Are you searching for surprising facts about Iceland before getting surprised about it yourself?

You’re at the right place – we will reveal to you some of the little-known facts about Iceland. Yes, you will get to know something that very few people get informed on. Some of these facts are so little known that even locals would have to scratch their heads to confirm if those facts are true.

There are two big fireworks celebration each year

Let’s start with the more obvious one – New Year’s celebration. Since the government allows people to purchase and shoot fireworks from 27th December to 1st January. People voluntarily buy huge amounts of fireworks and start shooting them days before the New Year’s celebration itself. Does it mean that by New Year’s Eve everyone is out of fireworks and there’s nothing left to shoot when the clock hits 00:00? Not really, that is the time when for 30-60min. non-stop firework show starts.

Another celebration that includes fireworks is in the third week of August when the whole country comes together to celebrate Reykjavik’s Culture Night. It is the biggest annual event that young and old people enjoy being part of. Even though is it called culture night, the program starts from early morning with the Reykjavik’s Marathon and ends at 23:30 with firework show organized by the city hall.

Iceland is not one island

There are 36 other islands of various sizes that are found around mainland Iceland. Four of them are inhabited by people, let’s get to know them.

Flatey

First island inhabitant Þorsteinn Gyðuson dates back to 12th century. At the flourishing times of Flatey, in 1952 there were 129 residents. But then the population started to decrease rapidly. In 1967 last 50 inhabitants moved away. Today, descendants of last inhabitants still visit the island during the summer time.

Flatey is only 2km and the widest part is 400m/ 0.35 miles long. Even though it is a volcanic island, the highest point of it is only 16m / 52,5ft above the sea level.

The main attraction of the island is the bird watching. During the summertime there are 35 bird species that reside in Flatey, two of them stay over the winter season.

In the summertime, there is a ferry to Flatey twice a day from Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur.

Hotel Flatey is open from June to the end of August.

Heimaey

It is the largest island of Vestmanneyjar archipelago located in the south-west. It is the most populated island outside Iceland’s mainland with a population of 4.500 inhabitants. In 1973, the Eldfell volcano located on the island erupted and destroyed half of the city. All inhabitants were evacuated from the island, mainly by fishing boats. The eruption lasted for 10 days and expanded island’s size from 11.2 km2 (4.3 sq mi) to 13.44 km2 (5.19 sq mi). The highest point is measured on 285m/ 935ft high tuff mountain of Heimaklettur.

Every year, on the first weekend of August, the biggest outdoor festival Þjóðhátið (National Festival) of the year is held there. The biggest bands of Iceland come to play for over 10.000 people that flood to the island just for this event.

The first Þjóðhátíð was held in 1874 at the same time as the 1.000 year anniversary of the settlement celebrations took place on the mainland. That year inhabitants of Heimaey couldn’t sail to the mainland due to the bad weather, they decided to have their own little festival which has now become he biggest music festival in Iceland.

Heimaey is also known for puffins. In the summertime, several millions of them migrate there to breed and feed.

Hrisey

Located N°66, with the closest mainland city being Akureyri 35km (22 miles) away, it is the second largest island of the coast after Heimaey. Approximately 120 residents reside there and it has been continuously inhabited since the Settlement of Iceland between 870-930 AC.

Historically, the island was used as the base of fishing industry, but with overfishing in Iceland’s ocean, industry declined and in 1999 last fishing freezing plant was shut down.

Today the island is a popular bird watching destination.

To get there you can take a ferry from Árskógarsandur to Hrisey.

Grimsey

It is the northernmost inhabited area of Iceland. It is located 40km (25 miles) away from the mainland. Despite its latitude, due Gulf stream of Mexico, the average temperature is from -5°C up to 10°C (23°F – 50°F).

The main commercial activity of the island is fishing and due to its location in Arctic Circle, the tourism industry has been growing steadily as well. On the island, there are two guest houses, camping place and a shop.

You can get there by ferry from Dalvik or take a 30min. flight from Akureyri.

Björk and Sigur Rós is not the Only Good Music

Icelandic music scene is much bigger than just the famous names as Björk or Sigur Rós. Here are some musicians that are popular among locals that you can take a look at (click on the band’s name to open a video):

Samaris (Electronic) – Hjámar (Reggae) – Vök (Electronic)

Dikta (Rock) – Megas (Folk Rock) – Úlfúr Úlfúr (Rap/ Hip-Hop)

Agent Fresco (Rock) – Ólafur Arnalds (Ambient)

Endless Dark (Post Hardcore) – Dimma (Metal) – Bubbi (Folk Rock)

There are only two cities with over 10.000 population

As you probably already know, Iceland is a big country land-wise, but the population is only 350.000 with a majority of people living in the capital area.

Besides Reykjavik and Garðabær, Kópavogur and Hafnjarfjörður that are part of Greater Reykjavik Capital area, there are only two other cities that have a population of over 10.000 people.

Keflavik

Situated in Reykjanes peninsula, only a few miles away from the Keflavik International Airport. Locally known as the “Beatles Town”, because of many locally famous musicians and bands sprouting there in the 60-70s. For example Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson and Hljómar. Knowing this, one should not be surprised that Keflavík is also home to The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll! Yeah!

In the 1940s near the Keflavik city, a NATO military base was built and the American army kept their presence there until 2006 when the base was finally closed.

At the moment there are approximately 15.200 people residing in Keflavik.

If you have a short layover, catch a taxi from the arrival hall and ask the driver to take you to Keflavik’s city center. You will cover most of the sights within 1-2h.

Akureyri

The second largest urban area in Iceland with a population of 18.200, located far away north in Eyjafjörd, the longest fjord in Iceland. It is known as a the capital of the North and is an important fishing port. Because of its ice-free port, 2 out of 5 biggest fishing companies are headquartered there. It takes 4 hours to reach Akureyri from Reykjavik by car and additional 1,5h to get to the famous Mývatn lake.

First Parliament was found in Iceland

Believe it or not, but on an island far away in the north Atlantic ocean, was the first parliament formed in the year 930. It was located in Þingvellir until 1798, where sessions were held yearly. Many years later in 1928, Þingvellir was declared as the first national park in Iceland and today is one of the most visited locations in Iceland as a part of Golden Circle route.

Today’s attraction is not the site of the parliament itself, but the tectonic plates split that is few hundred meters from the first parliament’ site. The name Þingvellir means the field where parliament sessions are held.

Icelandic people speak Icelandic

Even though almost whole population speaks English (as a second language), Icelandic is the language that locals use to communicate with each other on daily basis. It is a Germanic language which has its roots in Old Norse, but phonetically closest to Faroese which is spoken in the Faroe Islands. The oldest known texts written in Icelandic are from around 1100 AC.