The land of ice and fire? Yes, but also of rotten shark, immortal burgers, and parents who should be arrested!
Okay, Iceland has mind-blowing geysers, volcanic activity going full throttle, freezing temperatures, and spectacular places that make you feel like you’re on another planet, and blah blah blah.
You probably already knew all that and are well aware of how awesome this country is. So are we, so much so that we put together a one-week itinerary in Iceland to explore it from top to bottom (or almost).
But there are plenty of other little gems we bet you didn’t know about.
In this article, we’ve rounded up 5 of the strangest facts about Iceland.
Check them all out!
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There are no mosquitoes!!!
Iceland boasts breathtaking landscapes, with turquoise glaciers, crazy sea stacks, pitch-black beaches, and lots of other amazing stuff.
Now add the fact that there’s not even a trace of those nasty mosquitoes there, and boom! Iceland really is the coolest place in the world!
Yes, those little pests that buzz by your ear all night and somehow survive even the most violent slipper-smacks ever delivered by humankind — they’re nowhere to be found in Iceland. Not even one!
The reason?
Apparently, the cold doesn’t have that much to do with it, since those little demons can survive even in freezing places like Siberia. In fact, the credit seems to go to the geothermal activity that characterizes Icelandic soil, with its countless volcanoes reducing the humidity in the environment.
So, zero mosquitoes, but what about elves? Are they really there?
According to Icelanders, yes.
According to Icelanders, elves really do exist
Yep, apparently most Icelanders believe in the existence of elves.
Or rather, a small part is absolutely sure they exist. But a huge number of Icelanders, in any case, do not rule out the possibility that these fantastic beings might really be out there.
How do we know?
Simple: in 2006, the University of Iceland, a public institution based in Reykjavík, conducted a study specifically aimed at finding out how many Icelanders believe in elves, and got these results.
And then we complain when public money gets used in ridiculous ways...
Besides elves, though, Iceland can boast something even more mythical: a cheeseburger that’s nearly 20 years old!
You can admire a cheeseburger that’s more than ten years old
Strange but true: there isn’t even a trace of McDonald’s in Iceland.
Actually, years ago, in the early ’90s, a few had opened, but they didn’t last long. In 2009, due to problems with the supply of meat for hamburgers, they had to close, and to this day McDonald’s seems to have no intention of trying again.
One fan of the American fast-food giant’s burgers, however, in the last days before the closure, decided to buy a burger and fries to keep as a souvenir.
And guess what? Even today, those fries and that burger are still intact, with no trace of mold.
Sure, they’ve got a horribly faded color, but no sign of rotting. Just to give you an idea of how healthy fast food is...
In fact, today the burger and fries are kept in a display case and can be seen at Snotra House, a hostel in the southern part of Iceland.
So, no junk burgers in Iceland: all for the best, since there’s plenty of other great stuff to eat.
Like putrefied shark...
You can eat putrefied shark
Have you ever heard of Hákarl?
It’s wild.
Basically, they catch a shark, remove its entrails and head, and press the carcass to expel all the fluids. Sort of like shark juice.
Then they leave it to ferment for months, until, in theory, the meat becomes edible. Yes, because Mother Nature tried to make it clear to humans that shark isn’t exactly top-tier food by making its flesh extremely toxic if eaten.
But Icelanders? Nope, they basically said “whatever” and came up with this method.
And in fact, the result is pieces of shark meat that are no longer toxic. Still, you can imagine what a carcass left to ferment for months and months might taste like... We’ll just tell you that, during the drying process, they keep it very, VERY far away from homes because of the smell.
Not outdoors, though, but inside dedicated facilities.
The ones who do get cheerfully left outside buildings, on the other hand, are children.
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Children are left outside to rest in the cold
A couple decides to spend a lovely evening at a restaurant or maybe in a nice little venue: a romantic night out for two.
And the little one, where do they leave them?
With the grandparents? With a neighbor? At home with a babysitter?
Nope, Icelanders don’t like these boring, conventional solutions one bit. That’s why they usually leave their little ones in strollers outside restaurants and cafés...
Yes, they really do.
But why?
Apparently, the custom is linked to the desire to get children used to the country’s harsh climate as early as possible. And since crime there is practically nonexistent, they can afford to do it without the children running any risk.
Crazy stuff...
