THIS IS LIFE IN ICELAND: The strangest country in the world?
Summary
TLDRThis video highlights 100 fascinating facts about Iceland, a unique country known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and cultural quirks. It covers the famous Aurora Borealis, Midnight Sun, volcanoes, geysers, and waterfalls, as well as Iceland's Viking heritage, unusual traditions, and renowned film locations. The video also discusses the nation's high cost of living, strong gender equality, unique wildlife, and local delicacies like fermented shark. The content aims to spark curiosity about Iceland's natural wonders and cultural uniqueness, encouraging viewers to explore or learn more about this remarkable country.
Takeaways
- 🌋 Iceland is a land of volcanoes and glaciers, known for its stunning landscapes and unique geography.
- 🌌 Iceland is one of the best places to observe the Northern Lights, starting in mid-to-late September.
- 🌞 During Iceland's summer, the 'Midnight Sun' occurs, where the sun remains visible even at night.
- 🎄 Icelanders celebrate Christmas on a large scale with festive clothing and joy.
- 📜 The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik, the northernmost capital city in the world.
- 🏔️ Iceland is known as the 'Land of Ice and Fire' due to 11% of its surface being covered by glaciers and 30% by lava fields.
- 🐑 There are more sheep than people in Iceland, with a population of less than 400,000.
- 🐋 Iceland is a great place to spot whales, especially in the northern fjords.
- 🚫 Iceland has no army and is the only country in NATO without one.
- 📚 Iceland has one of the highest rates of book readership per capita, and many Icelanders play musical instruments.
Q & A
What are the main natural features that make Iceland a unique destination?
-Iceland is known for its volcanoes, glaciers, and geothermal activity. It has unique landscapes such as lava fields, geysers, and waterfalls, earning it the nickname 'Land of Ice and Fire.'
Why is Iceland a popular location for filming movies?
-Iceland's strange and dramatic geography, including volcanic landscapes and glaciers, makes it a visually striking location. It has been used in movies like *Prometheus*, *The Secret Life of Walter Mitty*, *Game of Thrones*, and *Interstellar*.
What is the significance of the Aurora Borealis in Iceland?
-The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, can be seen in Iceland due to its location near the Arctic Circle. They are visible from mid or late September and are a major attraction for visitors.
How does Iceland's geography contribute to its volcanic activity?
-Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This positioning leads to significant volcanic activity, with about 130 volcanoes on the island.
What unique traditions do Icelanders observe during the Christmas season?
-Icelanders celebrate Christmas on a grand scale with traditional clothing, decorations, and stories like the 13 Yule Lads, who visit children each night in the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Children place their shoes in windows to receive gifts from the Yule Lads.
Why are elves and hidden people an important part of Icelandic folklore?
-Elves, or hidden people, have been part of Icelandic folklore since the Viking era. Although most Icelanders do not believe in them, many avoid denying their existence outright. Some holidays are associated with elves, and certain construction projects are even diverted to avoid disturbing elf dwellings.
What is unique about Iceland's horse breed?
-Iceland has its own breed of horse, the Icelandic horse, which is smaller in size. These horses are highly valued for their strength and endurance, and they are known for their ability to perform a unique gait called the 'tölt.'
How does Iceland's policy on baby names differ from other countries?
-In Iceland, parents cannot name their children freely; they must choose names from an authorized list. Additionally, Icelandic surnames are patronymic or matronymic, meaning they are based on the first name of the child's parent, followed by 'son' or 'dóttir.'
What makes Iceland's food culture distinct?
-Icelandic cuisine includes unique dishes such as *hákarl* (fermented shark) and *svið* (boiled sheep's head). Puffins are not only admired but also eaten in traditional meals. Icelanders also enjoy ice cream as a favorite dessert, even in cold weather.
How does Iceland's climate affect its natural wonders?
-Iceland's extreme climate, with long summer days and polar nights in the winter, shapes its natural wonders. Its glaciers, geothermal springs, and waterfalls, like Dettifoss, are some of the largest and most powerful in Europe due to the country's icy and volcanic landscapes.
Outlines
🌋 Iceland: A Land of Volcanoes, Movies, and Mystical Formations
Iceland is a visually stunning country known for its volcanoes, strange land formations, and geography that attracts Hollywood filmmakers. Famous movies and shows like 'Prometheus,' 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' 'Game of Thrones,' and 'Interstellar' were filmed there. The video promises to reveal 100 Icelandic curiosities, including natural wonders like the Aurora Borealis and the Midnight Sun. The capital city, Reykjavik, is the northernmost capital in the world, and Iceland is known for its unique traditions and high cost of living. The video also discusses Icelandic language, culture, and its people's strong connection to elves and folklore.
💸 Icelandic Culture: Salaries, Unique Dishes, and Iconic Landscapes
Iceland has one of the highest average salaries globally, around $3,600 per month. Unique culinary experiences include fermented shark, Icelandic horses, and puffins as part of their diet. Despite its small population, Iceland offers diverse landscapes, from waterfalls to glacial lakes, like the iconic Blue Lagoon. Traditional customs such as celebrating holidays with connections to elves and a strong belief in folklore are still part of Icelandic culture. Iceland also has gender equality policies, being the first country to outlaw unequal pay between men and women.
🌋 Icelandic Geography and Unique Natural Features
Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, causing it to have significant volcanic activity, with around 130 volcanoes. The island is uniquely split between Europe and America geologically, with famous sites like Thingvellir National Park where tectonic plates separate. Iceland has beautiful natural formations, such as the Silfra Fissure, ice caves, and the Diamond Beach. Despite its small population, the country boasts natural wonders and an emphasis on sustainability and geothermal power, which is used for electricity generation. The country has no ants, a rarity in the world, and also no army.
🗿 Culture, Tradition, and Iconic Sites in Iceland
Iceland is home to many culturally significant sites, such as the Sun Voyager sculpture in Reykjavik and the Hólmavík hot springs, maintained by the community. The longest street, Laugavegur, served as the route to hot springs for laundry in earlier times. New waterfalls continue to form due to glacial melting, and historical museums and traditional architecture mark the country's historical charm. Locals maintain folklore and traditions, with holidays and customs linked to elves and legends like Gryla, who supposedly eats naughty children. The national sport is handball, and Icelanders also enjoy various other activities.
🌭 Icelandic Favorites: Hot Dogs, National Parks, and Unusual Attractions
Iceland is well-known for its love of 'psur,' Icelandic hot dogs, famously endorsed by Bill Clinton. The country has three national parks, including the largest in Europe, Vatnajökull. It is common for roads and construction to be diverted to avoid disrupting areas believed to be inhabited by elves. Museums like the one in Ísafjörður and old buildings, some dating back to the 18th century, tell the story of the country's past. Despite its extreme conditions, Icelandic hospitality and traditions shine, such as the 13 'Yule Lads' who leave gifts in children's shoes during Christmas.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aurora Borealis
💡Midnight Sun
💡Polar Night
💡Elves (Huldufólk)
💡Geysir
💡Blue Lagoon
💡Thingvellir National Park
💡Icelandic Horse
💡Reykjavik
💡Volcanoes
Highlights
Iceland is famous for its stunning natural beauty, including volcanoes, glaciers, and unique geography.
The country is often chosen by Hollywood directors for filming movies, such as 'Prometheus,' 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' 'Game of Thrones,' and 'Interstellar.'
Iceland is an ideal location to witness the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from mid to late September.
During summer, the 'Midnight Sun' phenomenon allows for clear skies and daylight even at midnight.
Iceland is known for both extreme weather conditions like polar nights in winter, where the sun doesn’t appear for 24 hours.
Icelandic parents can only choose baby names from an approved list, containing about 2,520 names.
Icelanders follow a unique naming system where surnames are derived from their parent’s first name with the suffix 'son' or 'daughter.'
Elves, known as 'Huldufólk' or hidden people, are part of Icelandic folklore, and many locals don't deny their existence.
The country has a rich tradition of whale watching, with whales commonly seen in the northern fjords.
Iceland’s cost of living is high, with a meal costing around $40, while an apartment can cost approximately $1,600.
Iceland is home to 'Geysir,' one of the world’s most powerful geysers, which can shoot water up to 80 meters.
The 'Blue Lagoon' is Iceland's most famous geothermal spa, with warm waters rich in silica and sulfur.
Iceland has no army, despite being a member of NATO, making it the only NATO country without one.
Iceland has a thriving book-reading culture, with the highest number of books read per person globally.
The 'Thingvellir' National Park is historically significant, as it was the site of Iceland’s first parliament, founded in 930 AD.
Transcripts
Iceland is one of the most beautiful
countries you can visit if you have the
privilege of doing so it will surely
leave you in awe and if you have already
been I'm sure you agree it is a land of
volcanoes you may recall the eruption of
aaal in 2010 and also the more recent
one of
H excuse my pronunciation but as you
will see I isic words are really
difficult to pronounce in fact in this
video we will teach you the most common
ones Iceland is also a country of such
strange formations and geography that it
is one of the main countries Hollywood
directors choose to film their movies do
you remember this scene from Prometheus
yes it's Iceland this from The Secret
Life of Walter midi is also in Iceland
this from Game of Thrones or this from
Interstellar stay with me to discover
these 100 Iceland Curiosities you will
learn aspects of this country that can't
be seen anywhere else in the world
before we start I ask that you give it a
like it really gives me a lot of
motivation to keep making videos like
this let's begin one due to its location
near the Arctic Circle Iceland is a
great place to observe the beautiful
Aurora Borealis they usually start in
mid or late
September two throughout Iceland during
the summer the kns are clear clear and
white like a fairy tale that means you
can wake up at 12: at night and if there
is a visible Moon you can observe it in
a day that seems magical and strange it
is known as the Midnight Sun three
during the winter is the polar night and
the Sun is hidden 24 hours a
day four icelanders celebrate Christmas
on a grand scale they usually dress in
clothes with Christmas prints such as
reindeer or Santa Claus sweaters and it
is a time characterized by excitement
and happiness five this is a picture of
Iceland in the middle of winter six the
first name of the country was sunand
coined by the Viking Navigator nador one
of the first settlers of the farway
islands seven the capital city of
Iceland is rikic the northernmost
capital city in the world eight it is
called the land of Ice and Fire because
11% of its surface is covered by
glaciers and 30% by lava Fields nine
Iceland is the second largest island in
Europe after Great Britain 10 these are
traditional houses in
Iceland 11 in Iceland parents cannot
name their children as they please they
must choose from an authorized list of
about 25 200 names per gender 12
surnames in Iceland are formed by the
first name of their father or mother
with the suffix son son or don't
daughter 13 hello in Icelandic is
pronounced Hollow thank you is talk yes
is yah no is nay goodbye is bless 14 the
most common men's names in Iceland are
hon
seur and good mundur while for women the
most popular are gun Anna and
Christine 15 icelanders are some of the
tallest people in the world
men on average measure 1.81 M and women
1.68 m 16 in Iceland you can visit the
great Geyer one of the most impressive
in the world able to launch boiling
water up to 80 M
High 17 it is a very small country with
fewer than 400,000 inhabitants it has
more sheep than inhabitants there are
600,000 sheep 18 the cost of living in
Iceland is high a meal at a cheap
restaurant costs around $40 a Coke about
$3 an imported beer more than $7 and a
one room apartment approximately
$1,600 depending on the
area 19 elves hula folk or hidden people
have been part of Icelandic history
since the Vikings first arrived on the
island most icelanders do not believe in
elves but a large portion of the
population is not willing to deny their
existence 20 there are four Icelandic
holidays that are considered to have a
special connection to elves New Year's
Eve 13th night January 6th summer night
and Christmas night 21 on New Year's Eve
icelanders light candles to guide the
elves on their journey in search of new
places 22 Iceland is a magnificent place
to see whales they can be seen around
the island and in the North Northern
fjords there is a permanent
population 23 the average salary in
Iceland is around
$3600 per month one of the highest in
the world 24 a typical Icelandic dish is
hakarl fermented shark it is made from
Greenland shark meat buried with stones
for months and dried the final product
smells of
ammonia 25 a century ago all alcoholic
beverages were banned but soon after all
were legalized except for beer beer was
legalized on March 1st
1989 they say that due to this contrast
Icelandic men and women are strong
drinkers 26 the most famous thermal
Waters in Iceland are those of the Blue
Lagoon or lagona asul a geothermal spa
located Southwest near the airport the
waters are at an average temperature
between 37 to 39° C and are rich in
silica and
sulfur 27 Iceland is one of the places
where puffins colorful beaked seabirds
reside but they are not only admired
they are also eaten even their fresh
heart is eaten raw as part of a
traditional
meal 28 the vestman islands archipelago
is home to the world's largest colony of
Atlantic puffins 29 Iceland has its own
horse breed the Icelandic horse which is
small and size 30 in the think valer
National Park is the silra fure one of
two places on Earth where you can
observe the boundary between two of the
largest tectonic plates there the North
American and Eurasian tectonic plates
are separated 31 the thing valer
National Park also has historical
importance as the all thingi or
Icelandic Parliament was founded there
in the year 930 ad one of the oldest in
the world 32 the suffix fos and
Icelandic means waterfall and there are
certainly some interesting ones in
Iceland like round faar the lava
waterfall where the water falls directly
from the interior of a solid lava field
33 dettifoss is a waterfall that is 45 M
high and 100 m wide with a flow rate of
400 cubic m/s given that Iceland is
considered a European country this
waterfall is the highest flow in Europe
34 RIS fiara is known as the black Beach
of the trolls for its large basaltic
formations according to tradition the
three large Stone outcroppings emerging
from the sea would be petrified trolls
caught by the Light of the sun 35 among
the most followed YouTubers in Iceland
are Koo the Icelandic blues rock band or
self-portrait photographer sella Amore
36 haor Julio arson one of the strongest
men in the world over 2 m tall is
Icelandic you may remember him playing
the mountain in Game of
Thrones 37 Anita bream austa Ava Erin J
and Hara hilmer are famous Icelandic
actresses 38 Iceland is the first
country in the world to have made it
illegal to pay men more than women 39
want to go to Iceland and save money
hitchhiking is common among Travelers
and icelanders are used to picking them
up but be careful if you're in a remote
location you could be waiting for hours
and not find a car or not be lucky and
the few that pass by don't
stop 40 icelanders are very hardworking
people Iceland is the country in Europe
with the highest number of working hours
the average work week is 43.5
hours 41 Icelandic women have won the
missworld pageant three times so they
also have the highest number of
beautiful women per capita 42 the wind
in Iceland is so varied that in their
language there were more than 100 words
to talk about wind 43 according to
Icelandic mythology Gila is a giant who
has the ability to detect children who
have been naughty during the year and
comes from the mountains during
Christmas to find and eat them 44
according to Icelandic tradition it is
better to have received new clothing
before Christmas Eve or else the fierce
Ule cat roaming the snowy Fields will
devour you 45 Iceland is one of the
countries with the highest longevity in
the world with 83 years for women and 80
for men 46 in this country there are
around 48% women and 52% men with an
average age of 38.4 years 47 Iceland's
water is one of the purest in the world
so it does not require
treatment 48 all icelanders speak
English in addition to Icelandic and
also learn Danish although they speak it
little 49 a genetic study of the
population of Iceland indicates that the
majority of the men who settled in the
country were of Nordic origin while the
majority of the women came from Ireland
50 Iceland has such icy surfaces that
there are no conditions for the survival
of ants so this country is the only one
in which ants do not exist 51 Iceland is
an Island located on the midatlantic
ridge between America and Europe
therefore it has a lot of volcanic
activity with about 130 volcanoes of
which 30 are active 52 technically from
a geological point of view half of
Iceland is American and the other half
is
European 53 although it has only 12
professional football players it
eliminated England in the Euro
2016 54 it is the only country in NATO
that has no Army 55 the word duvet comes
from ader an Icelandic duck whose
feathers were used to fill
duvet 56 the roads in Iceland are quite
unique the only one in optimal condition
is Road one or Ring Road which rounds
the island as the number indicating the
road increases the worse it
is 57 next to the jokul Saron glacial
Lake you will find Diamond Beach you
will see a unique spectacle with ice
flows floating in the river and sea as
well as large chunks of ice like
diamonds on the
shore 58 it is one of the countries in
the world where the most books are read
per person and almost all its
inhabitants play some musical instrument
59 the Halm Kira or halor church is a
Lutheran church located in
rikic the capital of Iceland its facade
is inspired by the lava flows of the
island at 74.5 M it is the highest
building in the country 60 only 23% of
Iceland's territory has vegetation and
14% is covered by Ice 61 some rivers in
Iceland flow indifferent to the the cold
and that is because their Waters reach
50° C 62 if you visit Iceland you should
go hiking at solai mokul a glacier in
southern Iceland between the volcanoes
katla and ahai jalou you will walk on
solidified lava surrounded by intense
White
Ice 63 a major tourist attraction in
Iceland is visiting Ice Caves of
glaciers and admiring the variations of
light and color of the ice from White to
turquoise blue 64 as is logical with so
many thermal upwellings in Iceland there
are geothermal power plants which use
the steam from the interior of the earth
to generate electricity 65 this is one
of the best connected countries to the
internet you have Wi-Fi signal
throughout the
island 66 Jules Vern was inspired by the
Icelandic volcano snaf jul on the snel
nness peninsula for his novel Journey to
the center of the
earth 67 in Iceland they practice the
Nordic nap for babies that is they are
left in their strollers parked at the
doors of shops cafes or restaurants to
sleep while their parents shop or have
lunch 68 the national flower of Iceland
is the eight petal drad or HTA solle a
shrub with eight white petals and
numerous yellow
stamans 69 the national animal of ice is
the gear
Falcon 70 svig is a traditional dish of
Iceland which consists of a sheep's head
cut in half from which the hair and
brains are removed and it is boiled
sometimes it is cured in lactic
acid 71 Iceland's favorite dessert is
ice cream especially Broger fur a
mixture of ice cream and candy and
options to choose from such as crushed
candy cookies licorice fruits
72 at skoga fos a waterfall located on
the skoga river there is a legend that
the first Viking colonizer in the area
buried treasure in a cave behind the
waterfall if you happen to see it when
you take the handle of the chest it
disappears 73 on the beaches of itri
Tunga in the south of the SN felis
Peninsula and hitan in the west fjords
you can observe
seals 74 near near to nafer in the west
fjords you can find the natural Hot
Springs of polarine you can enjoy them
for free as they are maintained by the
residents of the town without asking for
anything in
return 75 on the shores of the scus fer
Fjord in the city of Isa fjer you will
find the Heritage Museum of the West
fjords with a permanent exhibition in
one of the oldest houses in the
city 76 Iceland's most famous sculpture
is in its capital rikic and is called
the Sun Voyager designed by yon gunar
areson to commemorate the city's
Bicentennial it is a steel sculpture
that resembles a Viking
ship 77 the longest street in Iceland
and one of the oldest is laa veur in the
center of rikic it measures 2 km and its
name means Water Street as it used to be
the path to the hot springs to wash
clothes
78 in Iceland new waterfalls appear
periodically due to the melting of
glaciers until 2007 the glamour
waterfall at 197 M high was the highest
in the country but in that year another
one moraros appeared at 228 M 79 in ruic
is the pein Natural History Museum which
has an impressive glass
Dome they have even recreated a glacier
cave inside with sounds ice and at 15°
below zero 80 icelanders love to
practice sports such as football
basketball volleyball and horseback
riding but the national sport of Iceland
is actually handball 81 in Iceland there
were only seven species of terrestrial
mammals that live in the wild the arctic
fox the reindeer The Mink the field
mouse the house mouse the brown rat and
the black rat
82 in Iceland there are no trains or
Subway people travel by car on foot or
by bus in the
capital 83 one of the typical dishes of
Iceland is cmar a kind of pudding made
of cod stomach filled with its liver
sounds delicious
right 84 the iconic liquor of Iceland is
Brenin and sometimes called sarti Dai
which means Black Death it is made from
fermented potato mash and flavored with
caraway seeds 85 in Iceland it is
illegal to have snakes lizards and
Turtles as pets and only dogs can be
kept with a special permit there are no
problems with cats 86 it sounds strange
but boxing was banned in Iceland until
2002 as it was considered to incite
violence 87 the highest peak in Iceland
is Havana d nuor at 2,19 M located in
the northeast of the orai fokal volcano
the biggest challenge is learning the
name 88 in Iceland there are no
mosquitoes the only one that exists is
preserved at the Icelandic Institute of
natural history and was captured by GLE
maralen in the 1980s in an airplane
cabin 89 icelanders have the highest
number of Nobel prizes per capita in the
world not because they have many nobels
there's only one halor Kon loxes the
1955 Nobel Prize in literature but
because they have a small
population 90 The Cliff at latra Cape
that houses millions of seabirds is the
largest bird cliff in
Europe 91 although Iceland is not
tropical at the University of
agriculture in Iceland they maintain a
small banana plantation they produce
bananas every 18 months due to the
peculiar light
cycle 92 van nul is the largest glacier
in Europe in volume and the second in
area covering 8% of Iceland's land
mass 93 Icelandic Children Place their
shoes in the window of their bedroom
every night for 13 days before Christmas
this is because they receed the visit of
the 13 ual Lads each of whom leaves a
small
gift 94 I land is one of the few
countries that has a genetic information
Bank of all its inhabitants as well as a
huge genealogical
database 95 the harpa concert hall is
the conference and Concert Hall in rikic
and its facade is made up of many pieces
of glass of different sizes and shapes
that reflect both the sky and the Sea 96
Iceland has three national parks
including the largest in Europe vanok
National Park then there is snif yokal
National Park and think valer National
Park 97 Iceland has a high perit a
number of cars with 1.5 vehicles for
each
inhabitant 98 in Iceland it is common to
divert the path of Roads or alter
construction projects to avoid affecting
Rocky areas where it is believed that
houses or churches of elves
exist 99 the local Museum in Isa fer is
the oldest building in Iceland dating
back to
1734 in Iceland old houses have the year
they were built on their
[Music]
facades 100 icelanders Love psur
Icelandic hot dogs in rikic there is a
famous street vendor because Bill
Clinton commented that they were the
best hot dogs in the
world we have finished with these
Curiosities about Iceland if you know
more because you have visited the
country leave them in the comments and
if you like the video give it a like and
share it with your family and friends I
hope to see you again here see you soon
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