Iceland

Iceland Trivia
Icelanders don’t have a nickname, they use a handy system by which they match the son’s name with the father’s in each generation. At the same time, families do not identify themselves by a nickname or family branch, something very different from what we are used to.
There is no private health or education, public services are so good that there are no complaints. More books are bought per inhabitant than in any other country. They invented the Icelandic sagas, the most similar to a novel.
Geyser is one of the few Icelandic words exported to the world through English, which incorporates the ending to refer to the well-known geological phenomenon that occurs on the island and which is almost universally used.
The Icelandic language is only used in Iceland and is very similar to some Scandinavian languages, especially Old Norwegian.
It is not a very populated country, it has 360 000 inhabitants, half of them concentrated in the capital – Reykjavik – being one of the countries with the most concentrated population in the world and the safest.
It is a pioneer country in terms of implementing democracy. Presumably it has the oldest democratic system in the world, founded some 1000 years ago. In 1996 gay marriage was legalized.
In Iceland, water (from rain and nature reserves) is so abundant and uncontaminated that what is consumed reaches homes without any type of treatment. The large number of thermal sources provides an efficient and inexpensive heating system for homes. In Summer there are 24 hours of light.
Winter is not as cold as you might think, due to the relation of its latitude and the moderation of the ocean. The daytime temperature is around 0°C. Volcanic-type underground channels provide free hot water. There are 33 volcanoes and it is the country with the most and largest documented volcanic eruptions.
Iceland is the only NATO country that does not have armed forces, which were abolished in the 13th century. Only a tiny fraction of the country’s 679 police – a crisis unit called The Vikings – use guns. The annual murder rate is less than five and the total amount of the imprisoned population is 118.
Iceland has the highest density of mobile phones per capita in the world. There are more mobile phones than inhabitants, and ¾ of the population has an Internet connection.

Blue calcite, close to a geothermal phenomenon.

Exploring the Valleys Beyond and the Akureyri Fjords

GULLFOSS
Gullfoss, the Golden Cascade, is a cataract located on the Hvítá River in southeastern Iceland.
It is one of the most popular attractions in the country. It is located on the wide bed of the Hvítá river, which runs to the south and a kilometer from the waterfall turns abruptly to the east, falling in three curved steps. At that moment, the water falls in jumps: 11 and 21 m, in a crack 32 m deep, some 20 m wide and 2,5 km long. The average flow in this cataract is 140 m³/s in Summer and 80 m³/s in Winter. The maximum measured water flow is 2000 m³/s.
When the visitor approaches the waterfall, the crevice hides the view, giving the feeling that the mighty river simply disappears underground.

Mountains and Lake Frostastadavatn in South Highland

The Orange Mold at Churchyard Tombstones

SKOGAFSS
Skogaföss is one of Iceland’s largest, most beautiful and impressive waterfalls. According to legend, the first Viking inhabitant buried his treasure in a cave behind this waterfall.

Northern Iceland. Lights above the gray clouds of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

BLUE LAGOON
Blue Lagoon is a natural geothermal resort, surrounded by lava fields and sandy beaches. Relaxing in this lagoon, in a vaporous environment, is captivating, providing a pleasant experience. The temperature is 37-39 °C.
The Blue Lagoon is famous for its unique active ingredients and their effects on the mind and body. Salts, silica and sulfur provide well-being. Algae give blue, green and nutrients. White silica, cleansing slime, and massage are highly recommended.