden People. Some estimates say that between 20 to 30 thousand human beings died in that century. They’re also known for some really good seafood and lamb. This is the best way to get help if something goes wrong in the middle of nowhere…. Happy travels! Between Europe and North America, cutting the Arctic Circle stands this incredible country – Iceland. This interesting fact is also one of the few things about Iceland that’s not very idyllic. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Oh, and they sometimes enjoy a little smoked sheep’s head too (Svið). They believe in elf, that’s cool! The overnight average summer low is 44 degrees, so it never gets too cold, either. I learned a lot in just reading this and it’s really interesting to read – can’t get over that app to make sure you’re not dating your cousin . 2 minute read. You’ll see this all over the country, including when the temperature drops as low as 20-30 degrees F (-5C). Now, don’t get me wrong. Hopefully you found it useful. Some useful bits of information. No matter what time of year you visit, you won’t have to worry about these pests. Wolters World 591,149 views 7:30 I had no problems communicating with everyone I encountered in Iceland. While tourism has boomed over the last 10 years, there are still plenty of places to explore where you’ll be mostly alone. 71.7% of all energy used in Iceland is produced from own resources. Musician Björk provides us with a good example. "Iceland". Iceland is an exceptional country. Björk’s full name is Björk Guðmundsdottir, which means the daughter of Guðmundur. Can’t wait to check out the volcanoes! Iceland was the first country that recognized the nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as they gained their independence from Russia. It is an interesting fact about Iceland that the last Catholic bishop, Jon Arason, was beheaded along with his sons in 1550. However, strangely enough this actually isn’t the case. Economy: GDP = $34,91 billion (2017). They have also been ranked 2nd for the highest quality of life in the world according to the Economist Intelligence Index of 2011, and one of the happiest countries in the world according to OECD. Home » Europe » Iceland » 25 Interesting (And Strange) Facts About Iceland, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The 1915 ban was much like Prohibition in the United States, and banned all alcohol in Iceland. 13. Greenland was colonizedby p… 7. This stuff is buried underground for 6-12 weeks, then hung out to dry in the sun. The majority of Icelanders are descendants of Gaelic (Celtic) and Germanic settlers. Contrasting forces of ice and fire exist side by side. Icelanders also elected an openly gay woman as their prime minister in 2009. Can’t imagine myself leaving Kassy outside of reastaurant. Iceland is a country of many wonders. 15. Whale watching has also become an important part of the economy. 14. - Source 2. Resources for Iceland Facts. Iceland had the first democratically elected female and openly gay Prime Ministers. 19. There are many other fascinating facts about Iceland to discover too. As previously mentioned, Iceland leads the world in feminism. It is a fun fact about Iceland that the only mammal that is indigenous to nation is the Arctic fox. Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Iceland When most people think of Iceland, the first thing that comes to mind is probably ice—lots and lots of ice. The most well- known one currently is Eyjafjallajokull, which erupted in March 2010 causing major disruptions to air travel all across Europe. There are a however some things raise the eyebrows of tourists travelling in Iceland. Iceland is almost the size of Kentucky, which has 4.4 million residents. Icelandic babies are left outside to nap in freezing temperatures. Going along with this fact, Iceland was also the last European nation to be settled. Here's another fun Iceland fact: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former director of the Reykjavik Theatre Company, was the first woman to be democratically elected President. The landscape is outstanding and the locals cool. Last Accessed 13 November 2019; Iceland Tourist Board. Here are 40 amazing Iceland facts. Here are 30 interesting facts to get you ready to make a visit your’e self. 20 facts about... ICELAND 1. The population of Iceland is only 339,462, with more than a third of those people living in the capital city. 30% of Iceland's electricity is of geothermal origin - the highest percentage worldwide. There are approximately 130 total volcanoes, and 30 of them are active. In 2008, the country’s banking system collapsed, unemployment skyrocketed, and citizens were worried supermarkets would run out of food. and is eaten with shots of unsweetened schnapps. 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