Iceland, an island nation nestled in the North Atlantic Ocean, has its capital in Reykjavík. With a land area of about 103,000 square kilometers, Iceland is relatively scarce in natural resources, but its fishery, water and geothermal resources are abundant, making it an important pillar of the national economy.
1. In the capital Reykjavík, about two-thirds of Iceland's population lives. The city is home to a wide variety of shops, the 70-metre-high Hardgrim Church, a must-see for tourists, and the colourful houses dotted around the city.
2. In the suburbs of Iceland, the cabins are also surprisingly comfortable, making them an excellent place to see the Northern Lights! Iceland also has some characteristic turf houses, whose roofs are directly covered with lawns, which not only have good thermal insulation function, but also help residents survive the cold winter. The turf house has a long history, dating back thousands of years.
Due to the scarcity of wood, Icelanders often use dwarf birch trees to build the frame of a turf house, and then make a thick roof out of durable and renewable turf. The Turf House is not only a residence for Icelandic residents, but also a tourist destination.
3. When I went to school in Harbin, I thought it was the extreme cold, but when I went to Iceland, I realized that the cold there was also absolutely extreme! In the coldest time in Iceland, it only takes two or three minutes for a glass of water outside the window to freeze, and you can imagine its power.
The actual and perceived temperatures in Iceland vary greatly, and the weather can be unpredictable. For first-time visitors, it is necessary to wear extra clothes to keep warm. Due to the lack of tree vegetation, the cold sea breeze hits unhindered, and the wind is sometimes strong enough to make people unsteady on their feet. However, the interior of Iceland is a different story, with the warmth of the interior, and many people even wear short sleeves.
4. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world in terms of public security. The local police work is relatively light, and generally involves some simple tasks related to the community and animals. Iceland's low crime rate may be closely related to its high income and welfare. After all, if you live a worry-free life, your motivation to commit crimes will naturally be greatly reduced. Even so, I would advise our compatriots in a foreign country to take good care of their valuables, especially when going out at night, and be more careful, as the saying goes: be careful to sail the ship of ten thousand years.
It is worth mentioning that Iceland has no army, only a small armed force, a few patrol boats and a few aircraft that make up its defense forces.
5. Icelandic girls give me the impression that they have fair skin, good figures, and delicate facial features! Iceland has won the Miss World championship four times, which is enough to prove its woman's appearance! Iceland's population is sparse, and the ratio of men and women is unbalanced, resulting in many beautiful girls facing marriage difficulties. Nevertheless, Iceland attaches great importance to equality between men and women, as can be seen in many aspects of daily life.
For example, women are in no way inferior to men in the workplace, and gender is not a reason for special accommodation at work, and men and women are treated similarly in the workplace. Even on the streets of Iceland, it is normal to see men taking care of children! Eating out is generally AA system, even if it is a relationship between a man and a woman in love, it is almost AA system.
6. Iceland has the highest employment rate of women in the world, and unlike many countries, in Iceland, men also enjoy maternity leave, which can rest for three months to accompany their wives and children. The maternity leave of the mother is as long as nearly eight months, and there is 80% salary protection during the period. In Iceland, unemployment does not mean that there is nothing to live on. Unemployed people receive a benefit of about $80 per day, which is even more than the daily wage of the average person in many countries.
7. In Iceland, the closeness of interpersonal relationships can sometimes be confusing! For example, a colleague who chats with you in the pantry in the morning may become distant in the afternoon. Icelanders have a small social circle, and it is not uncommon for them to accidentally find out that they are relatives at parties. Therefore, many Icelanders will use blood relationship apps to confirm whether the other party is a relative before dating, so as to avoid embarrassment.
8. Icelanders dress relatively casually, not because they don't pay attention to their appearance, but because of the restrictions of clothing styles. Icelandic supermarkets have a limited range of products, and new models sell out quickly. Icelanders love sports, especially power sports such as snowmobiling and cross-country competitions, so you can see a lot of strong men in Iceland.
9. Iceland has a diverse landscape, with only about one-eighth of the land covered by glaciers, and the rest of the land is green meadows with almost no trees. Only 1.31% of the land is covered by forests and 24% of the area is meadows, making Iceland an ideal place for raising cattle and sheep. It is also home to a variety of natural landscapes such as volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, geyser hot springs, blue lagoons, and black sand beaches, making it a world-class tourist destination.
Scientists have found that Iceland used to be 25 to 35 percent forested. Since the Vikings settled, a lot of deforestation has been cut down for the construction of houses, boats, and heating for the needs of survival. This, combined with the frequent eruptions of nearly 50 active volcanoes in Iceland, has left the soil sparse and covered with ash and volcanic rock. The abundance of heat on the surface makes the grass thrive, while the trees struggle to grow.
Iceland is rich in volcanoes, with about 200 to 300 large and small volcanoes. We have a good saying: rely on the mountains to eat the mountains, rely on the sea to eat the sea. Icelanders live on these natural resources, and almost all of their heating and electricity comes from geothermal energy and hydropower, with very low carbon emissions. As a result, Iceland has been repeatedly named the "best country to live in" by the United Nations.
Iceland's geography has created a unique landscape, with alternating seasons of cold and warm temperatures, melting and covering glaciers, intermittent volcanic eruptions, and tectonic plate movements creating a gap between high and low river beds. As a result, Iceland is home to spectacular waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, making them a highlight of the natural landscape!
10. Icelandic animals are also worth mentioning, and they are not afraid of people. On the streets, it is common to see a variety of animals leisurely walking through. Iceland's national bird, the puffin, can fly and dive for its cute appearance. Icelandic horses with thick hair and round sheep are also featured animals.
11. Icelanders love to celebrate all kinds of festivals and hold all kinds of activities for them. From film festivals and music festivals to international days and more. Not only do I love festivals, but I also like to do activities, such as celebrating the arrival of winter, holding a free lamb soup event, and giving Christmas fruit when the Christmas tree is lit at Christmas.
12. Iceland's per capita GDP is as high as 74,000 US dollars, which is higher than that of many developed countries, and the monthly salary is generally more than 20,000 yuan. Even the waiter who sells ice cream has an annual income of about 300,000 yuan. However, in terms of prices, the cost of living in Iceland is quite high. Due to the cold weather and the scarcity of crops, most of the vegetables and fruits rely on imports, and the prices naturally remain high. Although Iceland has arable land, it covers only 1% of the country's total land area, and its annual production is not enough to meet the needs of 300,000 people.
To give you a few examples, a bottle of mineral water costs 18 yuan, a bottle of Coke costs 20 yuan, a hot dog costs 50 yuan, and the price of beef and chicken is much higher than in China. In Icelandic bars, a regular beer costs nearly 100 yuan, and a hamburger and fries meal costs about 200 yuan. In Icelandic restaurants, two bowls of noodles and a few pieces of beef cost 200 yuan, and a full meal can cost up to 300 yuan. Hotel accommodation is also expensive, usually around 1,500 yuan a night, more than three times that of first-tier cities in China such as Shanghai. In the off-season, youth hostels are relatively cheaper, starting at 200 yuan.
In Iceland, water, electricity and heating are fixed and can be considered the lowest monthly charges in Northern Europe, mainly thanks to the renewable energy sources of Icelandic electricity, including geothermal, hydroelectric and wind power. The cost of transportation is not cheap, the starting price of the bus is 15 yuan, the minibus is 30 yuan, the airport bus is 200 yuan, and the taxi fare is even more expensive.
In Iceland, tipping is not required, it is a local Xi. Most of Iceland's attractions are free, but there are strict requirements for environmental protection, such as a fishing license required for fishing at the beach.
13. Here, the winter days are unusually short, sometimes it just starts to light at 11 o'clock in the morning, and the sky gradually darkens before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Long dark nights can often be lonely and oppressive, which is why Icelanders especially like to drink to relieve their boredom in winter. Among them, "Black Dead Liquor" is a unique local liquor, which is fermented and distilled from potatoes, with cumin and Angelica Angelica as seasonings, and the alcohol concentration is extremely high.
Summer is very different in Iceland, where the sun usually sets at 12 midnight and rises again at 2 a.m., making the night almost dark. Such polar daylight often leads to insomnia in people who are not used to it. Icelanders love summer, and they arrange a variety of programs in the summer, and actively participate in outdoor activities such as camping and self-driving.
Fortunately, in spring and autumn, it is relatively mild, with 12 hours of day and night, although it is colder than in China, but it is not too bad. On rainy or snowy days, Icelanders usually wear a jacket because the wind is so strong that an umbrella is almost useless.
14. Iceland is full of sulphur hot springs, and the locals are very fond of hot springs, which is one of their cheaper entertainment. The famous Blue Lagoon is known as the "natural beauty salon". However, it is best to tie your hair up before soaking in the hot springs, as the trace elements in the lake water may damage the hair quality. The volcanic hot spring water used for bathing has a strange smell similar to that of rotting eggs, which can take a while for newcomers to Iceland to get used to.
15. Living in Iceland requires enduring loneliness. Even the supermarket closes early. The Icelandic way of life is very simple and monotonous! apart from work, you either like to go to the bookstore to read books, chat in a café, or take a walk in the park. And Icelanders are not very productive, and procrastination is widespread. It is worth mentioning that there are no mosquitoes in Iceland, which is undoubtedly a boon for people who are prone to mosquito bites.
16. In terms of education, basic education in Iceland is completely free, and university education is only charged a small fee. All Icelandic residents under the age of 18 receive a monthly allowance. Iceland has the highest number of books per capita in the world, and the tradition of writing and reading books is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. According to statistics, about 1 in 10 Icelanders have published a book, and the country has at least 83 libraries.
17. In terms of medical care, medical services in Iceland are basically free of charge, and all treatment costs, including hospitalization costs, are borne by the state. Iceland's pension policy is also one of the best in the world, and many retirees do not need to worry about living problems. However, the cost of medical treatment in Iceland is relatively high for foreigners, and visitors are advised to bring their own emergency medication.
18. Here, tap water comes from glacial meltwater, which is clear and sweet, and can be drunk directly. Fish and lamb are the main staple foods in Iceland, but smoked fish and dried fish are famous all over the world. Fermented shark meat, known as the "national dish of Iceland", is a dark dish with a special flavor. This dish is left to dry for four to five months after a special fermentation process, and although it looks similar to ordinary dried fish, its smell is unacceptable to many foreigners.
19. In terms of diet, Icelandic food mostly remains authentic. Seafood such as cod is seasoned with only a little salt and served with vegetables. Icelanders have a sweet tooth and a light food, and they even bring their own condiments for heavier dishes. Iceland's seafood is particularly delicious, and Hofen's lobster and lobster soup are not to be missed. There is no McDonald's in Iceland, which is related to the cost of local ingredients. When it comes to fast food, hot dogs and sandwiches are more popular. Coffee culture is also prevalent in Iceland, but there is no Starbucks in Iceland because the locals think the local coffee is better.
20. Public transportation in Iceland is not well developed, there is no subway and railway, and buses are not on time. Self-driving is a common way to get around in Iceland, but in winter, driving can be unpredictable due to the unpredictable weather. Iceland's roads are rarely lined with iron fences, and sheep often cross the roads at a leisurely pace. There is only one highway in Iceland, Highway 1, and most bridges are one-way bridges. In addition, Iceland's traffic laws stipulate that driving must turn on headlights and wear seatbelts for everyone in each seat, day or night.