Iceland is home to around 200 volcanoes and it has a third of all lava flows found on Earth. 10% of the total land is covered by either cooled lava beds or glaciers. Do you know Facts About Iceland that the official language of Iceland is Icelandic which has changed little over the centuries. It is a North Germanic language derived from Old Norse.
Facts About Iceland
- The first people to live on Iceland are thought to have been Irish monks around the year AD 800. In the 9th century, Norsemen arrived in Iceland.
- The capital city of Iceland is Reykjavík which is the most northern capital city in the world. Its name means ‘smoke coves’. The city was founded by a Norse chieftain, Ingólfur Arnarson in AD874.
- Iceland became part of Norway in 1262. 400 years later it was a part of Denmark before becoming independent in 1918 and a full republic in 1944.
- Do you know Facts About Iceland that in 1980, Iceland became the first country to elect a women president. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was president until 1996.
- The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic króna.
- Around 85% of Iceland’s electricity and heating comes from hydroelectric power and geothermal water.
- Do you know Facts About Iceland that the Arctic fox is the only mammal that is indigenous in Iceland.
- Per capita Iceland has the highest number of book and magazine publications and 10% of the country’s population will publish a book in their lifetimes.
- Some Icelandic people still believe in elves, trolls, and other mythical characters.
- A traditional sport in Iceland is Glíma, which is a type of wrestling.
- Handball is the main traditional sport of Iceland. Other popular sports include football (soccer), basketball, swimming and horseback riding.
- Do you know Facts About Iceland that the three colors of Iceland’s flag represent elements that make up the island. Red represents the island’s volcanic fires. White is for the snow and ice fields and blue the ocean.
- More Coca-Cola is drunk per person in Iceland than anywhere else.
- The country was part of Denmark for much of its history, but became independent in 1944.
- Do you know Facts About Iceland that Iceland has days (during July and August) when the sun never sets.
- Playing golf in the midnight sun is popular, and Iceland has one of the world’s most northerly golf courses.
- Icelanders are listed by their first name in the telephone book, and everyone uses first names. The last name of Icelanders comes from the first name of their father.
- In Iceland, the Yule Lads are said to deliver presents on Christmas Eve instead of Father Christmas. They deliver gifts to good children and rotting potatoes to bad children.
- Iceland was founded by the Vikings. The Scandinavians were the first to settle in Iceland in 870.
- The Icelandic main dishes contain lamb, seafood, and dairy products.
- Do you know Facts About Iceland that the bread you will get in Iceland is mostly dark rye bread or rye flat-bread, which is very tasty too and you definitely should try the delicious “Klein” pastries.
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