Discover the Magic: Top 23 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Iceland You Never Knew!

1. No Military Forces

When Iceland said "not my army, not my problem," they really meant it: Despite being a NATO member, Iceland doesn't have its own military forces, but still contributes through providing facilities, land, and Icelandic Coast Guard assistance to the Alliance, especially during the Cold War monitoring for Soviet submarines.
Source => nato.int

2. Hollywood's Sci-fi Film Set

In a galaxy far, far away – or just Iceland, if you're not a space traveler – the Svinafellsjokull glacier boldly went where many Hollywood films had not gone before: it served as the otherworldly backdrop for the sci-fi epic Interstellar, featuring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway in their quest for humanity's salvation. The glacier, cozily nestled at the base of Vatnajokull (the largest glacier in Europe outside polar realms), boasts an exquisite collection of natural wonders, such as snow-crowned volcanoes, gravity-defying waterfalls, and moss-enshrouded alien terrains, making it the ultimate playground for imaginative filmmakers.
Source => cnn.com

Did you know that Greenland's Ice Sheet is the world's second-largest ice body, covering a massive 1.7 million square kilometers? It holds almost 10% of Earth's total freshwater reserves! Discover more cool facts about this icy giant.

=> Fun Facts about Greenland

3. Active Volcanoes

Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano must have been one smoking fellow back in 2011, because boy, did he have a quick fiery temper tantrum that caught everyone's attention: With a short yet feisty eruption, Grimsvotn is among Iceland's most active volcanoes—dwelling in the nation's central zone alongside famous fiery siblings like Hekla, Vatnajokull, and Katla.
Source => guidetoiceland.is

4. Elf Believers Unite

Who needs Santa's little helpers when you've got Iceland's hidden population? Elf-believers unite: 54.4% of Icelanders believe in the existence of elves, as revealed by a 1998 survey. Far from pointy-eared toy makers, these elves are considered part of the cultural heritage, resembling humans and dating back to Viking-era poetry from around 1000 A.D. While not everyone believes in their existence, Iceland's elves remain a cherished part of the nation's folklore.
Source => theatlantic.com

5. Sustainable Data Centers

Who said Ice and Data don't mix? Iceland's frosty landscape works better than a supercomputer's air conditioner for high-tech lodgers: The country has become a hot spot for sustainable data centers, thanks to geothermal and hydroelectric power sources, enabling a 100% green energy model with top-notch cooling. In fact, electricity use in the data center industry doubled in 2018, contributing to 1% of Iceland's GDP in 2016. Companies like Etix Everywhere Borealis and Verne Global are reaping the benefits, making the nation a chill choice for supercomputing and blockchain enterprises.
Source => ibm.com

6. High-Flying Pilots' Salaries

Wanted: high-flyers with a penchant for the high life and navigating through Icelandic skies! The career path? Piloting, of course: In Iceland, pilots earn an average monthly salary of 1,090,000 ISK, with salaries reaching up to 1,730,000 ISK, making it one of the highest paying professions in the country. Experience and education can boost those figures even higher. Get those wings, Icarus!
Source => salaryexplorer.com

7. Unique Naming Tradition

Forget marital surname squabbles and junior-making conundrums: Iceland’s naming tradition dates back to Viking times and stands firm against passed-down family monikers. With Icelandic last names created using patronymics or matronymics, the 1925 ban on inheriting family names means every Icelander’s surname reflects a literal link to their mom or dad!
Source => webtrees.net

8. Tomato Wonderland

Who needs Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory when you can have Fridheimar's Tomato Wonderland: Iceland's geothermal-powered greenhouse produces roughly 15% of the nation's tomatoes, cultivates them pesticide-free with natural pest control, and even whips up mouthwatering delicacies like tomato soup and tomato ice cream for greenhouse guests.
Source => atlasobscura.com

9. Phallological Museum

For those who find themselves in a "hard" spot looking for unique entertainment, look no further than Iceland's stiff competition in the museum game: The Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavik is the only museum in the world dedicated to phallic specimens, showcasing a collection of over 200 well-preserved members from the country's mammals and beyond, providing phallus-themed culinary delights, and offering one-of-a-kind souvenirs to an ever-growing audience since its establishment in 1997.
Source => phallus.is

10. Midnight Sun Phenomenon

In Iceland, the sun is such a workaholic that it pulls an all-nighter during summer: The Midnight Sun phenomenon takes place due to extreme changes in daylight throughout the year, with the sun remaining visible 24 hours a day in the summer months, peaking around June 20-22nd, though it only stays directly visible for about 21 hours.
Source => icelandcarrental.is

11. Green Energy Leaders

In a land of fire and ice where Björk, puffins, and volcanoes coexist peacefully, people have found a magical way to harness mother nature's contrasting elements into clean, green energy: Iceland's renewable resources, such as geothermal and hydropower, contribute to 85% of the nation's total primary energy supply, making it the largest green energy producer per capita, and heating 90% of Icelandic homes via geothermal energy. The country aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, spreading warmth and sustainability, much like their beloved hot springs.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Icelandic Horses' Unique Gaits

Can't decide between a smooth tölt or a thrilling flying pace? Icelandic horses have got you covered: These unique equine stars boast not only a trademark tölt gait for those leisurely strolls but also a rapid flying pace that leaves piggyback rides in the dust – although, pigs have nothing to do with Icelandic horses' cool moves.
Source => grayline.is

13. Whale Watching Paradise

Iceland: A whale's version of an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet! Known for hosting the big blue's ultimate dining experience, this Nordic noshery is teeming with over 24 whale species, including the heavyweight champ himself – the blue whale: With its unique geography offering cold and warm currents in its waters and a 95% success rate on summer whale watching tours, it's no wonder Iceland is a whale of a party for both marine giants and human enthusiasts alike. Even in the chillier months, humpbacks and minkes keep the party going with 90% success rates, making the country an unmissable spot for whale watching all year round.
Source => adventures.com

14. Growing Forests

Whoever said "you can't see the forest for the trees" clearly hasn't been to Iceland, because there is barely a tree in sight: Despite its tree scarcity, Iceland has been growing trees for over a century and now boasts a woodland cover of 1.9% of its land area, with afforestation planting around 1,000-1,500 hectares per year and a whopping 3.1 million trees planted in 2015 alone.
Source => skogur.is

15. Origin of "Geyser"

Next time you're playing the world's steamiest game of "I Spy," don't forget to thank the natural wonder where it all began: Iceland's awe-inspiring Geysir hot spring is not only the OG gusher, but it's also the literal root of the word "geyser." Steaming up the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, the term "geyser" was coined after visitors marveled at its splendor and borrowed the Icelandic name, Geysir, meaning "the gusher." So, when you're feeling the heat and gushing about geysers, remember to chuckle at the fact you're actually giving a nod to the Icelandic original!
Source => uselessetymology.com

16. Land of Puffins

Who needs a comedy club when you can get your fill of laughs in Iceland? With a land filled to the brim with natural-born stand-up comedians sporting dashing tuxedos and flashy orange beaks, the country is truly a "puffin" of fresh air for comedy seekers: Iceland is home to roughly 60% of the world's Atlantic puffin population, totaling an impressive 8 to 10 million. Visitors can spot these “jokers” at various locations, with the Westman Islands hosting the largest puffin colony globally.
Source => icelandontheweb.com

17. Renewable Freshwater Sources

Iceland: where even the water is on a renewable energy plan! In fact, this Nordic nation boasts quite the impressive H2O portfolio: it peaked at 932,130 renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in 1962 and reached a still-enviable minimum of 481,967 in 2018, courtesy of its river flows and abundant rainfall. But don't go calling it the freshwater capital of the world just yet – usage and distribution factors are here to rain on its parade.
Source => indexmundi.com

18. Moss World Domination

Move over, paleontologists: Iceland is where the "Moss World" thrives, with over 600 species reigning supreme! No dino wrestling here, just the unassuming yet resilient woolly fringe-moss, claiming its lava field kingdom in South and West Iceland: This moss master not only reproduces like a champ (both sexually and asexually), but also combats soil erosion and retains water, making it an ecological heavyweight in Iceland's delicate ecosystems.
Source => grapevine.is

19. 13 Yule Lads Tradition

Forget milk and cookies for Santa, Icelanders prefer footwear and mischief: Icelandic children place their shoes on windowsills for 13 nights before Christmas, in hopes that the 13 Yule Lads - each with their own unique name and odd hobby - will leave candy treats behind. But beware of Grýla and her Christmas Cat, for she boils naughty kids alive and her feline friend feasts on anyone without new clothes come Christmas Eve.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

20. Icelandic Bands on Billboard Charts

When Icelandic bands "rock" the charts, they really know how to break the "ice": Both Of Monsters and Men and Sigur Rós had their albums reach the top ten on the USA Billboard chart, with the former's debut album My Head is an Animal hitting number six in April 2012 and the latter peaking at number seven a month later with Valtari and 14 with Kveikur in 2013, as analyzed by Dr. Gunni, an Icelandic music expert.
Source => icelandmag.is

21. Northern Lights Rave

It's a light show that even the gods would rave about: Iceland's prime techno sky fest, aka the northern lights, puts on its best performance during winter's darkest months - November, December, and January - when solar tempests send magnificent aurora borealis-induced colors swirling across the night sky.
Source => re.is

22. Laki Eruption Aftermath

When life gives you lava, don't expect a thriving farmland: The Laki eruption in 1783 wiped out a whopping 25% of Iceland's population, 80% of their sheep, 50% of cattle and horses, while spewing out 42 billion tons of basalt lava and unleashing lethal hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide into the soil and air, leaving crops barely standing a chance.
Source => allthingsiceland.com

23. Rotten Shark Delicacy

Who needs cake when you can chow down on rotten shark, right? Much to the Kardashians' surprise, Iceland's national dish isn't kale: it's Hákarl, a fermented Greenland shark or sleeper shark, hung to dry for about five months, engulfing your nostrils with a pungent aroma and assaulting your taste buds with its robust fishiness. Be it a souvenir for your enemies or a culinary dare at þorrablót, Iceland's midwinter festival, this acquired taste is widely available for your snacking (mis)adventures.
Source => en.wikipedia.org