Discovery of Iceland: life and work prospects for Russian migrants at the ends of the earth. Iceland Iceland is famous

The subject of our review today will be Iceland. Description of the country, interesting facts, attractions - all this is in the material presented below.

general information

Iceland is an island and a state. is 103 thousand sq. km, which is home to about 322 thousand people. The capital is the city of Reykjavik, where a third of the country's total population is concentrated, and with its suburbs - more than half. The official language is Icelandic, and the currency is the Icelandic krona, the exchange rate of which in 2016 was 122 kroner per 1 USD. Iceland is a parliamentary republic headed by a president elected for a 4-year term. To enter the country, Russian citizens need a foreign passport and a Schengen visa.

Location

Iceland, a land of ice, is located at the northern tip of the Atlantic Ocean, with no large landmass until the North Pole. Its northern part is located near the Arctic Circle.

The island is remote from the rest of Europe: from the nearest Faroe Islands 420 km, from the island of Great Britain 860 km, and from the nearest point on the mainland coast of Norway 970 km. An interesting fact is that, despite this, Iceland is a European country, although it is much closer to the North American island of Greenland - 287 km.

Iceland: interesting facts about the country

The discovery of Iceland dates back to the end of the 8th century by Irish monks, and after them the Normans Nadod and Floki arrived here. Following these events, at the end of the 9th century, the active settlement of the island began by Vikings - immigrants from Norway, who in half a century managed to develop almost all the land suitable for habitation and economic development.

In 1264, Iceland was annexed by Norway, and in 1381, it became part of Denmark. The country gained its independence only in 1944.

The inhabitants of the island are a courageous and proud people who respect their historical past and cultural traditions. In particular, to ancient Icelandic legends - sagas telling about family feuds, exciting events, about elves, gnomes and other mysterious characters, in the existence of which some residents still believe.

Iceland is that there is practically no crime here - there is only one prison, and it contains no more than a dozen people. The police here walk around without weapons, but there is no army at all.

The basis of the modern economy is made up of only two industries - aluminum processing and fishing. By the way, it will be said that the annual catch volumes of the islanders are second only to Norway among European countries.

Iceland is one of the prosperous countries. Thus, the average per capita annual income here is $39,000 (by our ruble standards - every resident here, including infant, - millionaire).

Nature

The country of Iceland, for all its modest size, is the world's largest island of volcanic origin. The island's topography is predominantly mountainous; the peaks are the vents of extinct and active volcanoes. The highest of them is the peak of Hvannadalskhnukur (2110 m), located in the south west coast. The lowest point is located very nearby - this is the lagoon of a glacial lake (0 meters above sea level).

Many of the active volcanoes make themselves known from time to time powerful eruptions. The most large volcano The island is considered to be the famous Hekla (1488 meters), located near “Greater Reykjavik” and frightened local residents with its eruption in 2000.

The longest river on the island is Tjoursau (237 km). Among other water bodies, glaciers abound and glacial lakes, found everywhere and in innumerable quantities.

Iceland is unique in its diversity of natural landscapes. In addition to glaciers, the surface of the country is covered in many places with lava fields. Geysers and hot springs are common in these areas. The island is scattered with rocky areas covered with thick mosses and lichens, islands of birch forests and grass meadows. Waterfalls in various parts of the island make the area particularly picturesque. On the west coast, numerous fjords amaze with their beauty. National parks have been created in the country to protect the stunning nature.

Climate and typical weather

Iceland - northern country, which doesn’t quite live up to its icy name. The Gulf Stream, which washes it especially from the south, prevents it from becoming a cold, harsh desert.

Winters here are relatively warm, with average monthly temperature-1 °C, which can be the envy of many territories located to the south of Russia. However, during some periods of this season, cold winds are frequent, which, together with accumulations of drifting arctic ice, especially in the southeast, cause sharp drops in temperature down to -30 °C. The duration of daylight hours is no more than five hours.

Summer here is not hot. Average temperatures in July are only +12 °C. It is warmest on the southern coast - up to +20 °C, with maximums up to + 30 °C. IN summer period The entire island is illuminated by the sun around the clock, and there are white nights characteristic of polar latitudes.

Precipitation is distributed unevenly across the island. For example, on the west coast their number ranges from 1300 to 2000 mm per year, in the northeast their norm is up to 750 mm, and in the mountainous part southern regions can have values ​​up to 4000 mm.

The weather here is very changeable, and without exaggeration we can say that it can change in just a few minutes. It had just been warm and sunny, when suddenly the sky became cloudy and a cold, dank wind blew. Residents of the country jokingly tell their visiting guests and tourists: “If suddenly you don’t like something about the weather, then don’t despair, wait about half an hour and it will change.”

Reykjavik attractions

Reykjavik - main city, capital of Iceland. What country cannot boast a huge number of attractions? Likewise, Iceland has something to show tourists. In particular, its main city houses historical and architectural monuments, museums and modern institutions. Among them, the attention of tourists is attracted by:

• Hallgrimskirkja Temple is a religious Lutheran building from the mid-20th century, in the form of a volcanic eruption. There is a large organ inside. In front of the church there is a statue of Happy.
• The Cathedral, which is the main temple, built at the end of the 18th century.
• The Althing (Parliament) building was built in the classicist style in the 19th century.
• Perlane, or pearl, looks like a daisy with a blue dome. It is located on a high hill and has a rotating platform for viewing the panorama of the city. Inside the building there is the Saga Museum, winter Garden, artificial geyser, shopping pavilions and restaurants.
• "Kaffy Reykjavik" - this bar is unusual in that it consists of solid blocks of ice, and drinks are certainly served in ice glasses.
• Concert Hall "Harpa". Its facades consist of multi-colored glass cells, which, with the help of built-in LEDs, impress visitors with a play of colors.

Blue Lagoon

The lagoon is a geothermal source and a resort with all the proper infrastructure. This is perhaps the most famous and visited place for hundreds of thousands of tourists. A lagoon is an artificially created body of water with a constant temperature of 40 °C. This is the only place of its kind on the planet that is filled with visitors all year round. It has been found that swimming in the mineral-rich waters of the lake helps heal skin diseases.

Valley of Geysers

It arose in the 13th century after a strong earthquake. The main source, called the Great Geysir, ejects a stream of very high temperature water to a height of up to 70 meters from a depth of more than two thousand meters. The contemplation of this majestic spectacle leaves a strong impression. There are also places for swimming in less hot springs. Residents use the natural heat of the geysers to heat their homes.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

The waterfall is located in the south of the island and is very popular among tourists. Water falls from a height of 60 meters. It flows down from the rocks that used to be coastline, but now a picturesque valley has formed in this place. The beauty of the waterfall (in combination with the surrounding landscape) has no equal. That's why his photographs are featured on calendars and postcards.

Colored mountains

During the warm season of the year national park Landmannalaugar offers a striking sight - colorful mountains. The mountain slopes glow with unusual stripes - brown, yellow, pink, blue, purple, green, white and black. The reason for this phenomenon is associated with volcanic origin. rocks. The park's location near the Hekla volcano makes it one of the most popular tourist centers countries.

Vatnajökull National Park

What else can you tell about Iceland? Facts about the country and all its attractions simply cannot be listed in one article. But still I would like to mention this park. It was created in 2008. It covers almost 12% of Iceland's territory and is the largest in Europe. The main highlight of the park is the glacier of the same name with an area of ​​up to 8100 square meters. km and ice thickness up to 500 meters. Under its shell there are beautiful ice caves, as well as seven active volcanoes.

For entertainment in Vatnajökull, tourists can take walks around beautiful places, engage in winter sports, but bathing in hot springs located inside ice caves is especially popular.

Undoubtedly, this is only a small part of the natural attractions of the country of Iceland; many more interesting and mysterious things await tourists in its vastness.

All cities in Iceland

Climate. Best time to travel

Iceland has a subarctic maritime climate, due to which the island has two distinct seasons - winter and summer. Spring is short and hasty Golden autumn They also take place in these parts, but in order to notice them, you need to live at least a little in Iceland. From the point of view of economy, it is better to go to get acquainted with the beauties of the “ice country” from November to February. Yes, the daylight hours will be short and the weather is unlikely to be stable, but it will be all the more pleasant to make your way to natural wonders like frozen waterfalls, ice caves and hot springs.

The Northern Lights are also a winter thing, as are alien orange-purple sunsets. But you shouldn’t be afraid of Icelandic frosts. Due to the Gulf Stream passing nearby, in January the thermometer on the island does not drop below -2 °C (mountainous areas do not count). Another argument in favor winter tour- Trettaundinn holiday. On this day, Icelanders send their Santa Clauses back to the mountains, setting off fireworks in their honor and treating those who wish to the delicacies of Old Scandinavian cuisine.

Spring in Iceland does not fit into the Europeans’ idea of ​​this time of year, since even with the arrival of May, no sharp warming is expected in the vastness of the country: +7 °C is all that can be expected from spring days. There are not many advantages to the Icelandic summer, but they are significant - a noticeable increase in daylight hours, the arrival of orange-billed puffins and the opportunity to stay in a hotel at a pleasant discount. By the way, Prohibition was in effect on the island for 74 years, which only expired in 1989, so in the spring you can also have fun at the Beer Festival. It is worth considering that the prices for drinks in festival days take off.

Iceland in summer will cost an order of magnitude more than in winter. Firstly, because, starting in June, tourists flock to the country. And secondly, due to the seasonal availability of natural attractions - from December to April you can get to many places of worship due to weather vagaries it will not work. Among the advantages of a summer tour are unforgettable white nights, relative warmth (sometimes up to +20 ° C), the opportunity to hang out at Independence Day and the Sjomannadagurinn festival, and of course, breathtaking hiking in the most epic locations “the land of the sagas and Arctic fjords.”

Important: You won't be able to wear shorts and a T-shirt in Iceland even during peak times summer season. The reason for this is the piercing winds that bring rain, and in winter also snow. So, no matter what month you choose to travel, take an extra set of warm, waterproof clothes - you can be sure that they won’t last.

History of Iceland

Historians continue to argue over who exactly discovered Iceland to the world. According to some versions, Irish monks were the first to explore the island. At the same time, archaeological finds suggest that the ancient Romans were involved in this matter. But the “land of ice and fire” began to be fully populated only in the 9th century, after the Vikings landed in Iceland and liked the lands so much that they decided to stay there and found their own state. As a result, the country entered the so-called era of democracy - a unique system of government at that time, headed not by a king, but by a people's assembly (Althing).

At the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, Iceland adopted Christianity, which did not stop its population from getting carried away with writing heroic sagas and being afraid of trolls. And in 1262, Norway suddenly remembered the island, after which local residents had to recognize the power of the Norwegian monarch. A little over a hundred years later, Denmark joined the process of dividing Icelandic lands, subjugating the state and incorporating it into its own territories along with Norway. As a result, until the beginning of the 20th century, Iceland remained part of Hamlet’s homeland and only in 1918 was it able to declare itself an independent kingdom, without finally breaking the union with Denmark.

In 1944, the island changed its political status, turning from a kingdom into a republic, and in 1949 it joined the NATO bloc. But the most serious test awaited the “ice country” in 2008, when the global crisis led the local economy, if not to collapse, then to something very close. As a result, until 2012, the financial situation in the state remained difficult and unstable.

Mentality and language barrier

Icelanders are a strong-willed, athletic people, proud of their ability to maintain equanimity in the most critical situations. At the same time, the ostentatious seriousness and lack of sociability sometimes attributed to the islanders is just a defensive reaction. Icelanders prefer to open their souls to their compatriots rather than to foreigners. As for communication at the everyday level, here local residents They are emphatically friendly and respond politely to tourists’ requests for services.

There are many tales about the unpunctuality of Icelanders, and there is some truth in such jokes. In harsh climatic conditions What is held in high esteem is not working hard, but the ability to find the right balance between work and rest. But the worn-out clichés about the superstitions inherent in the descendants of the Vikings remain, although beautiful, but an exaggeration. Icelandic trolls and gnomes have not harmed anyone for a long time, having migrated into the category fairy tale characters, which are sometimes used to scare naughty children.

The official language on the island is Icelandic, which the average tourist should not try to get acquainted with. Firstly, because it is as close as possible to Old Norse with its unpronounceable vocabulary: name famous volcano Compared to other words, Eyjafjallajokull is not the most difficult option. And secondly, because 90% of the local population speaks English fluently. At the same time, the natives of the island extol their native speech as something unique, and are happy to come up with new terms that have no analogues in other languages. For example, only in Iceland can one express the state of delight over a dirty trick done to someone with one single word – Pórðargleði.

Money

The country's national currency is the Icelandic krona (ISK). 1 ISK is approximately 0.51 RUB (rate as of November 2019). You can exchange money at the airport, bank branches and The Change Group exchange offices, but the latter usually charge a commission, the amount of which can be either fixed or depending on the amount being converted. Bank branches in Iceland operate on a five-day schedule from 9:00 to 16:00. If for some reason things don’t work out with banks, you can look into large hotels and inns, which almost always have their own currency exchanger.

ATMs are everywhere, but in cities there is no need to cash out, since cards from international payment systems are accepted almost everywhere, including campsites and gas stations. In addition, a commission will be deducted for each transaction.

Attractions and entertainment in Iceland

Iceland for tourists is a “tale of wanderings”, which is best read outside of Reykjavik. Of course, in the capital of the country there are also worth attention objects, but the vast majority of them are architectural. But you can see the land “before the beginning of time” and the incomparable creations of Arctic nature only outside the cities, of which, by the way, there are very few on the island.

It is recommended to build a route depending on the amount of time you have to spend in the “land of heroic sagas”. If you decide to stay in Iceland for a couple of weeks, start with a tour along the coast, periodically deviating inland, with inevitable visits to fjords, volcanoes and waterfalls.

For those planning a short-term vacation, it is wiser to travel to locations that are minimally distant from Reykjavik. For example, hang out at the Glymur waterfall, which is considered the highest on the island (198 m) and is located northwest of the capital. Or splash around in the Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal pool located an hour's drive from administrative center countries. And of course, don’t miss the magnificent Esya – snowy mountain range, which is only 10 kilometers from Reykjavik, the slopes of which are climbed annually by thousands of professional climbers and extreme sports enthusiasts.

Almost very close to the capital is the famous Hvalfjord, also known as the Fjord of the Whale, whose surroundings have been adored by several generations of hiking enthusiasts. It is not necessary to go around the entire fjord, which cuts into the land in a 30-kilometer “sleeve,” since there is a car tunnel underneath it.

One of the most “worn out” by tourist groups, but nevertheless romantic routes is Golden ring Iceland. The volcanic crater Kerid with an ultramarine lake at the bottom, the Høykadalur valley with its gigantic geysers Geysir and Strokkur, as well as the Gullfoss waterfall with an interesting, albeit quite modern legend, await everyone who sets out on this exciting path.

Another location included in the Golden Circle and relatively close to Reykjavik is Thingvellir Park, listed World Heritage UNESCO. It was on its territories that Icelandic statehood was born and the Althing met to vote. And in Thingvellir there is Sylfa, the deepest fault in the earth’s crust, formed by the collision of the Eurasian and North American lithospheric plates. Today the crack is filled with crystal clean water, so in the summer it is literally “teeming” with divers and snorkelers of all stripes.

Travelers who dream of rewinding millions of years ago and finding out what the planet looked like after it was “covered” by a glacier should move away from the Icelandic capital and take a ride to Vatnajökull Park. The snow-covered meditative landscapes of the park hide underneath active volcanoes, as well as stunningly beautiful ice caves, so get hiking boots and join a tour group with an experienced guide. In addition, from June to September, visitors have the chance to get to the Dettifoss waterfall, which is part of the protected natural area Vatnajökull. The stormy stream rushing down from the plateau resembles the Niagara water cascades, although it is somewhat smaller in size.

Next door to Vatnajökull is another Icelandic miracle - the Jökulsárlón ice lagoon. You won’t be able to take a steam bath here, as, for example, in the Blue Valley - the temperature is not right. But flying across the blue surface in an amphibious boat and snapping hundreds of fantastic shots of seals is as easy as shelling pears. Collectors of local folklore, troll hunters and simply lovers of ancient legends flock to the south of Vatnajökull. The place that has concentrated all the otherworldly forces of Iceland is a village with the unpronounceable name Kirkjubæjarklaustur, leading its mystical story since 1186.

Third in a row national park Iceland's Snæfellsjökull is hidden on the western tip of the island. The name Snæfellsjökull belongs not only to the park, but also to the glacier located in it. However, it was not he who ensured the worldwide fame and tourist attractiveness of the place, but the writer Jules Verne, who transferred the action of his novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” to the Snaefells volcano, which is located in the park area.

Architecture and monuments

The most interesting creations of human hands are in Reykjavik. True, the Icelandic capital “shows off” before tourists mainly with its modern structures, but this in no way detracts from its value as an object of study. For example, the building looks very unusual Concert hall, resembling a honeycomb in cross-section with glass facades. In the center of the city, the Town Hall is worthy of attention. The concrete structure itself looks somewhat alien surrounded by ascetic houses, so don’t miss the opportunity to look inside to appreciate the giant 3D map of the island and plan a route around its non-mainstream attractions.

At least a couple of minutes of admiring bewilderment will be provided by examining the facades of the church. Externally, the iconic building resembles a rocket ready to take off, although the design of the building was developed long before the space age. If you want something more classic, take a walk to Landakotskirkja Cathedral - this is an old familiar neo-Gothic, adapted to the Icelandic climatic realities and made of high-strength concrete. By the way, Iceland likes to give churches an atypical look, so if you happen to get to the cities of Akureyri and Kopavogur (part of the Reykjavik agglomeration), take a walk near the original church buildings.

1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, about 320 thousand people live here, and before the Second World War the population of the country was only 50 thousand.

2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when a couple separates or divorces, they always try to maintain good relations. Cases when an ex-boyfriend does not communicate with an ex-girlfriend or ex-spouses do not talk to each other are extremely rare, because in any case, they have almost all of their friends and acquaintances in common.

3. Instead of surnames in Iceland there are patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “son” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if this is a daughter) is added to the father’s name, which results, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia is the daughter of Palmars.

4. If the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but after the mother’s name.

5. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, the doors of houses are often not locked, car keys are thrown in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or store.

6. In Reykjavik, it is considered normal to go out to the nearest grocery store in your pajamas.

7. Reykjavik residents almost always pay for their purchases bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash payments are not accepted here.

8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is harmful to health, so in winter everyone here sniffles, that is, sorry, they suck in the snot.

9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent; even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems.

10. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think; the temperature here rarely drops below -6 degrees.

11. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets at 16.00. Replaced in summer long nights long days come, compared to which the white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing; in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.

12. The lack of sunlight in winter is compensated to some extent by the northern lights; they can be observed constantly, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to them.

13. Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all residents of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, are required to take fish oil, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.

14. Almost all residents of Iceland have profiles on Facebook; according to the latest data, Iceland is an active country on the social network.

15. Even if a resident of Iceland for some reason does not have a profile on Facebook, he can still be easily found on the Internet. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the ja.is website, where they indicate their first and last name, telephone number, address and place on the map where their home is located.

16. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed towards you, he demonstrates this by touching you every now and then.

17. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local women like to dye their hair a darker shade.

18. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required, most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, which is also why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik.

19. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay pride parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.

20. The most popular professions in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter is trying to get an education in a creative profession, and at the same time plays in some rock or folk band.

21. For the reason described above, no one here uses the services of designers, for example, in order to come up with the design of an apartment or a wedding dress. Residents of Iceland are sure that each of them is their own artist, so they prefer to come up with both the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress themselves.

22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.

23. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, they take the competition for young performers very seriously, and during the live broadcast the whole country watches what is happening on TV.

24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland; the last one closed in 2008 during the crisis.

25. The most popular names in Iceland: male - Jon and female - Guvrun. Old mythological names are also still common, such as aðalsteinn, which means "main stone".

26. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use abbreviated rather than full versions of names in everyday life, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dabby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppie, Jon - Nonny, etc.

27. The language of Iceland has remained virtually unchanged over the past 1000 years, so it contains letters that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read ancient Viking sagas in the original without any problems.

28. The local population generally loves to read; today, according to some sources, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.

29. The cost of wine in Iceland is often influenced not by the year of its production or quality, but by strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost several times less than a 15-degree babble.

30. Not in Iceland armed forces, their functions are performed to some extent by the coast guard.

31. Police in Iceland do not carry weapons and are not issued pistols.

32. Residents of Reykjavik, for the most part, are terrible at parking; they can abandon their car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place are of little help.

33. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources; gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.

34. There is no need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes; it is still poured from the tap. This is local water thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely suitable for drinking.

35. But hot tap water in Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.

36. Taking a hot thermal bath is a popular evening activity in Reykjavik; the cost of visiting when purchasing a subscription is about 5 euros.

37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a central heating system, which distinguishes the country favorably from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each time you turn on the heater.

38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic legislation allowed residents of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is due to the fact that in the past, Turkish pirates often robbed Icelandic ships and coastal villages.

39. To this day, Icelandic legislation allows residents of the country to kill polar bears for food.

40. Liquorice is very popular in Iceland; it is added to any dish, plus they produce chocolates filled with licorice.

41. The national dish of Iceland is hakarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. If you don’t chew it and just swallow it, it’s still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you’ll feel the “magical” taste of urea. The fact is that the Greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot underground or in a basement for three months. The creators of The Simpsons mocked the taste of this dish in one of the episodes of the animated series.

42. In Iceland they eat mainly fish, and all dishes are topped with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of fish may not be recognized.

43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, while Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and they also love Coca-Cola.

44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which leads to difficulties when building a house or road. Before starting construction, local “witches” are consulted to determine whether this or that stone can be moved, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, Icelanders have to perform magical rituals, for example, keeping the stone in honey for some time.

45. 2,148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on the revival of Icelandic and Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to traditional marriage registration.

46. ​​In addition to the well-known Santa Claus, in Iceland there are 15 more Santa Clauses of different types, by and large they are all elves, in whom the locals believe.

47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a children's playground.

48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted sheep's wool jacket with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time.

49. Icelanders are proud to have the oldest undissolved parliament in the world, it is called Alþingi and was founded in 930.

50. Residents of Iceland are very trusting; when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous place of work, but simply take the newcomer’s word for it.

51. In the Icelandic Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, so-called “necropants” made from the flayed skin of the lower body of a dead person are on display. To receive them, the Icelandic sorcerer had to secure the person’s consent during his lifetime, and after death, dig up the body from the grave and tear off the skin in one piece. Then the ritual required stealing a coin from the widow and placing it in the scrotum of the necropants along with a special sign drawn on a piece of paper. It was believed that wearing such pants would allow you to quickly get rich.

52. Every Icelandic citizen has access to the Íslendingabók website, a genealogical database containing information about the family ties of all Icelanders since the 18th century. The task of compiling such a database could be solved thanks to the not very large population of the state (just over 300 thousand) and the fact that Iceland throughout its history was weakly influenced by both emigration and immigration. Many young people use this site to check if their new lover is their first cousin, to rule out the possibility of incest. Another popular use of the site is to check your relationship to famous people. For example, every Icelander can find out how many generations later he is related to Björk.

53. The most famous representatives of Icelandic folklore are the Huldufólk, or hidden people, who are often identified with elves. According to legends, these creatures hide in the mountains, although some Icelanders build small houses for them in their gardens and even small churches in order to convert the elves to Christianity. Sometimes in Iceland, building or utility projects are changed to avoid disturbing the supposed habitats of the elves, and in 2004 the Alcoa Corporation even had to obtain a certificate from a government expert that the chosen site for an aluminum smelter was free of hidden people. Surveys show that the number of Icelanders who accept or are confident in its existence is greater than those who doubt or completely deny elves.

54. Iceland is predominantly inhabited by coastal areas, and people travel around the country mainly along the coastal strip. Historically, Icelanders refer to the northwest edge of the island as west, the northeast edge as north, the eastern edge as east, and the Reykjavik area as south. Therefore, linguistic incidents are possible: when heading from the northwestern outskirts towards the northeastern outskirts, an Icelander says that he is going “north”, although in fact he is moving east, and when heading from the southwestern outskirts towards Reykjavik, i.e. in fact to the north, the Icelander says he is going “south”.

55. Until the 1990s, Iceland had a law according to which a foreigner wishing to take Icelandic citizenship must adopt an Icelandic name or change his name according to the traditions of the Icelandic language. But exceptions were made for celebrities. When the Soviet conductor and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy emigrated to Iceland, the country's government added a new name to the official list of permitted names: “Vladimir Ashkenazy.”

56. In Scandinavian countries, dishes made from rotten or fermented fish are common. For example, the Icelandic dish hakarl is made from rotten shark meat, and the Swedish surströmming is made from sour herring.

57. Most residents of Iceland do not have a surname that is familiar to us, but are identified by their first and patronymic names. For example, Magnus Karlsson is Magnus, the son of Karl, and Anna Karlsdottir is Anna, the daughter of Karl.

59. In the Scandinavian countries (Norway and Iceland) the highest birth rate in Europe is among the indigenous population, not the immigrant population. The Scandinavians initially relied on improving the quality of life of the child, and not on increasing the number of births.

60. Detifoss waterfall, located in Iceland, is considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe: it discharges about 500 m³ of water per second. The splashes from it are visible at a distance of a kilometer, and in sunny weather the waterfall is certainly decorated with a rainbow.

62. For a long time, negotiations between representatives of the Scandinavian countries were conducted “in Scandinavian style” (in Swedish, Norwegian or Danish), but in last years Scandinavian languages ​​are increasingly being replaced by English at the request of representatives of Finland and Iceland

63. The largest glacier in Europe, Vatna Jökul (“glacier that gives water”, 8.5 thousand sq. km, which is equal to the area of ​​​​all glaciers of the European subcontinent) is located in the southeast of the country.

64. According to European Union statistics, more than 25% of the energy consumed by Scandinavians comes from renewable sources. For comparison, we note that for other European countries this figure is, on average, only six percent.

65. According to experts, Iceland, Germany and Norway finance health care the most - more than 9% of the state budget.

66 Reykjavik is the northernmost metropolis in the world (64 north latitude), founded in 874. Reykjavik got its name from the eruption of geothermal steam from geothermal springs, and it literally means “Smoky Bay”.

67. The widest “boiling” river in the world is Deidartunguver north of Reykjavik. The water consumption in these cascades of boiling water gushing from hot springs is 225 liters. per second.

68. The longest living creature on Earth was found off the coast of Iceland. It turned out to be a mollusk. Scientists counted the number of rings on its shell and found that the creature’s age is 405-410 years.

69. The territory of Iceland covers 103,300 square meters. km, of which glaciers occupy 11,000 sq. km, and the lakes are 2,700 sq. km. The country is rich in forests, stretching over an area of ​​about

1,511 sq. km. The most big lake in the country it is called Dingvallavatn, and the highest peak is Hvannadalshnukur.70. The country has a population of more than 300,000 people, of which about 150,000 people live in the capital. Part of the population settled along coastal areas. Many inland regions of the country are not suitable for living. The average life expectancy of Icelanders is 80 years.

71. Since Iceland has many volcanoes, 30 of which have erupted in the last two hundred years, they are used to produce geothermal energy. The rivers flowing through the country provide it with hydroelectric energy. Since there are many rivers with hot water, the country receives heating that does not pollute the environment.

72. The Scandinavians settled in Iceland at the beginning of the 9th century. The founder of the capital is the Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarson. Thus, people here use the Viking language, which was refined by many civilizations. Residents of the island bear their father's names rather than their surnames. Consequently, members of the same family have different surnames, which can confuse foreigners.

73. Icelanders use the heritage of antiquity by introducing some modern changes. They live in perfect harmony. There are many artists in the country who are specialists in the art of singing and composing.

74. At different times of the year, many colorful festivals are held here, and thematic exhibitions are often organized. The country has excellent culinary traditions, where important place occupied by seafood delicacies.75. Iceland is one of the first countries in the world to have a republican government. The country is now governed by a parliament called the Althing, which consists of 63 members. These members are elected every four years. The head of state has no influence on the country's politics.

76. The country's economy largely depends on fishing. Most people in the country work in the fishing industry and other related industries. Today's government is focusing on tourism industry In addition, the second largest industry, close in importance to the fishing industry, is the export industry. The bulk of the country's income comes from seafood exports.

77. Iceland is a recognized member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).78. The many activities on the island are attracting increasing and large quantity tourists. These include whale watching, bird watching, hiking, horse riding, skiing, cycling, fishing, kayaking and glacier excursions.

79. Less than one percent of the world's population will be able to pronounce the word Eyjafjallajukutl. This is Iceland's most famous volcano. Of the several thousand people surveyed, only 0.005% were able to pronounce this word.

80. From July 1, 2010, striptease was banned in Iceland. To date, this is the only European country, where this type of dancing is prohibited.81. Despite the strong physical condition of the majority of the population, the most widespread sport in the country is chess. In 1931, parliament was dissolved for vacation due to the arrival of the famous Russian chess player Alexei Alekhine.

82. Today, more than 11% of Iceland's territory is covered by glaciers. The parliament in Iceland has been in operation since the tenth century, namely since 930, and is considered the oldest working parliament in the world. It still works today.

83. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, the northernmost capital of planet Earth. Back in the ninth century, the first settler of the island built a farm on the site of the capital, from which the country began to expand in all directions. His name was Ingolf Arnarson. Translated from the ancient Celtic language, Reykjavik reads “Smoking Bay”.84. In 1963 new island Surtsey appeared in the ocean off the southern coast of Iceland as a result of a volcanic eruption.

86. Iceland is the largest island of volcanic origin.

87. The Scandinavians settled in Iceland at the beginning of the 9th century. The first settler is the Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarsson.

88. Iceland produces 4 times more books per capita than the United States.

89. In Iceland there is a special phallic museum, which displays 150 penises of more than 40 species of mammals, as well as a collection of related objects. There is no human phallus on display yet, but the museum curator has already secured consent to receive this exhibit after death from an eighty-year-old farmer who is still in a “sexual” state.

90. The central part of the island in winter is so harsh and so similar to the lunar landscape that NASA worked with its astronauts to reach the surface of the Moon in Central Iceland.

91. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is the first female president in Europe and the second in the world. Icelanders are very proud of this fact. She was elected in 1980 and remained as president for 4 terms, until 1996.

92. The area of ​​the country is 7 times larger than the area of ​​the Moscow region.

93. The 1 Icelandic krona coin features a cod, the 10 krona coin features a herring, the 50 krona coin features a crab, and the 100 krona coin features a sea bass. The Icelandic currency is called isk in abbreviation.

94. There are no trees in Iceland. Or rather, there are individual trees and artificial plantings, but there are no dense forests. The first Icelandic settlers are to blame for this. When the field was exhausted they burned new site forests and sowed barley on it. Gradually, the forests on the island disappeared, and today soil erosion is one of the main problems of the country.

95. Icelanders are very proud of their language, and in every possible way resist what they consider to be the harmful influence of other languages ​​on Icelandic. There is even a special language commission, the main goal of which is to protect Icelandic from the penetration of foreign words. When any foreign concept or definition comes into use in the country, the commission specially invents or finds an Icelandic equivalent for it.

96. There are few cats in Iceland.

97. Completely absent in Iceland railways. It is preferable to travel on regular roads in Iceland in a 4x4 jeep. Optimally - on a super jeep with huge wheels, more than a meter long.

98. The pride of Iceland and one of its national symbols - Blue Lagoon . This is a completely unique geothermal lake located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwestern part of Iceland. The size of the lake is about 200m wide and several kilometers long. The water temperature in it is +37 °C all year round. The bottom of the lagoon is covered with black basalt sand and silica - white soft mud. Every year the lake is visited by more than 300 thousand people.

99. The most famous inhabitant of Iceland is ( remember the gift to her from the country). This elf-like singer definitely became a symbol of Iceland in the 90s.

100. Iceland received its name from a Norwegian Viking named Floki, who, having seen icebergs off the coast of the island, began to call it Ice land.101. A traditional Icelandic souvenir is the Icelandic Lopi sweater with a distinctive circular design around the neck. As souvenirs for foreigners, these sweaters are knitted from soft imported wool. The sweater is made from real Icelandic wool and is quite scratchy.

102.Iceland is a very literate country. In addition to their native language, 100% of residents also know English language. In terms of the number of books per inhabitant, Iceland ranks 1st in the world. Icelanders say that if your life has meaning, then there should be books in it. To prove the truth of this statement, all Icelanders write. Some of them become professional writers, and in general writing is a national pastime.103. There are practically no predators or mice on the island, but off the coast there are warm waters There are countless fish in the Gulf Stream. The country's economy is heavily dependent on fishing. Fish export is the main item in foreign trade. Fisherman is the only well-paid profession in the country. Fishermen earn five times more than university teachers.

104. The number of sheep in Iceland is more than 800 thousand. In the summer, they are driven out to graze freely in the mountain meadows, and in the fall, rural youth, on small, hardy ponies, accompanied by dogs, go in search of sheep. Based on the marks on the ears, the sheep are returned to their owners.

105. Icelanders love water very much. Most Icelanders are happy to walk in the rain without an umbrella. Reykjavik has seven large public swimming pools that are filled from morning to evening. A mandatory attribute of every pool is a huge “tub” under open air with hot water from geothermal springs. A public swimming pool is a must in any town or village.

1. Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with about 320 thousand people living here, and before the Second World War the population of the country was only 50 thousand.

2. Since everyone in Iceland knows each other, when a couple separates or divorces, they always try to maintain good relations. Cases when an ex-boyfriend does not communicate with an ex-girlfriend or ex-spouses do not talk to each other are extremely rare, because in any case, they have almost all of their friends and acquaintances in common.

3. Instead of surnames in Iceland there are patronymics, that is, an analogue of our patronymic. The particle “son” (that is, son) or “dottir” (if this is a daughter) is added to the father’s name, which results, for example, Silia Palmarsdottir, that is, Silia is the daughter of Palmars.

4. In the event that the father for some reason does not recognize the child, the son or daughter receives a matronym as a surname, that is, the same patronymic, but after the mother’s name.

5. Since everyone in Reykjavik knows each other, house doors are often left unlocked, car keys are thrown in cars, and children in strollers are left unattended at the entrance to a cafe, bar or store.

6. In Reykjavik, it is considered normal to go out to the nearest grocery store in your pajamas.

7. Residents of Reykjavik almost always pay for purchases with bank cards, even if they order coffee at a bar. Cash payments are not accepted here.

8. Icelanders are sure that blowing your nose is harmful to health, so in winter everyone here sniffles, that is, sorry, they suck in the snot.

9. But spitting, on the contrary, is not considered indecent; even girls spit on the street and in public places without any problems.

10. In fact, in Iceland in winter it is not as cold as we used to think; the temperature here rarely drops below - 6 degrees.

11. But in winter it is dark in Iceland, December 21 - on the shortest day of the year, dawn comes at 10.30, and the sun sets at 16.00. In summer, long nights are replaced by long days, compared to which white nights in St. Petersburg are simply nothing; in June in Iceland the sun sets for only a couple of hours.

12. The lack of sunlight in winter is compensated to some extent by the northern lights; they can be observed constantly, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to them.

13. Since the sun does not shine in Iceland in winter, all residents of the country, in order to avoid rickets and other unpleasant diseases, are required to take fish oil, but not in liquid form, but in tasteless capsules.
14. Almost all Icelandic residents have profiles on Facebook; according to the latest data, Iceland is an active country on the social network.

15. Even if a resident of Iceland for some reason does not have a Facebook profile, he can still be easily found online. All residents of the country, of their own free will, register on the website www.ja.is, where they indicate their first and last name, telephone number, address and place on the map where their home is located.

16. In Iceland, if a person is well disposed toward you, he demonstrates this by touching you every now and then.

17. There are an order of magnitude more blondes in Iceland than brunettes, so local women like to dye their hair a darker shade.

18. In order to spend the night with an Icelandic girl, long courtship is not required; most Icelandic women are, as they say, easy going, which is also why Italians and Spaniards love to come to Reykjavik.

19. Icelanders are very tolerant, a gay pride parade is regularly held in Reykjavik, homosexual marriages have been allowed here since 2010, and the percentage of bisexuals in the country is very high.

20 . The most popular professions in Iceland are artist, musician or designer. Every second bartender or waiter is trying to get an education in a creative profession, and at the same time plays in some rock or folk band.

21. For the reason described above, no one here uses the services of designers, for example, to come up with the design of an apartment or a wedding dress. Residents of Iceland are sure that each of them is their own artist, so they prefer to come up with both the interior of the apartment and the design of the dress themselves.

22. Repairs in apartments are also done mainly with their own hands, without hiring workers.

23. Icelanders are crazy about Eurovision, the competition for young performers is taken very seriously here, and during the live broadcast the whole country follows what is happening on TV.

24. There are no McDonald's restaurants in Iceland; the last one closed in 2008 during the crisis.

25. The most popular names in Iceland: male - Jon and female - Guvrun. Old mythological names are also still common, such as aðalsteinn, which means "main stone".

26. Icelanders, like Russians, like to use in everyday life not full, but abbreviated versions of names, so David in the diminutive Icelandic version will be Dabby, Guvrun - Gunna, Stefan - Steppie, Jon - Nonny, etc.

27. The language of Iceland has remained virtually unchanged over the past 1,000 years, so it contains letters that have disappeared from English, plus the inhabitants of the country can read the ancient Viking sagas in the original without any problems.

28. The local population generally loves to read; today, according to some sources, Icelanders are the most reading people in the world.

29. The cost of wine in Iceland is often influenced not by the year of its production or quality, but by strength. Thus, an expensive but light French wine can cost several times less than a 15-degree babble.

30. Iceland has no armed forces; its functions are performed to some extent by the coast guard.

31. Police officers in Iceland do not carry weapons and are not issued pistols.

32. Residents of Reykjavik, for the most part, are terrible at parking, and can abandon their car right across the street. The presence of tow trucks and fines for parking in the wrong place are of little help.

33. Icelanders try to use only renewable energy sources; gas and gasoline are used here only to fuel cars and boats, and this is because electric cars have not taken root in the country.

34. There is no need to pay for water in restaurants and cafes; it is still poured from the tap. This is water from local thermal springs, and therefore it is absolutely suitable for drinking.

35. But hot tap water in Iceland smells like rotten eggs. The fact is that it also enters the water supply system directly from hot thermal springs, and they are rich in hydrogen sulfide.

36. Taking a hot thermal bath is a popular evening activity in Reykjavik; the cost of visiting when purchasing a subscription is about 5 euros.

37. In the houses of Iceland, as in Russia, there is a central heating system, which distinguishes the country favorably from Italy or France, where you have to pay for each time you turn on the heater.

38. Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Icelandic legislation allowed residents of the country to kill Turks with impunity. This is due to the fact that in the past, Turkish pirates often robbed Icelandic ships and coastal villages.

39. To this day, Icelandic legislation allows residents of the country to kill polar bears for food.

40. Liquorice is very popular in Iceland; it is added to any dish, plus they produce chocolates filled with licorice.

41. The national dish of Iceland is hakarl - rotten Greenland shark meat cut into small pieces. If you don’t chew it and just swallow it, it’s still quite edible, but if you chew the meat, you’ll feel the “magical” taste of urea. The fact is that the Greenland shark does not have a urinary tract and its meat contains poisonous ammonia. In order for the meat to be eaten, it is left to rot underground or in a basement for three months. The creators of The Simpsons mocked the taste of this dish in one of the episodes of the animated series.

42. In Iceland they eat mainly fish, and all dishes are topped with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, after which the real taste of the fish may not be recognized.

43. Most Icelanders have very bad teeth, and Iceland is one of the main sugar-consuming countries, and they also love Coca-Cola.

44. Most Icelanders still believe in elves and trolls, which makes it difficult to build a house or a road. Before starting construction, local “witches” are consulted to determine whether this or that stone can be moved, or whether an elf lives under it. Sometimes, in order not to “offend” the elf and move the stone, Icelanders have to perform magical rituals, for example, keeping the stone in honey for some time.

45. 2,148 people in Iceland adhere to the pagan teachings of the Ásatrú Association, which is based on the revival of Icelandic and Norwegian pagan beliefs. This religion is officially accepted, and its ministers can perform a wedding ceremony, which is equivalent to traditional marriage registration.

46. In addition to the well-known Santa Claus, in Iceland there are 15 more Santa Clauses of different types, by and large they are all elves, in whom the locals believe.

47. Every major store in Reykjavik has a children's play area.

48. All Icelanders wear lopapeysa - a knitted sheep's wool jacket with a characteristic national pattern. We can say that this is the very example of a national costume that has not disappeared over time.

49. Icelanders are proud to have the oldest intact parliament in the world, called Alþingi, founded in 930.

50. Residents of Iceland are very trusting; when applying for a job, they do not ask a foreigner for recommendations from a previous place of work, but simply take the newcomer’s word for it.

Evgeniy Melnik

Composes music, poetry, prose. He reads and writes a lot: about art, football, rock and nu-jazz. Crazy about Dadaism, Iceland and Mamlei prose.

Iceland is one of the most mysterious places on the ground. This is the same place where the rights of elves are legalized in the constitution, and postmen and policemen play football better than guys who can spend 250,000 euros on champagne in one night.

Now you may want to learn more about the Land of Ice and Fire, and maybe even start saving your salary to someday travel to this mysterious island. And you will have to save a lot, since prices in the country of sheep and puffins are among the highest in Europe.

Products and prices

Iceland is famous for its high prices for products. A liter of milk here costs a little less than a euro, a kilogram of potatoes - 1 euro, bread - 2 euros. At the same time, the prices for meat are fantastic. For example, one kilogram of pork is sold for 14 euros, chicken - for 17 euros. But that's not the worst thing.

If you want to chic with some blonde lady in a restaurant, then you should take out a loan, because you can easily pay more than a hundred euros for a three-course meal! But there is an alternative - go to the local fast food and eat for “some” 15–20 euros.

But for souls exhausted by Narzan, it is better to stay at home. Icelanders are known for their ability to get drunk. At the same time, in the morning they go to work as if nothing had happened. But your head may start to hurt after you get acquainted with the cost of “fire water” in Iceland.

For a bottle of regular wine you will have to pay about 15–18 euros, beer - 2–4 euros. The stronger the drink, the more expensive it is. So a bottle of chatterbox may cost more than a bottle of good, but light French wine.

When simplicity is better than theft

Vegetables in Iceland are also very expensive, as they are grown in greenhouses. Vegetable stalls are just on the street, but there are no sellers in them. The prices are written on the signs, and there are scales and money boxes nearby. Yes, yes, people themselves come, weigh it, put money in a box, take change and move on. This is not easy to believe, so it is better to go to Iceland and see for yourself.

The doors in the houses here are also not locked, but this is not the most unusual thing. It’s interesting that a complete stranger can walk into a lonely house lost in the mountains, and they will immediately give him something to drink, feed and put him to bed. Moreover, if you are a prominent man, and there is only one defenseless woman in the house, the situation and attitude will not change in any way - this has been tested from my own experience.

Freedom of views

Freedom of opinion on certain taboo topics is legendary in Iceland.

For example, it is well known that one of the prime ministers of Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, was known as the first person in history to rule the government as an open bisexual. Such a free attitude towards orientation is not surprising, because it is absorbed with mother’s milk.

How? There are many geothermal springs in the country, which are visited not only by tourists, but also by local residents. It is necessary to shower before visiting them.

There are showers in Iceland, although they are located in public places, and most of them do not have doors or walls. And the fact that it is customary for Icelanders to ask their partner’s name only after sex, and even then not always, is probably known to many.

A nation of multi-machine operators

In Russia, the concept of “multi-station worker” is usually associated with a person who is tortured by life, who works several jobs to feed his family. Oddly enough, Icelanders also have something similar.

Here people do not order designers for themselves and do the renovations exclusively themselves. Every second Icelander considers himself a great artist, a creative person. For this reason, they do many things, which sometimes include tailoring, selecting furniture, and home improvement, exclusively with their own hands.

But that's not all. In Iceland, a comedian-musician can become a prominent politician, a barber's son can become a president, and a bank CEO can become a fisherman. The world-famous commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson is not even a professional commentator, since his main place of work was the Reykjavik football club, where he served as an assistant coach.

And the hairdresser's son, President Olavur Grimsson, has been in office for 20 years. At the end of his fourth term, he wanted to resign, but the citizens did not let him in.

Iceland and its music

Music in Iceland is not only self-sufficient, but also influential in the context of world culture.

In 1997, the now iconic band Sigur Ros arose here. Their music is called “magical”, “heavenly”, “divine”. They play a mixture of ambient, post-rock and minimalism. The band's leader, Jónsi Birgisson, is known for his ethereal falsetto voice, as well as for being openly gay and playing the electric guitar with a bow. Moreover, of all the participants, only he has the appropriate education.

Icelandic compositions are often used as soundtracks. If the titles of the films “Vanilla Sky”, “Immortals: War of the Worlds”, “Penelope”, “Slumdog Millionaire” mean something to you, then it’s time to listen to the Hoppipolla track.

Iceland - a land of amazing relationships

Gary Lineker (the legendary English footballer) admired the fact that in Iceland more volcanoes than professional football players.

There are actually more volcanoes - 126 versus 120. There really are a lot of things “more than people” here, so it’s not surprising that people master many different professions. For example, there are more sheep than homo sapiens - 420,000 versus 332,500.

But there are even more charming puffin birds in Iceland, of which there are as many as 4 million!

On the other hand, there are absolutely no ants on the island, and scientists do not know why.

About conservatism

From the outside, Iceland may seem like an extremely liberal country. The doors to the houses here are not locked. Any person from the street is received as a long-awaited guest. There is no army in the country, and almost no police either. The products are standing on the street without any sellers. Nude man in public place is a common phenomenon, and sexual orientation does not have conservative social labels. But in fact, Iceland is one of the most conservative countries in the world.

It is extremely difficult to obtain a residence permit here. Moreover, Icelanders are so meticulous that they even have a special language commission. For what? If a foreign word is introduced into the language, then the commission is engaged in creating a local equivalent for it. For this reason, the Icelandic language is perhaps the only one that has almost no archaic forms, words with emasculated meaning and other relict phenomena.

The language in which the skalds wrote the Elder Edda 1,000 years ago is the same language in which it is read now. Iceland is very jealous of everything national; literally everything here is shrouded in traditions. Every encyclopedia says that the local parliament (Althing) is considered the oldest in Europe - it is 1,000 years old. Icelanders also wanted to join the EU, but changed their minds.

In general, if you decide to splash in the geysers and admire the northern lights, fill your suitcases with Icelandic crowns and go on a trip! True, in this country it is better to use credit cards, since paying in cash is not accepted here.

Are you wondering how waiters and other service personnel live without tips? They live great! Leaving a tip in Iceland is considered an insult.