Iceland, the UK’s leading frozen food specialist, is committing to become the first major retailer globally to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own brand products by the end of 2023. Here is a list of twenty top strange and awesome facts about Iceland. 1970. Fishing is Iceland's main industry, and the nation remains one of just a few in the world that still allows commercial whaling. Today, you’ll see a mix of both preserved and fresh foods in Icelandic homes. The fact is, Iceland does have a gender wage gap, which varies from industry to industry; shrinking in some sectors, growing in others, with an overall gender wage gap of 14% to 20%. I was blown away by the elves/trolls thing, too. Distinctively Icelandic foods includefish, skyr ( a yogury-like dairy product), hanhikjöt (smoked lamb), sviŏ (singed sheep’s head),hákari (cured shark), and harŏfiskur (dried fish pieces eaten with butter or coleslaw for a snack). Food And Drink. The Spanish play with their food (bull fighting) while the Welsh do the same with their sheep. No wonder the landscape is so different from what we are used to see. The half of the population of the country lives in capital Reykjavik and its nearby areas. i see on the news kids in school with no food or home im so sick of it here. This doesn’t mean that I won’t go to Iceland if I have the chance, but for sure I won’t taste at whale meat . At least there’s a good reason to eat whale, first of all, it’s so full of omega fatty acids and plus it’s absolutely delicious! 1975. I don’t know anybody who believes in it for an example. I didn’t know that about the pizza! No, we kid you not — Svið (i.e. The day after Christmas the Yule Lads return to the mountains, one by one each day until the last one leaves on January 6th, which is the last day of the Christmas season. Some classify skyr as cheese, but it’s more commonly recognized as a thick yogurt. Virtually all energy comes from renewable energy sources. I’m dying to know whether you saw the northern lights? Bjork, Sigur Ros, Emiliana Torrini, Mum, Of Monsters and Men. What surprises me is how much focus there is on Iceland killing a single dozen of whales per year, while mainland European countries are literally cleaning up all the cod out of the Atlantic? This fact makes Iceland a fairly “young” country when it comes to settlement, and also contributes to its distinct cultural background. Apples and oranges were luxury items only shipped to the country during big celebrations such as Christmas. As astonishing as it sounds, Iceland is one of the few countries I've been to where McDonald's restaurants do not exist! The mainstays include: lamb, skyr, potatoes, fish, and other seafood. So, technically, there are only valleys and then the higher land that wasn’t scraped away by the ice (the “mountains”). Skyr is a really well-known Icelandic product. Although, the no McDonald’s might be a bit of an issue for me… , But just think how many weird food adventures you could have, Lauren!! The weird foods fact caught my eye since my husband is always trying to get his hands (or mouth) on different kinds of animals. There are no traditional surnames here; instead, Icelandic people have patronymic last names, with their last names deriving from their's father's name. Discover Iceland's largest selection of Culture Tours. But beware of rotten potatoes if you have been bad! Fishing is Iceland's main industry, and the nation remains one of just a few in the world that still allows commercial whaling. But, according to guides I had, Iceland was carved out by glaciers, so really the “mountains” are just what was left over after the glaciers moved through. I loved all your comments and fun facts about Iceland. Iceland actually used to have McDonald’s, but the chain closed all its Iceland stores after the country’s financial crisis in 2009, and they’ve never reopened there. God knows what else is out there happening! Surprisingly, another large section of Iceland (11%) is covered in glaciers. Iceland was settled by Vikings from Norway sometime in the 800s. Interesting about the McDonald’s… I actually love that you don’t have any there! without dying of exhaustion. Yes, I hear they keep trying, but it just doesn’t take. It has been serving good hotdogs since 1937. Iceland is a Nordic island country with an intriguing history and spectacular natural attractions that bring many tourists to the island. 2. Reyka Vodka is delicious either on the rocks or in a cocktail. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I was astounded by this country. There are more than 125 volcanic mountains in the country, a handful of which are still very active, and another handful that could easily awaken and become active as the country changes and grows. The smell of Hákarl (fermented shark), traditional Icelandic food, is so strong and particular, that it may cause you to vomit. The country has a very small population of 270,000. I love how that’s a fun fact that seems to surprise people the most! The process starts now and Iceland is challenging itself to complete it within the … Icelandic Horses have heavy … Do you know why Iceland does not have McDonalds? 1. Also, a slightly non travel-related Iceland fact, but am I the only one who thinks that they have one of the quirkiest (but awesome) music ever? Iceland received heavy rainfall annually. I can’t wait to go back! The only thing that really disturbs me is commercial whaling. Puffin meat is another controversial Icelandic delicacy that’s still eaten today. The hot dog is very popular in Icelandic food. Served with potatoes, butter and ketchup. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mountains_of_Iceland. Well. The entire country of Iceland (which covers roughly the same area as the U.S. state of Kentucky) only holds a population of a little over 300,000 (as opposed to Kentucky, which has a population of more than 4.3 million). The NO MOUNTAINS fact really changed my perspective on what I’ve always imagined Iceland to be. As a result, Danish cuisine started to appear in Icelandic dishes. Apparently, McDonalds has this rule about the meat products all being from them, perhaps even vegetables and bread also. You step onto the road, and, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might get swept off to." All you have to do is choose an ice cream flavor and three toppings. The geology sounds most interesting. Site by Performance Foundry, Travel looks very different right now depending on where you're from and where you're going. August 5, 2019 by Vicki Garlock. Iceland has an enormous amount of clean water. Appelsin is the Icelandic version of Fanta, a delicious and sweet orange soda. Today, reforestation is being attempted, but you'll still definitely notice the lack of forests when you visit. Iceland Facts for Kids. In comparison, Iceland is super safe and has very little crime! According to one guide, yes. As a result, dishes were often fermented, smoked, salted and cured. This boom in fisheries led to fish becoming a staple of the Icelandic diet. Share this article: It’s all about tradition. Since fresh shark is poisonous, in order to eat it, you first have to bury it in the ground for 6-12 weeks. Iceland’s food scene won’t disappoint even the most avid foodies. Yes, you can find KFC and even Taco Bell in Reykjavik, but forget about picking up a Big Mac or some Chicken McNuggets — you won't find them here! Raw puffin heart is considered a delicacy. The Land of Fire and Ice has become a tourism darling in the past couple of years – and for good reason: Iceland is an incredible country, with features that you won't find anywhere else in the world. Fifty years later, Iceland are an iconic brand with stores on almost every high street. The fact about the mountains isn’t really true… All mountains are volcanic, but there are two types of them; First, the ones that form as volcanic eruptions under glaciers but don’t manage to break their way through the ice, then the glacier eventually melts and after stands a mountain with near vertical slopes and a flat top due to the movement of the glacier. Iceland Timeline. To be served with a side of bravery and your favorite drink of choice. Hot dogs are the most popular food in Iceland and there are hot dog stands in... 2. Can’t wait to read more! […] Iceland. 39. Ooo, a photography workshop in Iceland would be amazing! 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