Iceland is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland is known for its stunning natural beauty, unique culture, and rich history. Here are some interesting facts about Iceland that kids might enjoy:
1. Iceland is a volcanic island with over 100 active volcanoes. This means that there are many natural hot springs and geysers throughout the country.
2. Iceland is one of the most peaceful nations in the world. In fact, it has not had a military since 1869 and consistently ranks high on the Global Peace Index.
3. The official language of Iceland is Icelandic, which has remained relatively unchanged for over 1,000 years. It is believed to be one of the most difficult languages to learn.
4. Icelanders have a unique naming system. They use a patronymic naming system, which means that they have no family names. Instead, they use their father’s first name as their last name (for example, if your father’s name is Jon, your last name would be Jonsdottir for a girl and Jonsson for a boy).
5. Iceland is home to the Vatnajokull glacier, which is the largest glacier in Europe. It covers about 8% of the country and is over 3,000 years old.
6. Iceland is one of the few countries in the world where you can see the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis. This occurs during the winter months when the sky is dark and clear.
7. Iceland has a very small population of around 370,000 people, which is about the same as the city of Minneapolis.
8. Iceland is known for its unique cuisine, which includes dishes such as fermented shark, whale meat, and pickled ram’s testicles.
9. Iceland is the only country in the world that has a Christmas tradition of exchanging books as gifts on Christmas Eve. This is called Jolabokaflod, which means “Christmas book flood.”
10. In Iceland, it is common to believe in trolls and elves. It is believed that these creatures live in the mountains and play a role in Iceland’s history and culture.
