Top 5 Surprising Facts About Iceland

New Delhi : Iceland is a country full of stunning landscapes, interesting culture, and fascinating history. But there is so much more to this incredible destination than meets the eye. From its unique food culture to its incredible natural wonders, Iceland has many fun things to do and fascinating surprises. Here are the top most surprising facts about Iceland that will leave you even more mesmerised by this amazing country.

There are no mosquitoes in Iceland

Believe it or not, Iceland is surprisingly mosquito-free. It's one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy the outdoors without being swarmed by pesky insects. The country’s unique climate and geography provide a natural barrier that keeps mosquitoes from coming in. The cold temperatures, harsh winds, and lack of standing water make it difficult for them to survive and reproduce.

You can get a degree in elf studies

If you thought Iceland was an incredible place to explore, wait until you hear about its truly unique academic offerings. Believe it or not, you can actually earn a degree in elf studies in Iceland.

The University of Akureyri offers a Master’s Degree in Elf Studies. This unique program is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the cultural role of elves and fairies in Icelandic folklore. As part of the program, students are expected to conduct field research and explore how the beliefs surrounding elves have changed over time.

More greenhouses than houses in Iceland

One of the most surprising facts about Iceland is that there are actually more greenhouses than houses in the country. With a population of just over 300,000 people, there are an estimated 40,000 greenhouses in Iceland, which is more than double the amount of residential buildings.

The reason behind this phenomenon is that the mild climate and abundance of geothermal energy make it ideal for greenhouse farming. This type of agriculture has been practised in Iceland for centuries and it allows farmers to grow vegetables year-round, as well as provide a safe environment for rare and endangered plant species to thrive.

Iceland is one of the least densely populated countries on Earth

Iceland only has about one person for every square mile. This is largely because most of their landmass is uninhabitable. For example, the glacier Vatnajökull covers about 8% of the world’s landmass, but it is not habitable by humans. There are also plenty of active volcanoes, and the population can’t inhabit the feet of the volcanoes. As such, most of the country is dispersed to a few cities. Their population is also rather small - just 372,000 people! 

There are no McDonald's in Iceland

One of the most surprising facts about Iceland is that there are no McDonald’s restaurants in the country. The lack of fast food options may seem strange, but it's part of the culture of Iceland to maintain its unique culinary landscape. That being said, if you're travelling to Iceland and are looking for some familiar fast food flavours, you can take advantage of the numerous flight options to get there.

Icelandair, American Airlines, and Delta all offer direct flights to Iceland from multiple U.S. cities.