[Service Cat]

Here are some interesting facts about Iceland, please feel free to add your own.

A majority of Icelanders believe in elves.
At about 39,000 square miles, Iceland is small – close to the size of Ohio.
There is a volcanic eruption every 4 years on average.
There are no forests in Iceland.
Beer remained illegal in Iceland until 1989.
At 43.5 hours per week, they have the longest work week in Europe.
The Icelandic language remains unchanged from ancient Norse. That means 1,000-year-old texts are still easily read.
Babies in Iceland are routinely left outside to nap.
There are no surnames or family names 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 (-daughter) or -son.
60% of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík.Stykkishólmur Iceland
Iceland’s revenue from whale watching exceeds any income from whaling.
Usually a temperate country, not too hot or cold, the highest temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) at the Eastern fjords in 1939.
Iceland had the first democratically elected female and openly gay Prime Ministers.
Consumption of Coca–Cola per capita is higher than in any other country.
But there aren’t any McDonald’s Restaurants anywhere in Iceland.
In 2010 Iceland banned strip clubs.
Roughly 85 percent of Iceland’s energy is from renewable resources, and well over half of that is geothermal alone.
Icelandic horses display two additional gaits as compared to all other breeds.
First names not previously used in Iceland must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee.
Iceland was one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans.
Icelanders watch more movies than any other nation.
Iceland is home to one of the world’s oldest democracies; established in 930.
In Iceland owning a pet snake, lizard or turtle is against the law.
The country’s national sport is handball.
Iceland does not have an army, navy or air force.
Mosquitoes do not exist in Iceland.
The Icelandic police don’t carry guns. Crime in Iceland is very low and violent crime is practically nonexistent.
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.
Icelandic telephone directories list Icelanders by first name alphabetically.
In 2010, 97.6% of Icelandic population had Internet connection.
Raw puffin heart is considered a delicacy.

[Service Cat]

I like the hot springs



Also, I like how isolated Iceland is, it's like a small island in the middle of nowhere, so in that sense it's the most isolated country on Earth?

[Takeshi]

1.Icelandic pop star Bjork has mentioned that record companies prefer to sign Icelandic musicians who admit to believing in elves.

I request for the separation of elves and the businesses.

2. Anti-Pornography Laws:

Icelanders are not doing this out of any puritanical attitude toward sex, but for feminist reasons. Iceland’s government is close to half female at this point, and it is probably one of the most feminist-friendly countries in the world. The reasoning for the ban is that stripping objectifies women, while some hardcore online porn can be quite violent—all in all, it just gives the wrong message to children.

I find this as a progressive movement of humanity. Big up Iceland!

3. Skyr. Eaten regularly as a snack or with meals, the dairy product Skyr is one of the most popular foods in Iceland.

We must try this, don't we? Not the puffin meat, oh, noooo thank you for that.

[Service Cat]

According to reports, some 90,000 Icelanders -- almost one-third of the country’s population -- own guns. On a per capita basis, Iceland ranks 15th on the global list of gun ownership rates.

But violent crime is virtually nonexistent in this land of Viking descendants and geysers. In 2009, only four gun-related deaths were recorded, including one suicide and one accidental shooting.

This could possibly be attributed to strict gun control laws in Iceland -- a national database registers and tracks all guns, and all gun buyers must be licensed by the state to possess firearms.

[Seablisse]

So interesting! ..... I love this post

[*Laurie*]

A few years ago I flew Icelandic Airlines to Paris and back to the States. I had a layover in Reykjavik...the airline was excellent and the airport was very pleasant. Friendly people in Iceland.

I saw on TV once that said it is against the law to say something is The Best in Iceland.

But when I tried to find this law on the internet I couldn't

[Nammu]

Iceland just beat England at the Euro 2016 soccer games.

[88Butterfly88]

Cool, thanks for posting!

[Yzen]

A few Icelandic Proverbs :

• All sails do not suit every ship.
• A bad rower blames his oars.
• A dog bites the stone, not him who throws it.
• No doves come out of raven eggs.
• Better shoeless than bookless.
• A man too busy to take care of his health is like a farmer too lazy to plant his field.
• When the storm abates, the waves roar.
• If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.
• Many go to a goats' house to ask for wool.

[88Butterfly88]

This article is also interesting:

10 Cool Facts About Iceland - Listverse