31 Weird Facts About Iceland That Will Amaze You
1. A majority of Icelanders believe in elves. 2. At about 39,000 square miles, Iceland is small – close to the size of Ohio. 3. There is a volcanic eruption every 4 years on average. 4. There are no forests in Iceland. 5. Beer remained illegal in Iceland until 1989. 6. At 43.5 hours per week, they have the longest work week in Europe. 7. The Icelandic language remains unchanged from ancient Norse. That means 1,000-year-old texts are still easily read. 8. Babies in Iceland are routinely left outside to nap. 9. 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. 10. 60% of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík. 11. Iceland’s revenue from whale watching exceeds any income from whaling. 12. Usually a temperate country, not too hot or cold, the highest temperatu