Iceland is the most interesting. All about Iceland
Evgeny Melnik
Composes music, poetry, prose. He reads and writes a lot: about art, football, rock and nu-jazz. Crazy about Dada, Iceland and Mamlei prose.
Iceland is one of the most mysterious places on the ground. This is the place where the rights of elves are legalized in the constitution, and the postmen and policemen play football better than the guys who can spend 250,000 euros on champagne in one night.
You might now want to learn more about the Land of Ice and Fire, or maybe even start saving your salary so that you can someday go to this mysterious island. And you will have to save a lot, since the prices in the country of sheep and puffins are among the highest in Europe.
Anthony Doudt/Flickr.com Products and prices
Iceland is known for its high prices for products. 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, meat prices are fantastic. For example, one kilogram of pork is sold for 14 euros, chicken - for 17 euros. But this is not the worst.
If you want to boo with some fair-haired lady in a restaurant, then you should take out a loan, because for a three-course dinner you can easily shell out more than a hundred euros! But there is an alternative - go to the local fast food and eat for "some" 15-20 euros.
/~helmar/Flickr.com But for the 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 ordinary 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 chatter can 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 shops are just on the street, only there are no sellers in them. Prices are written on the plates, and there are scales and boxes for money nearby. Yes, yes, people themselves come, weigh, 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. What's interesting is that it's completely stranger can go into a lonely house lost in the mountains, and they will immediately give him a drink, feed him and put him to bed. At the same time, if you are a prominent man, and there is only one defenseless woman in the house, the balance and attitude will not change in any way - it has been verified from our 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, Johanna Sigurdardottir, was known as the first person in history to rule the government in the status of an open bisexual. Such a free attitude to orientation is not surprising, because it is absorbed with mother's milk.
How? The country has many geothermal springs, which are visited not only by tourists, but also by local residents. It is necessary to take a shower before visiting them.
Shriram Rajagopalan/Flickr.com There are showers in Iceland, although they are located in public places, while most of them do not have doors and walls. And the fact that it is customary for Icelanders to ask the name of a partner only after sex, and even then not always, is probably known to many.
Nation of multi-machine
In Russia, the concept of "multi-station" is usually associated with a life-tormented person who spins at several jobs to feed his family. Oddly enough, the Icelanders also have something similar.
Here, people do not order designers for themselves and make repairs exclusively by themselves. Every second Icelander considers himself a great artist, a creative person. For this reason, many things, which sometimes include tailoring, furniture selection, home improvement, they do exclusively with their own hands.
But that's not all. In Iceland, a comic musician can become a prominent politician, a barber's son can become a president, and a bank CEO can become a fisherman. The world-famous commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson is not even a professional commentator, since his main place of work was football club Reykjavik, where he served as an assistant coach.
And the hairdresser's son, President Olafur Grimsson, has been in office for 20 years. At the end of the fourth term, he wanted to resign from his duties, 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 cult band Sigur Ros appeared here. Their music is called "magic", "heavenly", "divine". They play a mixture of ambient, post-rock and minimalism. The band's leader Jónsi Birgisson is known for his ethereal falsetto, as well as being openly gay and playing the electric guitar with a bow. At the same time, of all the participants, only he alone has the appropriate education.
Icelandic compositions are often used as soundtracks. If the titles of the films "Vanilla Sky", "The Immortals: War of the Worlds", "Penelope", "Slumdog Millionaire" tell you something, then it's time to listen to the Hoppipolla track.
Iceland is a land of amazing proportions
Gary Lineker (the legendary English football player) 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 "more than people" things 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!
David Reid/Flickr.com On the other hand, there are absolutely no ants on the island, and scientists do not know why.
About conservatism
From an outside perspective, Iceland may seem like an extremely liberal country. Doors in houses are not closed here. As a long-awaited guest, they accept any person from the street. There is no army in the country, almost no police either. Products stand on the street without any sellers. Being naked in a public place is commonplace, and sexual orientation does not have conservative social labels. But in fact, Iceland is one of the most conservative countries in the world.
Getting a residence permit here is extremely difficult. 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 creates a local equivalent for it. For this reason, the Icelandic language is perhaps the only one that has almost no archaic forms, words with an emasculated meaning, and other relic phenomena.
In what language did the Skalds write the Elder Edda 1,000 years ago, in the same language they read it now. Iceland is very zealous about everything national, here literally everything is shrouded in traditions. Each 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 it is not customary to pay in cash here.
Interested in how waiters and other service personnel live without a tip? Yes, they live great! Leaving a tip in Iceland is considered an insult.
The subject of our review today will be Iceland. country description, Interesting Facts, attractions - all this in the material below.
general information
Iceland is an island and a state. is 103 thousand square meters. km, where about 322 thousand people live. The capital is the city of Reykjavik, where one third of the total population of the country is concentrated, and with the suburbs - more than half. official language is Icelandic, and the currency is the Icelandic krone, which in 2016 was 122 kroons per 1 USD. Iceland is a parliamentary republic headed by a president elected for 4 years. To enter the country, Russian citizens need a passport and a Schengen visa.
Location
Iceland - the land of ice - is located at the northern tip Atlantic Ocean, there are no more large areas of land up to the North Pole. Her Northern part located near the Arctic Circle.
The island is remote from the rest of Europe: from the nearest Faroe Islands at 420 km, from the island of Great Britain at 860 km, and from the nearest point on the continental coast of Norway at 970 km. An interesting fact is that, despite this, Iceland belongs to European countries, although it is much closer to the North American island of Greenland - 287 km.
Iceland: interesting facts about the country
The discovery of Iceland dates back to the end of the 8th century by Irish monks, and after them the Normans Nadod and Floki got here. Following these events, at the end of the 9th century, the active settlement of the island by the Vikings began - immigrants from Norway, who for half a century managed to master almost all the lands suitable for habitation and economic development.
In 1264, Iceland was annexed to Norway, and in 1381, it became part of Denmark. The country gained its independence only in 1944.
The inhabitants of the island are a courageous and proud people, respecting their historical past and cultural traditions. In particular, to the old Icelandic legends - sagas, telling about tribal strife, exciting events, about elves, gnomes and other mysterious characters, in whose existence some residents still believe.
Iceland is that there is practically no crime here - there is only one prison, and no more than a dozen people are kept in it. The police here go without weapons, but there is no army at all.
The basis of the modern economy is made up of only two industries - aluminum processing and fishing. By the way, it will be said that the islanders are inferior in annual catch volumes from European countries only Norway.
Iceland is one of the wealthiest countries. So, the average per capita annual income here is $ 39,000 (according to our ruble standards, every resident here, including infant, is a millionaire).
Nature
The country of Iceland, for all its modest size, is the world's largest island of volcanic origin. The relief of the island is predominantly mountainous, the peaks are the vents of extinct and active volcanoes. The highest of them is the Hvannadalshnukur peak (2110 m), located on the southwestern coast. The most low point is located very close - it is a lagoon of a glacial lake (0 meters above sea level).
Many of the active volcanoes from time to time declare themselves with powerful eruptions. by the most large volcano the island is considered the famous Hekla (1488 meters), located near the "Greater Reykjavik" and frightened local residents with its eruption in 2000.
The longest river of the island is the Tjoursau (237 km). Of other water bodies, glaciers and glacial lakes abound, occurring everywhere and in innumerable numbers.
Iceland is unique in its diversity of natural landscapes. In addition to glaciers, the surface of the country in many places is covered with lava fields. Geysers and hot springs are often found in these areas. Rocky placers covered with dense mosses and lichens, islands of birch forests and meadows of grassy herbs are widespread throughout the island. Waterfalls give special picturesqueness to the area in various parts of the island. On the west coast, numerous fjords amaze with their beauty. National parks have been created to protect the stunning nature in the country.
Climate and typical weather
Iceland is a northern country that doesn't quite live up to its icy name. Washing it, especially from the south, the Gulf Stream, do not allow it to become a cold, harsh desert.
Winters are relatively warm here. average monthly temperature-1 °C, which can be envied by many more southerly located territories of Russia. However, during some periods of this season, cold winds are frequent, which, together with accumulations of drifting Arctic ice, especially in the southeast, cause sharp drops in temperature to -30 ° C. Daylight hours are no more than five hours.
Summer is not hot here. Average temperatures in July are only +12 °C. Warmest on south coast— up to +20 °C, with maxima up to + 30 °C. IN summer period the whole island is illuminated by the sun around the clock, and there are white nights characteristic of the polar latitudes.
Precipitation is unevenly distributed across the island. For example, on the west coast their number ranges from 1300 to 2000 mm per year, on the northeast their norm is up to 750 mm, and in the mountainous part southern regions can have values up to 4000 mm.
The weather here is very changeable, and without exaggeration we can say that it can change in just a few minutes. It had just been warm and sunny, when suddenly the sky was overcast, and a cold, dank wind blew. Residents of the country jokingly tell their visiting guests and tourists: “If suddenly you didn’t like something in the weather, then don’t despair, wait half an hour and it will change.”
Attractions Reykjavik
Reykjavik - main city, the capital of Iceland. What country can not boast of a huge number of attractions? So Iceland has something to show tourists. In particular, its main city houses historical and architectural monuments, museums and modern institutions. Among them, the attention of tourists is attracted by:
- Temple of Hallgrimskirkja is a cult Lutheran building of the mid-20th century, in the form of a volcanic eruption. Inside is a large organ. In front of the church is a statue of the Happy.
- The Cathedral, which is the main temple, built at the end of the XVIII century.
- The building of the Althingi (Parliament) in the style of classicism, erected in the 19th century.
- Perlan, or pearl, looks like a camomile with a blue dome. It is located on a high hill and has a rotating platform for viewing the panorama of the city. Inside the building are the Saga Museum, winter Garden, artificial geyser, shopping pavilions and restaurants.
- Kaffi Reykjavik - this bar is unusual in that it consists of solid blocks of ice, and drinks are always served in ice glasses.
- Concert Hall "Kharpa" Its façades are made up of multicolored glass cells, which, with the help of built-in LEDs, impress visitors with a play of colors.
Blue Lagoon
The lagoon is a geothermal spring and resort with all the proper infrastructure. This is perhaps the most famous and visited place for hundreds of thousands of tourists. A lagoon is an artificially created body of water with a constant temperature of 40 °C. This is the only place of its kind on the planet that is filled with visitors all year round. It has been found that bathing in the mineral-rich waters of the lake helps to heal skin diseases.
Valley of Geysers
It arose in the XIII century after a strong earthquake. The main source, called the Great Geysir, throws out a jet of water of very high temperature to a height of up to 70 meters from a depth of more than two thousand meters. The contemplation of this majestic spectacle leaves a strong impression. There are also places for bathing in less hot springs. Residents use the natural heat of geysers to heat their homes.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
The waterfall is located in the south of the island and is very popular with tourists. Water falls from a height of 60 meters. It flows down from the rocks that used to be the coastline, but now a picturesque valley has formed on this place. The beauty of the waterfall (combined with the surrounding landscape) has no equal. That is why his photographs are placed on calendars and postcards.
colored mountains
In the warm season of the year, in the Landmannalaugar National Park, you can see an amazing sight - multi-colored mountains. The slopes of the mountains shine with unusual stripes - brown, yellow, pink, blue, purple, green, white and black. The reason for this phenomenon is associated with the volcanic origin of rocks. The location of the park near the Hekla volcano makes it one of the most popular tourist centers countries.
Vatnajökull National Park
What else can you tell about Iceland? Facts about the country, all its sights simply cannot be listed in one article. But still I would like to mention this park. It was created in 2008. It covers almost 12% of Iceland and is the largest in Europe. The main highlight of the park is the eponymous glacier with an area of up to 8100 square meters. km and ice thickness up to 500 meters. Under his shell meet beautiful ice caves and seven active volcanoes.
As an entertainment, Vatnajökull tourists can take walks in beautiful places, engage in winter sports, but bathing in hot springs located inside ice caves is in particular demand.
Undoubtedly, this is only a small part of the natural attractions of the country of Iceland; many more interesting and mysterious things await tourists in its open spaces.
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 you to create something interesting and unusual.
In Iceland, too, you can see a lot of 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, as a result of which it turned out 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 multistory, and if left alone, they will just go about their business.
Iceland on the map
3. Almost all electricity and heating in Iceland comes from geothermal and hydroelectric power plants.
4. In Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, there is a Phallological Museum that displays canned mammal penises.
5. Since 2010, striptease 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, when it's cold, you can see strollers with children left by their parents 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 last name 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 banned in Iceland.
14. Iceland has the best ratio of pools per capita in the world. Thanks to the wealth of geothermal energy in the country, anyone, for a modest price, can visit the pool, even the outdoor one.
How people live in Iceland
15. There is no standing army in Iceland.
16. Iceland's climate is not as cold as many people think. average temperature air in winter is about 2 degrees Celsius.
And China is considered real and understandable.
Old house in Iceland
But for the Russians, who are used to living in the far north in the tundra and in the mountains of the Urals and the Caucasus, to be drawn to an even greater adventure, something extremely tempting must happen that will bring benefits. But in connection with the events taking place in Russia and Ukraine, in 2020, many began to consider all possible options for moving to calm countries with more high level life.
However, not everything is predictable, sometimes fate makes such turns for which it is impossible to prepare, which you learn about at the moment of commission. If fate hands you a one-way ticket to Iceland, should you refuse? Maybe there you will find paradise for your soul.
It is impossible to compare the Icelandic mentality with the European one, but it is somewhat similar to the Scandinavian one. Until the middle of the 20th century, this nation lived very ascetically, due to its remoteness from the mainland. The descendants of the Vikings have preserved their traditions and honor them today. True, modernity has not bypassed the island, which we will tell further.
Panoramic view of Reykjavik
People here are hardworking, accustomed to making money with their own hands: fishing, doing agriculture to extract minerals. When the United States and Great Britain considered Iceland "their" territory, the inhabitants of the island responded to this intervention in a peculiar way, turning the situation in their favor.
They managed to establish the fishing industry with the marketing of products in these countries, and then around the world. The state grew rich before our eyes. To this day, residents work in their traditional sectors of the economy, and the service sector, for example, tourism, has begun to develop in part.
Europeans may consider Icelanders to be rednecks because of their habits from a past rural life, after all, the urban population has become relatively recent. They are simple people, but honest and accustomed to abide by the rules and laws. Sometimes pedantic, however, have great fun and walk around on holidays, pouring strong drinks non-stop and eating haukarl.
Haukarl is the national dish of Iceland.
This national Icelandic dish will seem to our taste quite nasty and terrible in fact, as it is rotten shark meat. Even the Vikings came up with a way of eating the meat of Greenland sharks, so as not to be poisoned by the poisonous compounds contained in it.
Another feature that is attributed to the national mentality is love for one's neighbor.
There are almost no accidents involving pedestrians in the country, since not a single motorist will allow a collision and let a person pass, even if it takes a long time to wait.
The same happens with other cars: Icelanders let each other pass politely or wait dutifully in a traffic jam while two drivers in front blocked traffic due to dialogue.
In the country, more than 98% of the inhabitants are native Icelanders, they care about the purity of the nation and rarely mix with other nations; there are very few visiting foreigners and they are obliged to strictly observe local rules of life, so immigration into the country is insignificant.
Hospital building in Iceland
A high standard of living is manifested in the personal position of each citizen in relation to the whole society and the future. So, about 96% of the inhabitants of the island have true friends and, in general, trust politicians; voter turnout reaches 80% and represents a good civil position of the population. About 85% of people are satisfied with their lives and consider themselves happy.
Economy of Iceland
Let's talk in more detail about work, because it is thanks to a constant income that a person buys goods and services and is the engine of trade, contributing to the development of the economy of the region as a whole.
We have already said that 80% of the adult active population has a job, and 90% are people with a diploma. Men are more employed than women, but the difference is small.
The average annual salary in Iceland is $40,000 or $3,300 per month: 20% of people each receive above and below average income, but in general the state provides equal opportunities, regardless of gender, age and education.
There is practically no long-term unemployment in the country, only about 13% of the active population are currently looking for work.
Now let's touch on the issue of pensioners, which are citizens (about half of all) at the age of 65-69 years. Perhaps, among all Europeans, these are the most courageous and risk-averse pensioners, because there is no age limit for retiring. A person can do this earlier, but then his income will be very small compared to others, so people work as much as they want.
This pattern exists in all Scandinavian countries, which probably explains the stable social life. Pension in Iceland averages 1550 USD, which is again comparable to all Scandinavian countries and is considered quite high in Europe.
Prices for basic products in metropolitan Reykjavik in 2015: water costs $2, you can buy bread for the same amount; a dozen eggs will cost twice as much; 1kg of chicken breasts sells for $20, while a bottle of wine averages $17.
As you can see, prices are much higher than in Moscow. A liter of gasoline costs 2.07 US dollars, which is again higher than today in our capital.
This high cost of living extends to housing, whether it's renting or buying your own apartment. 1 sq. m of housing in a residential area of Reykjavik costs 2200 US dollars against 2800 in the city center.
Residential building in Reykjavik
You can rent a one-room apartment in a residential area for $880, and in the center for $1,170. True, you will have to pay only $1,800 for a three-room apartment in the center. This is more or less the same with the Moscow rental market.
World Bank Headquarters
Since the collapse of the USSR, our countries have been cooperating perfectly on a number of economic agreements. Particularly promising are the dialogues on increasing the volume of fishing, the aluminum industry and tourism.
Iceland and the European Union
Iceland has complicated relations with the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the EU). Back in 2009, an application was made to join; the country's current president won the election thanks to promises to improve the quality of life of the population after Iceland is approved as a member of the EU.
Many expected that membership would take place by 2011, but the situation changed dramatically by 2013. The fact is that the main income of many Icelanders is still associated with fishing, the quotas for which the EU decided to reduce in order to redistribute them among other coastal states.
fishing boat in Iceland
This situation did not suit the Icelanders, and they demanded that the government hold a referendum. It was there that the decision was made to withdraw the application. A proud nation has decided not to belong to the European Union. This did not suit someone, there were rallies, but in general, the life of the Icelanders remained the same as it was.
Iceland is not a member of the European Union and will not enter it with the conditions that Brussels put forward for it. In 2015, she withdrew her application for EU membership.
Iceland and the Schengen Agreement
Since 1996, Iceland has been a member of the Schengen zone, which gives the right to visit all other countries that are parties to the agreement. It also left a significant positive imprint on its foreign policy with neighboring countries and all the rest of the world.
Internal migration among the Schengen countries remains approximately at the same level, although less developed states are losing their residents in favor of rich states. External migration of the population is practically absent in Iceland. There are very few states in the world that could boast of the absence of foreign residents.
Iceland is called the "land of ice". Where there is no ice, there are mountains, volcanoes, bare land or lakes. Tourists come here as to the "end of the world", because you will not find such landscapes anywhere else in the world. Most of the attractions are natural objects- waterfalls, ice lagoon, geysers, large national parks. A certain proportion of travelers are those who came purposefully to see the famous northern lights.
However, do not think that Iceland has nothing to show in the cultural aspect. The capital of the country is actively developing and can offer travelers many places to see - a concert hall where world celebrities often perform, various museums. The city of Husavik is popular among tourists. Among the objects of inspection there is a museum of whales and a shocking Phallological Museum.
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What to see in Iceland?
The most interesting and Beautiful places, photos and a short description.
1. Hallgrimskirkja
2. Sculpture "Sun Voyager" (Reykjavik)
The name translates as "solar wanderer". The sculpture, popular with tourists, is installed on the embankment in the very center of the city. The author of the monument, artist Jon Gunnar Arnason, created the sketch when he was seriously ill. Simple in appearance, it carries a deep symbolism. The design resembling a ship means the pursuit of a dream and new horizons. The height of the structure reaches 3 meters, and the length is 4 meters.
3. Laugavegur Street (Reykjavik)
One of the most popular shopping streets in Reykjavik. It has the atmosphere of the "old" city. In the past, this street led to hot springs, where there were laundries. One of the most popular goods for tourists on this street are products made from volcanic lava. The second most popular souvenir from here is a sheepskin sweater. In the evening, shops stop working, and bars, nightclubs, and restaurants open.
4. Perlan (Reykjavik)
The building of the city boiler house. Its hemispherical dome looks like a flower, each petal of which is a reservoir of hot water. The building is multifunctional and is popular not only among tourists, but also among residents of the city. On the ground floor there is a winter garden, in the center of which there is a geyser. Part of the floors is occupied by shops. On the top floor is Observation deck with telescopes.
5. Harpa Concert Hall (Reykjavik)
The building of the concert hall looks like two giant shards of basalt - the rock that makes up most of the mountains of Iceland. The construction of the hall lasted several years due to funding problems and was completed in 2011. Not only 4 concert halls, but conference and seminar rooms, shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as an observation deck overlooking the center of Reykjavik.
6. Exhibition "871 +/- 2" (Reykjavik)
The exhibition is located in the city center. It contains ancient and ancient artifacts from the time of the first settlers. Also at the exhibition are a variety of interactive exhibits. The museum building was built on the site of 10th century huts, and the exhibition is located in the basement of this building. The exhibits of the exhibition are objects of everyday life and culture of the 9th century. The central exhibit is a hut from the time of the first settlers.
7. National Museum of Iceland (Reykjavik)
The exposition of the museum contains the most valuable objects of culture and life of the Icelandic people. Here you can trace the history of the country in different eras. The museum was opened in 1863, and in 1950 it settled in a building specially built for its needs. permanent exhibition National Museum is about 2000 exhibits. The number of photographs, prints and drawings exceeds 4 million. The museum organizes educational activities.
8. Arbaeyarsafn
Folklore Museum under open sky. Founded in 1957 to preserve traditions from generation to generation. The museum complex includes dwelling houses of peasants, a Catholic church, workshops of workers. Each building houses a thematic exhibition. The place is popular with tourists. They come to get acquainted with the culture and lifestyle of the Icelanders, original folklore and interesting architecture.
9. Museums of whales in Reykjavik and Husavik
Whaling in Iceland has been a subject of controversy for many years. Activists and scientists opposed to it have founded whale museums. The museum in Reykjavik has 23 life-size whale models. It creates the illusion of being under water - with the help of blue lighting and a sound system. The whale museum in Husavik is less technologically advanced than the museum in Reykjavik. Its main exhibit is the skeleton of a whale.
10. Phallological Museum (Reykjavik)
The museum has no analogues in the world in terms of the uniqueness of the exposition. Visitors can see the preserved penises of various mammalian species, including the human one. In total, the museum has about 200 exhibits. There are also themed paintings and sculptures, and some artwork is made from the genitals themselves. Museum founder Sigurdur Hjartarson has been collecting this extraordinary collection since 1974.
11. Aurora Reykjavik (Reykjavik)
An interactive center that uses the latest technology to recreate the Northern Lights for visitors. The Northern Lights projection room is the centerpiece of the museum. Other sections feature photographs, educational materials and the history of the study of this natural phenomenon. Visitors can do colorful photo in a special photo booth. There is a souvenir shop with themed goods.
12. Monument to Leif Ericsson (Reykjavik)
Located at the entrance to the Lutheran church of Hallgrimskirkja. Leif Eriksson or Leif the Happy was born in Iceland at the end of the 10th century, became famous as great navigator and ruler of Greenland. The sculpture of a person significant for the history of Iceland was donated to Reykjavik by the USA in 1930 in honor of the Millennium of the Icelandic Parliament. The sculptor Stirling Calder symbolically portrayed the navigator standing on the prow of the boat.
13. Blue Lagoon
Geothermal natural complex. The resort is known all over the world, some call it a symbol of the country. The peninsula where natural pool, formed from porous lava through which seeps sea water, forming a sky-turquoise color. The water temperature even in winter is not less than +37°С. Mineral water complex has unique composition It doesn't contain bacteria. The bottom is covered with healthy white clay.
14. Route "Golden Ring"
Most popular among tourists excursion route across Iceland. The most interesting natural sights in it are Gullfoss waterfall, national park Thingvellir, hot river in Hveragerdi, valley of geysers Haykadalur with geysers Strokkur and Geysir. Some tour operators offer day trips along this route, however experienced travelers It is advised to give it at least 2-3 days.
15. Laugavegur
The most famous hiking route in Iceland. It is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the world. The hike takes an average of 3-4 days, the length is 55 km., highest point 1050 meters. Along the way there are small bases where you can spend the night. The trail passes through mountains, glaciers, lava fields. On the way, tourists meet many waterfalls, lakes and picturesque rivers.
16. Thingvellir
The national park is included in the list of objects protected by UNESCO. Founded in 1928. The park is located 40 km from the capital, on the border of two lithospheric plates. Earthquakes are not uncommon here. The park includes the largest lake in Iceland, Thingvallavatn, with a depth of about 100 meters. Part of the park is an active volcanic zone. The most notable volcano in this area is the Hengil volcano.
17. Skaftafell
Founded in 1967. natural landscape national park It was formed by the interaction of fire and water, namely the eruptions of the Äraivajokull volcano under the Skeidaraurjokull and Skaftafellsjokull glaciers, as well as the flows of the Morsau and Skeidarau rivers. The park is partly covered with birch forest. The area is popular with tourists, it has specially designated camping sites and hiking trails.
18. Surtsey
The appearance of the island is due to the eruption of an underwater volcano in 1963. Similar geological events took place on Earth millions of years ago during the formation of continents. The height of the island above sea level is 50 meters, the area is 2.5 km². The island from the first days of its existence to the present time has been the object of close study of the processes of the emergence and spread of life.
19. Valley of Geysers Haukadalur
An unusual valley is located in the south of Iceland and is included in the Golden Ring route. Numerous geysers in this place attract the attention of many tourists. The geyser with the name Geysir is remarkable. The Great Geyser throws out large jets of steam several times a day, but not periodically. The second popular geyser called Strokkoyur is more predictable - it releases jets of hot water every 10 minutes.
20. Gullfoss Waterfall
One of the most beautiful waterfalls Iceland. It consists of two steps with a height of 21 meters and 11 meters. The steps are located to each other at an angle of 90 °. The volume of water passing through the waterfall is impressive - in summer it reaches 130 m³ / s. At the top of the waterfall is the Sigriudur Thumasdouttir monument. This is the daughter of the owner of the land, on the territory of which at the beginning of the 20th century there was a waterfall. According to legend, it was she who did not allow the use of the waterfall for the needs of the hydroelectric power station.
21. Dettifoss waterfall
Known as the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Its name means "bubbling waterfall". It is located on the territory of the large Jokulsaurglyuvur National Park. Next to it are two other picturesque and popular waterfalls - Selfoss and Hafragilfoss, as well as Lake Myvatn. The width of the Dettifoss waterfall reaches 100 meters. Its waters fall down from a height of 44 meters. The flow of water during the flood reaches 600 m³/sec.
22. Skogafoss waterfall
It is one of the most visited not only in Iceland, but also in the world. Located next to the Eyjafjallajökull glacier near the village of Skogar. In the past, this place was the coastline. Especially for tourists on the top of the Fimmvurduhalus hiking trail. It offers a beautiful view of the 60-meter waterfall. Its width is 25 meters. In the spray of the waterfall on a sunny day you can see a rainbow.
23. Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Located on the river Seljalandsau at the location of the former coastline above which it rises 60 meters. Behind the waterfall inside the rocky cliffs is a deep indent. It has access to people, so the Seljalandsfoss waterfall can be viewed from all sides. It looks especially beautiful at sunset. Near the waterfall there is a site for setting up tents and tourists.
24. Landmannalaugar
The Landmannaløygar Valley is part of a large nature reserve in Iceland. The unusual landscape of the valley is created by formations of lava and water. The mountains of this bridge are created by crystallized formations of volcanic rock. The color of these stones changes depending on the lighting. It can be yellow or red with purple or green streaks. There are routes of varying difficulty along the valley.
25. Kerid
Crater lake in southern Iceland. It is part of the volcanic zone along with the Lángjökull glacier and the Reykjanes Peninsula. The red volcano basin is typical of volcanic rock. It is 55 meters deep and 170 meters wide. The basin of the lake is quite ancient - it was formed about three thousand years ago. The lake, about 10 meters deep, has an unusual color with a bright aquamarine hue.
26. Fjadrarglufur Canyon
Located next to a small fishing village in the east of Iceland. The picturesque views of this canyon attract travelers from all over the world. By its size, it is one of the largest among such canyons. The Fjadrarglufur canyon was formed more than 2 million years ago after the collapse of a large glacier. It is distinguished by its vertical walls. Its length is about 2 km, a small river flows along the bottom of the canyon.
27. Mount Kirkjufell
With its steep slopes, the mountain resembles in shape the roof of a Lutheran church. The slopes received this shape after the glacier disappeared. The height of the mountain is 463 meters. At the foot there small waterfall, photos from this angle are especially successful. Usually travelers take a walk around the mountain - it will take no more than an hour. Climbing to its top is possible only with special equipment.
28. Lake Myvatn
A beautiful lake in the north of Iceland. The diameter of the lake is 10 km. The area around it is considered the most popular tourist area in the country. On the hills by the lake are both indoor geothermal pools and outdoor pools with hot water. Fishing in the lake is carried out only under license. For fans of the Game of Thrones series, the lake is interesting because several scenes of the fifth season were filmed on its shores.
29. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
The ice lagoon is the largest in Iceland. The area of the lagoon is 20 km², the depth reaches 200 meters. From the shore you can see a large ice cap, from which icebergs often break off. Blocks of ice can reach a size of 30 meters. In order to see the icebergs that have stuck around the lagoon, jeep and snowmobile tours are popular. Jokulsarlon Lagoon is a popular location for filming movies and commercials.
30. Diamond Beach
The name "Diamond Beach" came from the ice crystals scattered on the black sandy shore. Ice shards of various sizes and incredible shapes are pieces of hundreds of icebergs in the Jokulsarlon lagoon. Crystals on the shore and icebergs in the water look especially beautiful under the rays of the setting or rising sun. At such moments, fragments of ice shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.
31. Reynisfjara Beach
Popular with tourists due to the black volcanic sandy shore. It was formed over many years of crushing hardened lava with water. The picturesque grottoes of black shiny stone on the shore seem to take vacationers into another reality. The length of the beach is more than 5 km, and the width is several tens of meters. Near the shore are high basalt columns, which are called "Troll Fingers".
32. Cape Dirholaey
The locals call this cape "the hole in the door". By their shape, the rocks on the shore really resemble doorways. The landscape is striking in its color scheme - the gray color of the volcanic rocks smoothly turns into the black color of the sand on the shore and the blue water of the ocean. Cape Dirholaey is a protected area. Therefore, during the nesting season of birds from mid-May to mid-June, passage to the cape is prohibited.
33. "Column of Peace"
The memorial was erected in memory of the musician John Lennon. The initiator of the installation was his widow, Yoko Ono. The monument is a white stone pedestal. Rays of light go from it to the sky, forming a tower. In good cloudless weather, the height of the rays can reach four kilometers. As conceived by the authors of the project, the tower symbolizes the struggle for world peace, which was started by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the 60s of the XX century.
34. Douglas DC-3 wreckage
The wreckage of an aircraft that crash-landed in 1973. None of the crew was hurt. The military took away all valuable equipment from the plane, and left the empty body at the landing site. A paved route 4 km long leads from the car park to the aircraft. Tourists who have been there talk about the incredible experience of seeing the wreckage of an airplane in the middle of the deserted kilometers of a black beach.
35. Northern Lights
Iceland is one of the few countries where you can see the northern lights. The most likely period to see this natural phenomenon with your own eyes is from September to April. It is also recommended to go to the north of the country or to the Western Fjords - the dark time of the day there lasts longer, which means there are more chances to see the coveted multi-colored flashes in the sky. For those who want to "catch" the northern lights, there are special organized car tours.