Who can live well in Iceland? Why the whole world is now in love with Iceland Citizenship, benefits and lack of bureaucracy

The nature here is inspiring and the people are very friendly.

This island will not leave you indifferent. It is not surprising that there are a huge number of writers in Iceland - the environment can motivate them to create something interesting and unusual.

In Iceland, you can also notice many unusual things, and here you will learn about the most interesting of them.

1. The most popular food in Iceland is hot dogs. They are sold almost everywhere - at gas stations, restaurants and roadside establishments.

2. In 1998, a study was conducted which found that the majority of Icelanders believe in the existence of elves.

Some believe that elves can be of different sizes, from a few centimeters to 3 meters in height.

They can live in houses, sometimes multi-story, and if you leave them alone, they will simply mind their own business.

Iceland on the map

3. Almost all electrical energy and heating in Iceland comes from geothermal and hydroelectric power plants.

4. In Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, there is a Phallological Museum, which displays preserved mammal penises.

5. Since 2010, strip clubs have been illegal in Iceland.

10. Reykjavik is the most northern city from all cities of independent states.

Life in Iceland

11. In Iceland, in the cold, you can see strollers with children, whom the parents left to breathe fresh air while the kids sleep.

12. In most cases, Icelanders do not have a surname in the usual sense for us. Their surname is actually their father's name, but with the prefix -dottir (daughter) or -son (son). For example, Olafur Jónsson means that Olafur is the son of Jónsson.

13. Until 1989, beer was prohibited in Iceland.

14. Iceland has the best ratio of pools per capita in the world. Thanks to the wealth of geothermal energy, anyone in the country can visit a swimming pool, even an outdoor one, for a modest price.

How to live in Iceland

15. Iceland does not have a standing army.

16. The climate of Iceland is not as cold as many people think. The average air temperature in winter is about 2 degrees Celsius.

I haven't updated this section for a long time. But you and I have already discussed Look who is interested before the trip, and we will continue about Iceland. So …

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. 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 northern lights, it can be observed constantly, so after a couple of weeks you no longer pay attention to it.

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. Iceland has no 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 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 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 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, there are 15 more Santa Clauses in Iceland different types, by and large they are all elves in whom they believe local residents.

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 rip 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 the construction of 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 familiar surname, 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. Largest glacier Europe Vatna-Jokull (“water-providing glacier”, 8.5 thousand sq. km., which is equal to the area of ​​​​all glaciers of the European subcontinent) is located in the south-east 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 the coastal areas. Many inland regions of the country are not suitable for habitation. The average life expectancy of Icelanders is 80 years.

71. Because 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 seafood delicacies occupy an important place.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. Many activities on the island are attracting more and more tourists. Activities 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. Today, this is the only European country where this type of dance 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 most big 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 depleted, they burned a new area of ​​​​the forest 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. There are no railways in Iceland. 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.

The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -

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 might want to find out more about the Land of Ice and Fire, and maybe even start saving your salary to visit this one someday. 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 known for its high food prices. 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 CEO bank - 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.

Iceland - small state on the island of the same name. Despite the fact that Iceland is located far in the north, the hardworking descendants of the Vikings managed to recreate a real corner of heaven on earth. Iceland has been one of the top countries in the list of countries with the highest standard of living for many years. The harsh northern nature, the friendliness of the indigenous Icelanders, the incredibly beautiful landscapes - all this is undoubtedly worth visiting these lands at least once.

1. Icelandic territory due to severe weather conditions was inhabited by one of the last on Earth - people came to this region only in the 9th century AD.
2. The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik is the northernmost capital on Earth.
3. Iceland is consistently ranked among the ten most prosperous countries in the world.
4. Residents of Iceland seriously believe in the existence of trolls and elves - for example, before the design began new road builders consult with specialists in folklore so as not to accidentally invade the domain of these fantastic creatures.
5. Icelanders often build small churches in their gardens, hoping to convert the small Huldufolk people, who, according to legend, hide in the local mountains to Christianity.
6. The Icelandic Parliament is the oldest functioning parliament in the world, first formed back in 930.
7. Icelandic cuisine is widely known for its unusual dishes - for example, Icelanders eat slightly rotten shark meat (hakarl), as well as sheep thighs soaked in lactic acid.
8. For some unknown reason, horses are not allowed to be brought into Iceland. If a horse is taken out of the country, it cannot be returned either.
9. Iceland does not have its own armed forces, and coast guard and police officers are not issued firearms.
10. Local springs and geysers provide hot and cold water to Icelandic homes. The water in them is so pure that it is suitable for drinking without additional filtration.
11. Icelanders have middle names, but no last names. The name for the newborn is chosen from a special registry. If the desired name is not there, you need to contact the authorities and coordinate this issue with them.
12. Not in Iceland railways. Yes, none at all.
13. There are practically no borrowings in the Icelandic language, thanks to which it has been preserved unchanged for more than a thousand years. It will not be a problem for an Icelander to read a book published several centuries ago.
14. The common belief that Iceland is very cold is not true - for example, in January the average temperature is -0.4 degrees.
15. Iceland is modest in size thanks to its natural resources could provide energy to the whole of Europe (see).
16. Residents of Iceland were prohibited from selling or drinking beer until May 1, 1989. Now the day the ban was lifted is almost a national holiday.
17. Iceland is the world leader in sales of scientific literature.
18. Almost all Icelandic residents (90%) have access to the Internet; even the United States cannot boast of such a widespread network.
19. There is not a single mosquito in Iceland.
20. The Icelandic waterfall Dettifoss, with a width of 100 meters and a height of 40 meters, is the most powerful in Europe (see).
21. There are 130 volcanoes in Iceland, almost half of which have erupted in the last 1000 years (see).
22. Iceland is the only European country where striptease is prohibited by law. The ban was introduced in 2010.
23. The Látrabjarg Cliffs in Iceland are not only Europe's westernmost point, but also the world's largest bird habitat.
24. In Iceland there is the largest glacier on Earth (not counting those that cover the poles) with the unpronounceable name Vatanjökull.
25. Icelanders go to the movies more often than residents of any other country in the world.
26. Iceland has the world's highest proportion of children (65%) born out of wedlock.

Iceland is called the "ice country" or "land of ice". It is located in the northern part Atlantic Ocean on the island of Iceland and a group of small islands.

Iceland consists of 8 regions: Hövüdborgarsvaidid, Vesturland, Suðurnäs, Vestfyrdir, Nordurland-Eystra, Nordurland-Vastra, Sydurland, Eysturland.

Reykjavik, the capital of the country with a population of 180 thousand people, is the cultural, business and financial center of the country. It is also the seat of government and parliament. Except Reykjavik major cities are Hafnarfjordur (19 thousand people), Kopavogur (21 thousand people), Akureyri (17 thousand people), Seydisfjordur, Husavik, Akranes.

The country is headed by a president, elected for a 4-year term through direct general elections. The Icelandic government consists of a prime minister and ministers who are members of the Progressive Party and the Independence Party.

The legislative body - the Parliament (Althing) - consists of one chamber and has existed since 930. The Icelandic Constitution was adopted in 1920.

Until recently, Iceland's main source of income was fishing and fish processing. In 2001, they accounted for 32% of the industry. But in the last decade there has been an active diversification of industrial production, which became possible thanks to the use of renewable, cheap energy.

Aluminum smelters are currently being actively built. Other promising industries for Iceland include banking, tourism, biotechnology, and information technology. Iceland belongs to the industrialized countries.

In 2007, Iceland was recognized by the UN as the best country to live in the world.

Climate and weather

On southwest coast Where Reykjavik is located, the average temperature in winter is -1 ºС, in summer - +11 ºС. The waters surrounding the island of Iceland never freeze.

Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the climate of the western and south coast Iceland's winters are quite mild. In this case it falls out a large number of precipitation in the form of rain. On average, January in Reykjavik has only 3 sunny days, for July even less - 1. The warmest period of the year is from July to August. The east and north of Iceland tend to be sunnier and warmer. The most sun is in the central part of the north of the island - in the area Akureiri and lakes Miwati. It is warmest, as a rule, in the eastern part, in the area Egilsstdoir. But even in these relatively favorable areas, unpleasant cold winds blow. On the coasts of the island the weather is often worse than in the central parts. But on the interior of the island, powerful winds and storms can interfere with your vacation. They lift large masses of sand into the air and create the so-called “sulu”.

Nature

The geological age of Iceland is small: the island was formed approximately 60 million years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. The most ancient areas are in the north, west and east.

In the west, in the area Snæfellsnes, there are many volcanoes, 20 of which were active when Iceland was already inhabited. In 1783, the Laki volcano, located southwest of Vatnajökull, erupted. The lava that flowed out as a result of the eruption covered an area of ​​570 square meters. km. The Hekla volcano erupted in 1947 and 1970. In 1963, the island of Surtsey was formed as a result of an underwater eruption.

There are many hot springs throughout the island. There are about 250 of them in total. The most famous gushing spring is the Big Geyser. 85% of homes in Iceland are heated by energy generated by hot springs. Their warm water is also used in swimming pools and greenhouses.

Northern, eastern and northwestern coastline cut by many fjords and bays.

Glaciers and ice caps cover an area of ​​11,900 km2. The largest ice cap is Vatnajökull- is located in the southeast of the country and covers 8,300 sq. km. The most high point Iceland - Hvannadalskhnukur, reaching a height of 2,119 meters.

There are quite a lot in the country large rivers, but they are all unnavigable. Rivers often fork and change direction, which impedes traffic flow. The largest Icelandic islands are Touriswati And Tingvadlavati.

Iceland is home to more than 80 species of birds. Several species of whales and two species of seals are found in coastal waters. Fish species such as sea bass, halibut, cod, and haddock are of great importance for Iceland.

Attractions

In 2000, Reykjavik (meaning "Smoky Bay") was declared cultural capital peace. The central part of the city - Old Reykjavik - is a huge space with a lot of lakes and lawns, which give way to old traditional buildings. In this place today there are stables and sheepfolds. Of course, they no longer contain livestock. Most of them have turned into cafes and shops. Reykjavik's most notable ancient buildings are the 18th-century government building and the Parliament House, built in 1881. Museums in Reykjavik worth visiting National Museum, National Gallery Iceland and Urban Art Museum Reykjavik. A luxurious botanical garden is open to visitors in Reykjavik.

Iceland has a large number of waterfalls. The most famous of them are Gullfoss, or Golden Falls, Goudafoss, or Waterfall of the Gods, Skógarfoss And Dehtifoss, or Falling Waterfall.

The northern capital of Iceland is considered to be Akureyri, which is on the shore Eyjafjord. There is a lake nearby Miwati, or Mosquito Lake, which never freezes.

Iceland is one of the centers extreme tourism and sport fishing. Here you can go rock climbing or go hiking. Such a popular entertainment as safari is widespread here. You can go on horseback riding, salmon and trout fishing in streams and lakes. Diving enthusiasts can dive into the depths of mineral waters.

Nutrition

Icelandic cuisine cannot be called varied and rich. The reason for this is the monotonous animal and vegetable world and harsh climate. National Spanish dishes are always extremely simple, but very tasty. The most popular dishes in Iceland are lamb roast and Icelandic stew.

The original national Icelandic dishes are hrutspungur, hakarl and svid. Hrutspungur is a pickled lamb testicle that is pressed into cookies. Hakarl- This is rotten shark meat, placed in the ground for six months to bring it to the necessary stage of decomposition. Sweed- a whole sheep's head, which is cut into two halves, brought to a boil and consumed almost raw.

Less exotic dishes - Blakeya(charred meat) Luindi And hardfiskur(haddock). You can also be served seal meat, whale steak and whale meat. Traditional dairy product in Iceland - skyr— prepared from bacterial cultures and milk cream.

If meat dishes Iceland is not known for its sophistication, but fish dishes here are surprisingly varied. The most famous local dishes are prepared from halibut, salmon, cod, scallops, shrimp and shark.

Coffee is a very popular drink. Wine, beer and other spirits are very expensive here. Classic drink in Iceland - Brennivin— made from potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds.

Iceland has a very high level of development of restaurant culture: throughout the country there are a huge number of restaurants that compete fiercely with each other and provide visitors with excellent service.

Beer was banned from being produced and consumed in Iceland for 75 years, until the ban was lifted in 1989. A large glass of beer will cost you $8, a small glass will cost you $4.7. In coffee shops you only have to pay for one cup of coffee; the rest will be brought to you for free.

Accommodation

The safest thing to do is to book accommodation before arriving in Iceland, but if this option is not possible, you will have to act on the spot. For the first few days you can always find a hostel, tourist center or hotel. The most affordable prices are at the Salvation Army House in Reykjavik and at the Tourist Base, which is also located in the capital. Minimum cost rooms for one night - 33 €.

Since the real estate market in Iceland is extensive and the purchase of apartments and houses accounts for 75-85% of the housing stock, the rental market is quite narrow. In Reykjavik, renting a house will cost you the most.

When renting housing, a month's rent and a security deposit are paid in advance. It's best to ask your landlord to provide you with a written lease agreement.

Every person over 18 years of age who rents housing under a contract for more than six months can receive monetary compensation. You can write such a statement to the social service office.

The average rent per month for a room with kitchen and bathroom is ISK 40,000 per month. For a modest apartment you will have to pay 70,000-80,000 crowns per month. In suburban areas, the average cost of one square meter is 1200 crowns, in the capital - 1500.

Entertainment and relaxation

The most important holiday for Icelanders is Independence Day. This holiday takes place on June 17th. At this time, vibrant theatrical performances are organized throughout the country. open air and costume parades.

In the first week of June you can go to the holiday Syomannadagurini, dedicated to sailors. On this day, tug-of-war, water rescue and swimming tournaments are held. June 24th is the summer solstice, Midsummer. On the third Thursday of April, Sumardagurini Fürsti takes place - a carnival holiday dedicated to the first day of summer. In August you can attend another local festival called Pjodhatio Vestmannaeyar. On this day, Icelanders sing songs, light large bonfires, and hold folk festivals and dances. In some areas of Iceland there is a holiday Verslunarmannahelgi. It is held in August. On this day, it is customary to go on overnight hikes with the family and barbecue.

There are a large number of excursions in Iceland. The most entertaining of them take place in the following places:

• East Iceland
• East Fjords
• Westman Islands
• Valley of Geysers
• Thingvellir National Park
• Kaldidalur
• Glaciers
• Snaefell
• Lake Myvati
• Northern Iceland
• fjords of West Iceland
• Central Iceland.

Iceland - perfect place for organizing hiking, often extreme, hikes. The most remarkable places for walking tourist routes are found in Latrabjarg, Landmanialaugar and Horistrandir. Well-equipped ski resorts are located in Akureiri, Reykjavik, Hitarfjall and Blafjoll. On Mount Langjökull you can go sledding, in the Hallmundarhraun caves you can try your hand at sports caving, plunge into geothermal springs and ride horses. Iceland also hosts the Arctic Open golf tournament (in Akureiri). The competition takes place on one of the nights of the polar summer, which is why it is called the “Midnight Sun Tournament”.

Purchases

Standard opening hours for Icelandic shops are from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 14:00 (less often until 16:00) on Saturdays. Sometimes big shopping centers open on Friday until 22:00. During the summer, all shops are closed on weekends.

The bulk of goods in Iceland are imported, so prices for food, real estate and transport services are very high. Iceland ranks second after Japan in terms of cost of living. If you want to indulge yourself in nothing, you will have to spend at least $500 a day.

Transport

Iceland's largest airline, Air Iceland, is the only airline providing safe domestic passenger transport in winter time. Icelandic network highways is one of the most undeveloped in the European region, there are no railway lines at all.

At the same time, the company bus transportation Bifritastod Islands excels at transporting passengers in very harsh conditions. The largest Icelandic ports are connected by ferries.

In Iceland there are several state-owned companies that provide taxi services 24 hours a day. For 1 kilometer a fee of approximately 100 CZK is charged; on holidays and at night the price rises by 10-15%. Taxis can be found at special parking lots, stopped on the street, or called for free by phone.

Connection

There are still few places where you can find Wi-Fi in Iceland. But everywhere you can use the services of Internet cafes.

Standards cellular communications in Iceland - GSM 900/1800.

Telephone communications are very well developed in Iceland. Telephone booths are located on every corner. You can call them using coins in denominations of 10, 50 and 100 kroons, or use a calling card worth 500 kroons. Telephone cards can be purchased at a telephone exchange or post office. The cost of calls, both local and international, depends on the day of the week and time of day. Regular price you will pay on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00. On weekends and weekdays from 19:00 to 8:00 you will be given a 25% discount.

Safety

If you are walking in mountainous areas, be very careful and attentive as volcanic activity may occur in these areas. You risk falling into a mud pit or running into a geyser eruption. When walking, it is better not to deviate from the tourist path.

As for the crime rate, in this sense Iceland is one of the most safe countries in the world. Exception in Lately Reykjavik has become: cases of petty theft have become more frequent here, and information about more serious offenses appears in the news every now and then. Going to night club, be prepared to witness a fight. Don't interfere - just call the police.

Business climate

If you come to work temporarily or permanently in Iceland, you need to register with the National Register. You will be assigned an identification number and the State Tax Department will give you a tax card. You must also have a work permit. You can consult the Employment Committee or the Immigration Office about its availability.

In Iceland you can open a company of any form of ownership. If you are a self-employed person in Iceland, you will need to pay 38.58% of your profits to the treasury every month. Partnerships are taxed at 26% of profits. Companies and their affiliates pay 18% of profits to the Icelandic treasury. The most common choice when opening a company is the form of a closed limited liability company. This is due to the low tax rate and the ease of maintaining a company. The tax rate for such companies is 5%.

Real estate

The real estate market in Iceland is very broad. You can buy apartments in Iceland only if you have a residence permit. If you want to purchase an apartment, you need to consult the State Financial Fund for Housing or a local bank.

Reykjavik is one of the five cities in the world with the most expensive real estate. In the last decade, housing prices in Iceland have been rising.

There is plenty of real estate in Iceland that can be bought and sold. Every year the country is visited by a huge number of tourists, which stimulates the expansion of the real estate market. The important thing is that the influx of tourists to Iceland occurs throughout the year, which is also a prerequisite for the development of the housing market.

In Iceland, you drive on the right. In winter, car traffic is hampered by snow drifts on the roads and strong winds. Fines for drunk driving and violations of other traffic laws are very high. But you will never have problems with parking in Reykjavik: several multi-storey car parks and a large number of surface ones have been built here. Parking fees are charged hourly. In a regular parking lot you will pay 80-150 CZK, in a parking lot - 50-100. You must pay for parking from the machines at the entrance to the parking lot or from the parking attendant.

You are allowed to bring no more than three kilograms of food into Iceland. However, it is prohibited to transport meat, dairy products, and raw eggs. If you are over 20 years old, you can take with you up to 1 liter of spirits, 6 liters of beer and 1 liter of wine. Upon reaching the age of 18, passengers can also take with them up to 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco.

Icelanders don't have surnames. Residents of Iceland have only a first and patronymic name. The endings of patronymics “-son” are used by men, “-dottir” by women. You can often meet people with the same last names. Icelanders address each other only by name.

Alcohol can only be purchased in state-run specialty stores. Alcohol here is 5-7 times more expensive than in duty-free at airports.

Near the most popular natural monuments there are areas for setting up tents. For an overnight stay in such an area you will have to pay 2-3 dollars. In other places, you can pitch a tent only with permission from local authorities.

In Iceland, tips are only given to doormen in hotels and restaurants. In other situations, the tip is already included in the bill.

Visa information

Getting a visa to Iceland is not as difficult as it might seem. To do this, you will need to collect a standard package of documents, including: a valid international passport, tickets to the country and back, copies of the required passport pages, confirmation of a hotel room reservation.

The visa is provided within 8 working days. The consular fee is approximately 35 €.

The Embassy of Iceland is located at 121069, Moscow, Khlebny Lane, 28.
You can get detailed advice by calling the appropriate phone number (+7 495) 956-7604. The embassy is open throughout the working week from 09:00 to 17:00.