Interesting Facts

- Iceland is one of the Nordic countries consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

- Reykjavík is the capital of the Republic of Iceland.

- Vatnajokull glacier is Iceland's largest glacier and is situated in Southeast Iceland.

- The last name of the residents of Iceland is derived from their father's first name.

- Hekla is Iceland's most active volocano.

- Iceland's deepest lake is Lake Oskjuvtn.

- The English word "geyser" comes from Iceland's Great Geysir in Haukadalur.

- Northern Lights phenomenon, called Aurora Borealis, can be seen during a clear weather in mid-winter (November-December).

- Midsummer Night celebrated on 24th June has some strange legends surrounding it for instance, the seals are said to take off their skins on this day.

- Akureyri is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

- Hvannadalshnukur (2,119m) is the highest peak in Iceland.

- Ingolfur Arnarson, a Norwegian, founded Reykjavík in 874.

- The "Althingi", the Icelandic parliament, dates back to the early tenth century.

- Leif Ericsson, the son of Eric the Red, made voyages to the North American coast.

- In 1402 the bubonic plague killed over half of Iceland's population.

- Up until the twentieth century Icelanders used to travel by horse.

- In the last quarter of the nineteenth century 20% of Icelanders immigrated to Canada.

II. Destinations And Sightseeing

A. The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is one of the most versatile and admired tourist destinations in Iceland. It offers an insight into all that the nation has to offer tourists from breathtaking waterfalls and lakes to geysers and hot springs and even remnants of the Viking civilization. The following are the main attractions of the Golden Circle:

B. Apavatn

This is one of the largest lakes in Iceland and has an excellent catch of trout and char. Fishing might be tricky on the lake since it is does not offer too many on-land spots for convenient fishing.

C. Laugarvatn

This is a smaller, more peaceful lake of the region. It is surrounded by lush forests and the area also has a number of vacation homes. The nearby hamlet is worth a visit.

D. Haukadalur Valley

Three valleys in Iceland share the name Haukadalur. This place houses two biggest geysers of the island namely Strokkur and Geysir. The word Geyser is derived from the Icelandic language, probably because these natural wonders are so common on the island. This wonder is not as ferocious as its name makes it out to be. In fact, it spews boiling, hot water, sixty feet up in the air only an average of three times a day.

Strokkur on the other hand is a lot more reliable, it erupts religiously every five or ten minutes, spilling its superheated contents twenty feet high in the sky. Besides these two, there are numerous smaller geysers scattered around the valley along with geothermal springs and streams.

E. Þingvellir

This is perhaps the most exciting place to see on a visit to Iceland. It has numerous features that are testament to the history, culture and natural beauty of the nation. Þingvellir has been classified as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The term ‘Þingvellir' in Icelandic means ‘Parliament Plains' and the reason the area is so named is that the world's first seat of parliament - the Alping General Assembly was established here, way back in the year 936 C.E. Parts of the Alping still remain in the region to be viewed by visitors.

To preserve the historic legacy of Þingvellir and to prevent human encroachment, the area was deemed off a National Park. Tourists can visit the park and enjoy its archeology, hiking and fishing privileges. The largest lake in Iceland, Lake Þingvallavatn is located here and although, the fishing is not phenomenal, just the beauty of the lake is enough to intoxicate travelers. There is also the River Öxará that transverses the region.

Þingvellir lies over a continental drift point and the cracks due to the drift are omnipresent. The largest of these is the Almannagjá, which has the dimensions of an absolute canyon.

F. Gullfoss - The Golden Falls

Gullfoss is the largest waterfall, in terms of water drainage volume, in Europe. The falls are located on the White River (Hvítá) and make a spectacular drop of a hundred and five feet.

G. Þórsmörk

Right in the center of the glaciers Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull, lies the valley Þórsmörk, where greenery abounds. Named after the Nordic God of Thunder Thor (Þór in Icelandic), the valley is home to the winding river Krossá and forests of birch and fern. The region is again protected and provides an excellent opportunity for some exciting climbing and hiking.

H. Bláa Lónið - Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is the most famous geothermal spa in Iceland. Located in the lava fields of Grindavík near Reykjavík's international airport, the Blue Lagoon is a premier stop for balneotheraphy or the science of healing the body using hot and cold water. The water of the lagoon is rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and shows promises in the treatment of dermatological ailments like psoriasis.

I. Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar is considered the most beautiful part of Iceland's scenic highlands. It is primarily a volcano district with some of Iceland's most spectacular lava-spewing monsters located here. Foremost among them is Mount Hekla, which literally means ‘the way to hell', is the most active volcano in Iceland. It recently erupted in February of 2000. The mountain itself is part of the volcanic ridge of Iceland and all around it are the fields of volcanic ash. It is shaped like a capsized boat and is a spectacular sight from a distance.

Other places to see in Landmannalaugar are the volcanoes Bláhnjúkur and Brennisteinsalda and the obsidian lava. There are also hot sulphur springs and heated rivers where visitors can bathe, although one must be careful since the river bottom is like flaming hot coal.

A very famous landmark of the region is the hiking trail that stretches from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk.

J. Snæfellsnes

Often referred to as ‘Iceland en miniature', Snæfellsnes is like a mini Iceland because all things worth seeing in the country can been witnessed on this peninsular. The most famous feature of the peninsular is Mount Snæfellsjökull, a volcano that can be seen from the capital Reykjavík, 120 km away. It is the inspiration behind the Jules Verne classic ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth'. It is also considered by many occultists to be the source of great spiritual power. The Snæfellsjökull National Park has been built around the volcano.

Another famous recreation at Snæfellsnes is whale watching. In fact, the area is considered by marine biologists to be one of the best places to do so. Visitors can literally stand on the shores and watch pods of killer whales, baleen whales and blue whales pass by, playing and breeching.

K. Latrabjarg

This is the westernmost part of Europe and is made up of a sheer fourteen kilometers long cliff face that lands 440km directly below the Atlantic Ocean. A spectacular site to behold, the cliffs can also present a unique climbing challenge to professional mountaineers. However, the real reason of Latrabjarg being famous is because of Europe's largest colony of puffins as well as other avifauna. The birds use the cliff's crack and cervices to breed and nest. The water below also hosts some seals and whales on occasion.

Nearby is the Hornstrandir nature reserve that stuns visitors with its awesome natural beauty.

L. Aurora Borealis

If you happen to be in Iceland in the months of September, October or March and April, do not miss a chance to see the brilliant Northern Lights - the mystifying Aurora Borealis. These lights are cast into the northern skies, early in the morning and are the most stunning sight to behold. On a clear night head to any raised spot with or without a guide to be one of the few to witness this phenomenon. However, also be prepared for disappointment since, the nature and space of appearance of the Aurora are unpredictable.