It’s no secret I’m in love with Iceland. My list of things I love about this wonderful country keeps growing every day!
Obviously the gorgeous landscapes have me running to the mountains every weekend, but I can’t forget about these day to day things that also rock my world.
Here are some awesome facts about Iceland that I thought you should know.
Winter Solstice
Icelanders get through the long days of darkness by decorating with a lot of Christmas lights, lighting a bunch of candles, and calling it being “cosy”. I personally think this is adorable.
Summer Solstice
The summer solstice is around June 21st when the sun sets just after midnight and rises again around 3am. These long days energize people, and Icelanders take advantage by getting out and exploring. To celebrate the longest day of the year, there are all kinds of activities going on: midnight hiking tours, bar crawls, a half marathon, and a music festival.
Love of books
Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world. One in ten Icelanders will publish a book. December is known for jólabókaflóð, which translates to Christmas book flood. There are stacks of new books everywhere – even in the checkout lane at the grocery store! During this time, newly published books are released to the public, and books are one of the most common Christmas gifts.
Best water in the world
Everyday I drink my water straight from the tap, no filters needed! This is the purest and cleanest water in the world. My favorite thing to do while out exploring is fill up my water bottle with water from the mountain stream – it comes straight from the glaciers!
Use of renewable energy
Approximately 90% of the country’s energy use comes from geothermal energy. Geothermal power heats most of the houses in Iceland and is also used by many companies to manufacture products. Many sidewalks, streets and parking places are able to be cleared by the use of geothermal heat!
There is a swimming pool in every town
Big town, little town, indoor or outdoor, every town in Iceland has a pool. Icelanders love to relax in pools. It’s a place to go for exercise, keep the kids busy, or socialize with friends. How wonderful is that?
Low crime rate
Iceland is known for having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Safety is a given, and police don’t carry guns.
If the local police don’t have a lot to do, they share photos on their awesome Instagram account!
If the local police don’t have a lot to do, they share photos on their awesome Instagram account!
Question: What is something you love about where you live?
