{"id":1200,"date":"2025-08-09T23:43:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T23:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/?p=1200"},"modified":"2025-08-26T15:31:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T15:31:48","slug":"50-fast-facts-about-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/09\/50-fast-facts-about-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Fast Facts About Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Iceland is a study in contrasts\u2014no other place offers its mix of geological drama, wild beauty and intense contrasts in such a compact space. Tucked just beneath the Arctic Circle, Iceland straddles two tectonic plates; their movement creates a dynamic environment of volcanic forces that sculpt the northern landscape.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com :: Campaign Title: Inline_Destination_Iceland --><\/p>\n<div id=\"om-c1jyv3cr0gcqglnjkv2n-holder\"><\/div>\n<p>(function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement(&#8216;script&#8217;);s.type=&#8217;text\/javascript&#8217;;s.src=&#8217;https:\/\/a.omappapi.com\/app\/js\/api.min.js&#8217;;s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.campaign=ac;d.getElementsByTagName(&#8216;head&#8217;)[0].appendChild(s);})(document,123366,&#8217;c1jyv3cr0gcqglnjkv2n&#8217;);<br \/>\n<!-- \/ OptinMonster --><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice because of its volcanic activity and glaciers. It\u2019s full of other natural and cultural surprises that captivate visitors and locals alike.<\/p>\n<p>Here are 50 fast, fascinating facts about Iceland\u2019s landscapes, wildlife, people and culture.<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Experience Nat Hab&#039;s Iceland Nature Journey\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0hZZNZvp0IE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Exploring Iceland\u2019s Dramatic Landscapes<\/strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-271149 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_439413117.jpg\"><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Iceland has more than <strong>130 volcanoes<\/strong>\u2014at least 30 are currently active.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>island of Surtsey<\/strong>, off Iceland\u2019s south coast, is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/blog\/how-was-iceland-formed\/\">geologically youngest<\/a> places on Earth. It emerged from the sea in a volcanic eruption between 1963 and 1967. The island has been protected since its birth, allowing scientists to study the natural colonization of plant and animal life in a pristine volcanic environment. It\u2019s estimated that Surtsey will remain above sea level until at least the year 2100.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland is known as\u00a0<strong>the Land of Fire and Ice<\/strong> because, in addition to its 130 volcanoes, approximately 10% of the island nation is covered in glacial ice. Iceland has 269 named glaciers of almost all types: ice caps, outlet glaciers, mountain glaciers, alpine, piedmont and cirque glaciers,\u00a0as well as ice streams.\n<div id=\"attachment_271141\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271141\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271141 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Panorama of stunning Vatnajokull glacier and mountains in Iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_99701040.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271141\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vatnajokull glacier<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Iceland\u2019s <strong>Vatnajokull glacier<\/strong>\u00a0is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland\u2019s landmass.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland is home to around <strong>45\u00a0natural hot springs<\/strong>, including the Geysir, which is where the English word geyser comes from.\n<div id=\"attachment_271142\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271142\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271142 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Pool with boiling geothermal water at Hveravellir is actually in the heart of Iceland.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_61770084.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271142\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Geothermal pool, Hveravellir<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Naturally heated water powers Icelandic lives\u2014heating homes and baths. Iceland has a high level of renewable energy production, with over 80% of its energy coming from renewable sources, including the world\u2019s largest <strong>geothermal power<\/strong> plant, which started operations in 1969. Icelanders use geothermal energy to heat most of their homes and buildings.\n<div id=\"attachment_271140\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271140\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271140 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Beautiful colorful volcanic mountains Landmannalaugar in Iceland, summer time\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_164076703.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271140\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volcanic mountains, Landmannalaugar<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>With all that ice and water, it\u2019s not surprising Iceland has <strong>more than 10,000 waterfalls<\/strong>. If traveling deep into Iceland\u2019s remote highlands to see glaciers, gorges and dozens of rarely seen waterfalls far afield from the traditional tourist route appeals to you, you might enjoy Nat Hab\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/europe\/iceland-greenland-nature-adventure\/\">Iceland &amp; Greenland: A Nordic Discovery<\/a> itinerary.\n<div id=\"attachment_271153\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271153\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271153 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Svartifoss\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_54819430.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271153\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Svartifoss<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. It\u2019s amazing to stand over the Silfra rift and witness what you\u2019ve read about in textbooks since grade school\u2014and even more so to swim or scuba dive in the rift. I\u2019ve had some pretty awesome travel experiences all over the world; diving in <strong>the Silfra rift<\/strong> is one of the most memorable; you do not have to be scuba certified to swim in the rift.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"attachment_271145\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271145\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271145 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Studlagil basalt canyon, Jokulsa a Dal River. Iceland, Europe. One of the most wonderfull hidden place and nature sightseeing. Famous tourist landscape with basalt rock formations. Travel postcard.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_322352589.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Studlagil basalt canyon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>If photographing the drama of Iceland\u2019s stark mountains, lava fields covered in velvet green moss, glittering black sand beaches, steaming craters, iceberg lagoons, and ice-fed rivers thundering over basalt cliffs in raging waterfalls is on your list, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/europe\/iceland-photography-tour\/\">Ultimate Iceland Photo Expedition<\/a>, an in-depth photography adventure via chartered scenic flights, private boats and overland travel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_271144\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271144\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271144 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Great wind rippled beach black sand. Picturesque and gorgeous scene. Popular tourist attraction. Location famous place Stokksnes cape, Vestrahorn (Batman Mountain), Iceland, Europe. Beauty world.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_191477035.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271144\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stokksnes cape, Vestrahorn (Batman Mountain)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Unique Wildlife of Iceland<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li>Iceland\u2019s isolation means many of its\u00a0<strong>mammalian species are genetically unique<\/strong>, and its location provides a stopover for hundreds of migratory marine and avian species.\u00a0Iceland is home to several species of unique wildlife, including the Arctic fox, the Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic sheepdog, the only dog breed indigenous to Iceland.\n<div id=\"attachment_271154\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271154\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271154 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"sheep iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NAT-HAB-icepp_07_05_24_eddy-savage_302092.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271154\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Iceland was built on fish and wool. Now, <strong>Icelandic sheep run wild<\/strong> in summer, grazing on the mountains.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Icelandic horse<\/strong> is a unique breed that has been isolated on the island for over 1,000 years and has five gaits.\n<div id=\"attachment_271146\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271146\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271146 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Icelandic horses of many different colors run on the road, Sk\u00f3gafoss waterfall\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_548025678.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271146\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Icelandic horses, Sk\u00f3gafoss waterfall<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Horses usually have three gaits without training\u2014walk, trot and canter\/gallop, but the Icelandic horse has up to five. <strong>A genetic variation in Icelandic horses allows for natural lateral movement.<\/strong> The extra gaits that set the Icelandic horse apart are called t\u00f6lt and flying pace; they are natural, and newborn foals often show them right from the start.\n<div id=\"attachment_271156\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271156\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271156 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"icelandic horse\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NAT-HAB-icepp_07_02_23_eddy-savage_126201.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271156\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Most Icelandic horses are five-gaited, meaning they possess all five gaits, while some are considered four-gaited and lack the flying pace. <strong>Five-gaited Icelandic horses inherit the mutation from both parents.<\/strong> Four-gaited horses, however, can have three different genotypes of this gene.<\/li>\n<li>Speaking of flying, according to Cornell University\u2019s Lab of Ornithology\u00a0eBird platform, <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/region\/IS\/bird-list\"><strong>over 400 avian species<\/strong><\/a><strong><strong> have been spotted on or around Iceland.<\/strong><\/strong>\n<div id=\"attachment_270658\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-270658\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-270658 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Razorbills and puffins, Iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_220283789.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-270658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Razorbills (Alca torda) and Atlantic puffins share space in Iceland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iceland is home to more than 60% of the world\u2019s entire Atlantic puffin population,<\/strong> and is the main nesting ground for puffins.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland is home to some of the largest colonies of puffins in the world\u2014the largest puffin colony is in the Westman Islands, 10 kilometers off of Iceland\u2019s south shore. <strong><strong>One-fifth of the world\u2019s total puffin population nests there every year.<\/strong><\/strong>\n<div id=\"attachment_270660\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-270660\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-270660 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"atlantic puffins flying and nesting breeding colonies iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NAT-HAB-giulia-ciampini_302456.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-270660\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Atlantic puffins, photographed by Nat Hab Expedition Leader \u00a9 Giulia Ciampini<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fish is the country\u2019s largest export<\/strong> and one of the biggest sectors of Iceland\u2019s economy. Both fresh and salt waters on and around Iceland are teeming with fish. From Atlantic Catfish and Cod to Haddock and Halibut, the Gulf Stream carries a wealth of species to Iceland\u2019s shores.\n<div id=\"attachment_259437\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-259437\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-259437 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Atlantic puffins have rough and raspy tongues that hold fish in place as they open their mouths to catch more. The record is 62 fish, but the most I&#039;ve seen is around 15. Upon closer inspection, this puffin has between 11 and 14 fish. Not bad!\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3B07E819-F4CE-4EDE-8426-245FA0370D43.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-259437\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nat Hab Expedition Leader \u00a9 Eddy Savage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Freshwater fish in Iceland\u2019s many lakes and streams include\u00a0<strong><strong>Atlantic<\/strong>\u00a0salmon, brown trout and Arctic char<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The coastal waters off Iceland are one of the best places in the world to see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wwfwhales.org\/\">whales<\/a> and dolphins. <strong>Types of whales and dolphins spotted in Icelandic waters<\/strong> include: humpback whale, orca, minke whale, blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, bottlenose whale, pilot whale, white-beaked dolphin, white-sided dolphin and harbour porpoise.\n<div id=\"attachment_254347\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-254347\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-254347 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"A humpback whale breaches playfully, Iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3D728895-7966-41FE-B267-ED380B35DE20.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-254347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A humpback whale breaches playfully. Photographed by Nat Hab Expedition Leader \u00a9\u00a0Lianne Thompson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Both <strong>harbor seals and gray seals are commonly seen<\/strong> lounging on rocks or swimming in the coastal waters around Iceland. Harbor seals are the most common and the least wary of visitors, although gray seals, the only other species to pup on the island, are not at all uncommon.\n<div id=\"attachment_271157\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271157\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271157 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n Glacier Lagoon\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_614239201.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271157\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n Glacier Lagoon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>With a keen eye and some luck, you may spot <strong>harp seals, bearded seals, hooded seals or ringed seals<\/strong>, who usually reside in the Arctic, and have been spotted in local waters and on coastal shores. Very rarely, <strong>walruses<\/strong> are also seen on and around Iceland.<\/li>\n<li>Around 6000-7000 reindeer can be found during the summer in Iceland, but only in the eastern part of the country. Reindeer were imported in the 18th century to build up a stock for Icelandic agriculture to use in the same way as in Lapland. <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-271159 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"reindeer Iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_247914915.jpg\"><\/li>\n<li>Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus) is a species of deer and the only cervid species in which both sexes grow antlers.<\/li>\n<li>Good news for summer travelers to Iceland! As of this writing,<strong> there are no mosquitoes<\/strong> in Iceland (but midges are recent settlers in the country).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>For more on the unique terrestrial mammalian fauna, marine life, and well over 400 species of birds spotted year-round, check out our Know Before You Go <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/know-before-you-go\/alaska-northern-adventures\/iceland\/wildlife-guide\/\">Iceland Wildlife Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Iceland\u2019s Happy People &amp; Creative Culture<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>25. Since the advent of harnessing geothermal energy in Iceland, the tradition of <strong>public bathing has become deeply rooted in the local culture<\/strong>. Not all geothermal pools are suitable for bathing\u2014many are far too hot. The Blue Lagoon is the most famous hot spring, but locals frequent some hundred public pools across the country.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_271162\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271162\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-271162 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Beautiful town of Vik i Myrdal in Iceland in summer. The village of Vik is the southernmost village in Iceland on the ring road around 180 km southeast of Reykjav\u00edk.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_259692916.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271162\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The village of Vik is the southernmost village in Iceland on the ring road around 180 km southeast of Reykjav\u00edk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ol start=\"26\">\n<li>Iceland is roughly the size of Kentucky with a population of nearly 400,000, making it the <strong>least densely populated country in Europe<\/strong> with only 3 people per square kilometer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icelandic people are among the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/worldpopulationreview.com\/country-rankings\/happiest-countries-in-the-world\"><strong>happiest in the world<\/strong><\/a> according to the World Population Review. That happiness is attributed to strong feelings of social support, generosity and happiness amongst its youth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icelanders have one of the longest life expectancies in the world<\/strong>, with an average life expectancy of 83.1 years.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland has a low crime rate and is considered <strong>one of the\u00a0safest countries\u00a0in the world<\/strong>.\n<div id=\"attachment_271164\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271164\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271164 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Regnboga Vegur - Rainbow Road\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_512751554.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271164\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Regnboga Vegur (Rainbow Road), Seydisfjordur<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s one of the <strong>most genetically homogeneous populations<\/strong> in the world.<\/li>\n<li>Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is <strong>the northernmost capital city in the world<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland\u2019s <strong>early history was recorded by an early\u00a0<\/strong><strong>12th-century priest in a ten-chapter treatise<\/strong>\u00a0that describes the island\u2019s Norse settlement, establishment of the rule of law, fixing of the calendar and early judicial quadrants, discovery and settlement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/know-before-you-go\/alaska-northern-adventures\/greenland\/base-camp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Greenland<\/a> and conversion to Christianity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iceland is home to the world\u2019s first parliament<\/strong>, Althing or \u2018ting\u2019, which was established in 930 AD. It had legislative and judicial power but not executive power. The &#8216;ting&#8217; was founded on a union of 36 chieftains. With no king or central executive power, the actual legislative and judicial power lay with the chiefs.<\/li>\n<li>Icelanders claimed their <strong>independence from Denmark on\u00a0June 17th, 1944<\/strong>.\n<div id=\"attachment_271168\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271168\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271168 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Small church surrounded by blooming lupin flowers in the Vik village. Dramatic summer sunrise in the Iceland, Europe. Artistic style post processed photo.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_179875243.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271168\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A small church surrounded by blooming lupin flowers in the Vik village.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Iceland is among only a few countries in the world that <strong>have no army<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland has ranked as the <strong>most gender-equal country in the world<\/strong> for at least 14 consecutive years according to the World Economic Forum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/publications\/global-gender-gap-report-2023\/\">Global Gender Gap Report<\/a>, and the only country to have closed more than 90% of its gender gap, at 91.2%.<\/li>\n<li>The Icelandic language is <strong>one of the oldest languages<\/strong> in the world and has changed very little since medieval times, perhaps even further back. The language resembles Old Norse, and is widely considered one of the most challenging languages to learn.\n<div id=\"attachment_271170\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271170\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-271170 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Open air Museum Laufas with historical turf houses and wooden church, with historical turf houses\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_402110093.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271170\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glaumb\u00e6r Farm &amp; Museum, historical turf houses<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>The Icelandic <strong>language has 32 letters<\/strong>, including the letters \u00f0 and \u00fe, which are not found in the English alphabet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iceland has a strong\u00a0literary tradition<\/strong>, with many famous Icelandic sagas dating back to the Viking Age settlement. In fact, Icelanders are known for their love of books, with many households having their own mini-library. Iceland has the highest literacy rate in the world at 99%.\n<div id=\"attachment_271165\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271165\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271165 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Glaumb\u00e6r Farm &amp; Museum\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_41124782.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271165\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glaumb\u00e6r Farm &amp; Museum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Iceland has a <strong>unique\u00a0Christmas Eve tradition\u00a0of exchanging books<\/strong> and spending the evening reading. Iceland has a unique Christmas tradition called J\u00f3lab\u00f3kafl\u00f3\u00f0, which means \u201cChristmas book flood.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Per capita, <strong>Iceland has the highest number of writers in the world<\/strong>. One in ten people in Iceland have published a book, and one in four people work in a creative field.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iceland has a thriving\u00a0music scene<\/strong>, with many internationally recognized artists hailing from the country, including Bj\u00f6rk, Kaelo, Of Monsters And Men, and Sigur R\u00f3s.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland has a thriving film industry, with many international productions filmed in the country and a <strong>rich tradition of native storytellers<\/strong>. Iceland produces more films per capita than any other country in the world.\n<div id=\"attachment_258944\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-258944\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-258944 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"eautiful Icelandic Vibrant Summer Landscape with Fjord, Isafjor\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/8DAE617D-F026-43A5-8CB4-CA585E4FD95C.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-258944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fjord Isafjor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>Icelanders have a tradition of <strong>giving gifts on the\u00a0first day of summer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Iceland has <strong>one of the highest levels of\u00a0Internet usage\u00a0in the world<\/strong>, but until 1986, Iceland only had one TV channel, and until 1983, there was no TV on Thursdays nor in July.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icelanders consume the most Coca-Cola and coffee\u2014as well as seafood\u2014per capita<\/strong> in the world.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The average Icelander eats just over\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2022\/11\/chart-shows-countries-consume-fish-food-security\/\"><strong>200 pounds of seafood<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<strong>a year<\/strong>. That&#8217;s more than half a pound of seafood every single day. This includes traditional fermented shark meat, which is considered a delicacy.\n<div id=\"attachment_259349\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-259349\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-259349 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Iceland has six major geothermal power plants. Geothermal energy\u2014derived from the Earth\u2019s natural inner heat\u2014is a main source of power in Iceland, currently accounting for more than 30 percent of the country\u2019s electricity supply. Geothermal also meets more than 90 percent of the heating demand in Iceland.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"912\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Geothermal-4-fin_Web.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-259349\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Iceland has six major geothermal power plants<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span>Iceland has a unique tradition of making and eating rye\u00a0<strong>bread, which can be baked underground using geothermal heat<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>As in other Nordic countries, Icelanders generally enjoy the taste of <strong>black salty licorice<\/strong>, especially paired with chocolate.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>majority of Icelanders\u00a0<\/strong><span><strong>do not believe in elves, but a large portion of the population is unwilling to deny their existence<\/strong>, and even more people respect the traditions, myths, and popular beliefs surrounding<\/span>\u00a0them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"attachment_271161\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271161\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271161 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Greenhouses\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_392624794.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Greenhouses<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Experience Iceland: Preparing for Your Adventure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Just for fun: Take our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/know-before-you-go\/alaska-northern-adventures\/iceland\/iceland-trivia\/\">Iceland Nature Trivia quiz<\/a> to put your knowledge to the test, then share it with your family and friends to see who knows the most about this small island nation straddling the Arctic Circle!<\/p>\n<p>For more fascinating facts about Iceland and to prepare for a trip to Iceland, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/europe\/iceland-greenland-nature-adventure\/tips\/\">Iceland &amp; Greenland Know Before You Go page<\/a> for wildlife and weather guides, packing lists and more.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_271171\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271171\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-271171 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Natural Habitat Adventures Nat Hab van, waterfall, Iceland\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NAT-HAB-court-whelan_363580.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-271171\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nat Hab Expedition Leader \u00a9 Court Whelan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/blog\/50-fast-facts-about-iceland\">50 Fast Facts About Iceland<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/blog\">Good Nature Travel Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iceland is a study in contrasts\u2014no other place offers its mix of geological drama, wild beauty and intense contrasts in such a compact space. Tucked just beneath the Arctic Circle, Iceland straddles two tectonic plates; their movement creates a dynamic environment of volcanic forces that sculpt the northern landscape. (function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement(&#8216;script&#8217;);s.type=&#8217;text\/javascript&#8217;;s.src=&#8217;https:\/\/a.omappapi.com\/app\/js\/api.min.js&#8217;;s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.campaign=ac;d.getElementsByTagName(&#8216;head&#8217;)[0].appendChild(s);})(document,123366,&#8217;c1jyv3cr0gcqglnjkv2n&#8217;); Iceland is known as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1228,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions\/1228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.braceducation.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}