Iceland's dairy products are also becoming famous for their wholesome flavour, especially the yoghurt-like Skyr, now a big seller in Whole Foods stores in the US. 14. The Iceland story was started by Sir Malcolm Walker, who began selling loose frozen food in Oswestry in the early 1970's. This is why almost all Icelanders' last names end in either -son or -dottir (daughter). Food; Sustainability; Travel Tips & News; Inspiration; About Us; 13 strange and interesting facts about Iceland. You might just have to buy a new truck in Iceland. This is especially true when it comes to whale, puffin, and horse meat. And on the McDonalds point. It was boiled in hot water with little salt for 20 minutes. Malcolm Walker opens the first Iceland shop in Oswestry, Shropshire, selling loose frozen food. Iceland was settled by Vikings from Norway sometime in the 800s. I really want to visit Iceland one day and I learned a bunch of things here Looks like you had a nice trip! Like some other Scandinavian cultures with Viking histories, name conventions in Iceland are a little different. Plus some general information that can be useful for planning a trip. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. And how could they not being surrounded by bountiful Arctic waters of cod, haddock, monkfish, herring, skate, lobster, and salmon. Aren't they just hot dogs? mostly Icelandic fishing minke whales ,,its not thruth dont belife everything you have heard just few whales cauth each year ,,but we eat fish and lamb and alkind of food , ,. Iceland’s food scene won’t disappoint even the most avid foodies. What surprises me is how much focus there is on Iceland killing a single dozen of whales per year, while mainland European countries are literally cleaning up all the cod out of the Atlantic? There are a however some things raise the eyebrows of tourists travelling in Iceland. The water is so clean that pass to the kitchen of every family without any treatment. Apparently, McDonalds has this rule about the meat products all being from them, perhaps even vegetables and bread also. Thanks for sharing such unique insight, Gosi!! Dec 30, 2014 - Our Iceland Facts for Kids will provide interesting fun facts about Iceland, the land of fire and ice, its volcanoes, glaciers and attractions . Sadly, no, I did not get to see the northern lights. The business model works in most places but not Iceland. I know you must have the best time. by . Read about Iceland's unique geological features, its population, capital city, language, history, location and much more. There are no traditional surnames here; instead, Icelandic people have patronymic last names, with their last names deriving from their's father's name. And – even more importantly – after the financial crash in 2008, ingredients imported to Iceland soared in price, with the McDonald’s food following suit. The lamb presence deepens its flavor, and even under a deluge of condiments, you can taste the lamby funk at the end. The only thing that really disturbs me is commercial whaling. Not that would neccessarily miss it, but I do wonder why since there are the other big fast food chains…. In trying to better understand what makes it so special though, I uncovered some strange and weird facts about Iceland that I thought I’d share with everyone. I was always taught to not play with my food and eat it. Here are, Beer making has captured the hearts of Icelanders and now everyone seems to be brewing. Get top travel stories & special offers to your inbox, Tasting local foods is one of the great perks of Iceland travel. I agree with you on almost everything, but the USA doesn’t actually kill the most whales. Flatkaka með hangikjöti is similar to skyr in that it’s a traditional Icelandic food that’s been on Icelanders’  tables for centuries. Although very small, Reykjavik is the most northern capital city in the world and is home to more than half of the Icelandic population. Definitely planning to write about it soon. Can’t wait to visit Iceland – another one on the list for next year for sure. Iceland Foods is a unique British food retailer with over 900 stores throughout the UK, a further 40 owned or franchised stores across Europe, and a global export business. Puffin If you take, beating up your fellow man into the equation, I am sure Iceland would probably constitute as one of the most violent countries per capital. FUN FACTS ABOUT ICELANDIC HORSES. Fishing is Iceland's main industry, and the nation remains one of just a few in the world that still allows commercial whaling. 50. They employ over 25,000 people and have won multiple awards for customer service, food … Icelandic Food & Cuisine – 15 Traditional dishes to eat in Iceland Icelandic Cuisine in short. It’s as equally loved today as it was 100 years ago. The mainstays include: lamb, skyr, potatoes, fish, and other seafood. Read all you need to know about traditional Icelandic food, its history, and where to find it today. One of its gaits is called skeið, the word for spoon in Icelandic. , 6. It’s one of the more traditional Icelandic foods you can try. Because of all the volcanic activity going on beneath Iceland, the country is filled with geothermal activity – and hot springs. I’m trying to figure out how to do this, and the few activities I want to do (snorkeling the rift, the phallic museum etc.) if you're normal (unlike us) you probably don't want to spend hours studying up on Iceland's history and facts. I suppose you are back already. Skyr is a cultured dairy product that’s been part of Icelandic cuisine for centuries. Fifty years later, Iceland are an iconic brand with stores on almost every high street. Does some need to die for it to be violent? Try any of the local bars for a taste of local beer made with the best water in the world! We thought we couldn’t go wrong by ordering a pizza for take-away, but we were hit with sticker shock. You can’t get much better fish than in Iceland. Luckily, there are plenty of cheap places to eat all over Iceland. Food & Drink; Music & Art; Nature & Environment; News; Products & Services; Events; News Dec 08, 2017 Icelandic Christmas Traditions Learn all about Iceland's cultural traditions and customs during the holiday season. And no McDonalds? McDonalds DID open a restaurant in Reykjavik back in the 1990s, but the chain was not popular enough to survive and pulled out, never to return. It’s not a whaling blood bath like some would like you to think. You can try any type of fish to have the most typical Icelandic food experience. #1: Iceland’s name is a ruse. 38. It’s sometimes about perspective, Ragnar. Icelanders will tell you that “this is the best vodka in the world” and they’re probably right. Try any of the local bars for, Want to spend a night sampling the best beers in Reykjavik? features that you won't find anywhere else, Chasing Ice and Battling Mother Nature in Iceland, 12 Crazy But Cool Things You Can See in Iceland, Tours Worth Paying for in Iceland (and When to Save Your Money), A 10-Day Itinerary for Iceland in Winter (Without Renting a Car), What to Pack for a Trip to Iceland (in Winter), In Photos: A Look Back at My Travels in 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mountains_of_Iceland, Highlights from 7 Days in Iceland in Winter, Snorkeling Silfra: Swimming Between Tectonic Plates in Iceland. Now, don’t get me wrong. Bjork, Sigur Ros, Emiliana Torrini, Mum, Of Monsters and Men. Icelanders get basically all its electricity and heat from... 3. Food And Drink. Actually Reykjavik did have two McDonalds in the city but due to the company’s need for consistency in the food, everything had to be shipped into the country. The roots of Icelandic cuisine can be found in neighboring Scandinavian nations. Dioxins are formed during incomplete combustion, both due to natural causes (e.g. Icelanders are very fond of their traditions, often using the exact same menu from generation to generation. Iceland had one McDonald’s but it went out of business several years ago. Whoohoo! Icelandic food is known for its fresh ingredients and unique dishes. This small population makes for a largely rural country, and a capital city which feels like a really big small town. Volcanically active, much of the land is covered by sand and lava fields, mountain and glaciers. But I think people should stop freaking out over the whailing since the whale population around iceland is rising and we are not killing that many of them the nation that actually kills the most whales is usa and we dont complain about that we hunt whales for food (somebody wonderd what else we do with them, dont know what he means but we did send keiko to the usa who went on to star in free willy, no need to thank us) and our hunting of whales is sustainable! Okay, I TOTALLY want to live in a country where the majority of the population believes in elves!! When the fish is laid out to dry, it shrinks down to only 9% of its original size. There are more than 125 volcanic mountains in the country, a handful of which are still very active, and another handful that could easily awaken and become active as the country changes and grows. Stewed, boiled, fried, roasted or grilled, fish has been a mainstay in Icelandic cuisine for as long as people have lived there. That's why we put together this list of top 40 facts about Iceland. various services in the food industry in Iceland and abroad and to increase safety and quality of food products. Read the site’s full Privacy / Disclosure policy here. The day after Christmas the Yule Lads return to the mountains, one by one each day until the last one leaves on January 6th, which is the last day of the Christmas season. Join the ADB Community! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Interesting about the McDonald’s… I actually love that you don’t have any there! I bet there are some amazuing stories out there. Sure, the glacier helps giving the mountain it’s shape, and it might even possibly eventually divide one mass of a mountain into two mountains, creating a fjord, but they are still mountains. . Lol. And stay tuned, because I have a TON of photos left to share! USD. Sample some of the BEST food in Iceland on The Reykjavík Food Walk. Svið (Singed Sheep Head) Svið, a dish of sheep heads split into two halves, singed and then boiled is probably the most commonly eaten traditional dish in Iceland. I have tons of Iceland posts coming up over the next few weeks, so definitely check back every few days! The hot dog is very popular in Icelandic food. I feel like it just makes the place seem even MORE unpretentious. Super interesting post! The NO MOUNTAINS fact really changed my perspective on what I’ve always imagined Iceland to be. The country has a very small population of 270,000. i think america is losing out and is becoming 3rd world. My husband is Icelandic and I have been there a few times. How weird! One of the most distinctive features of Icelandic compared to its mainland cousins is its strong tradition of málrækt or “language cultivation”. Did you take these pics? We had it 5 times a week, every lunch, and we loved it. Are you planning to visit Iceland, read Strange and Interesting facts about Iceland, Iceland food, language, animals, and all Facts about Iceland Well Iceland is a fantastic place to take tons of great photos! A Dangerous Business is a participant in several affiliate programs. No mountains, only valleys?…Definitely an interesting fact…. If you have a sweet tooth, then you’re in luck! The fact is, Iceland does have a gender wage gap, which varies from industry to industry; shrinking in some sectors, growing in others, with an overall gender wage gap of 14% to 20%. Hot dogs, fish, soup, yogurt, tomatoes and orange soda. That’s worse from my point of view, Just look at how sheeps and cows are raised in iceland walking around in open nature and cared for with almost complete freedome! The best news is no McDonalds. And they mostly fish for minke whales, which are not endangered. Greenland was colonizedby pe… Sounds like an amazing place! I come from the US, where there is gun violence and other violent crime every single day, multiple times per day. That would probably be the best way to see the most in the summer (because there is certainly A LOT to see!). I knew quite a few of these facts but I had no idea that 50% of Icelanders believe in elves and trolls. The Land of Fire and Ice has become a tourism darling in the past couple of years – and for good reason: Iceland is an incredible country, with features that you won't find anywhere else in the world. Served with potatoes, butter and ketchup. 44. ), beer was banned in the country. For a long time, Icelandic people didn’t grow green vegetables or fruit. I don’t know which of these facts is more interesting. Here is a list of twenty top strange and awesome facts about Iceland. The fact about the mountains isn’t really true… All mountains are volcanic, but there are two types of them; First, the ones that form as volcanic eruptions under glaciers but don’t manage to break their way through the ice, then the glacier eventually melts and after stands a mountain with near vertical slopes and a flat top due to the movement of the glacier. Yes, you can find KFC and even Taco Bell in Reykjavik, but forget about picking up a Big Mac or some Chicken McNuggets — you won't find them here! Home » Europe » Iceland » 20 Fun Facts About Iceland. In my home and most other Icelandic homes we manly ate haddock. I believe the Icelandic company, running McDonalds here, tried to get an exception from this rule, because we have excellent sources of meat, corn and vegetables in Iceland, but it wasn’t granted. Horse meat is no longer banned and salted meat is rare. Iceland’s food prices aren’t always easy on the pocket. Read these fun facts about Iceland. Arctic Adventures. Mountains can be created by a) Clash of the tectonic plates (like Alps, Himalayas, Andes) or b) Volcanic activity… just saying… :-þ. Hi! I didn’t know that about the pizza! #10- Highest no. There are a couple famous commercial thermal pools and baths in Iceland (like the famous Blue Lagoon near the airport and the Mývatn Nature Baths further north) that are man-made but filled with natural geothermal water. It has been a part of Icelandic cuisine for over a thousand years. Because it's located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland is an incredibly active country geologically. Iceland is … Ice Cream All Year. God knows what else is out there happening! How interesting. Fish, lamb and dairy products feature prominently in the traditional Icelandic diet. Get yourself hooked up at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, to enjoy the best of iconic lamb and pork hot dogs. Try the traditional Icelandic food at a Christmas buffet; Visit the Árbæjarsafn museum; Walk around the Reykjavik botanic garden; Check out a Christmas market; Go on a Christmas tour; Visit the Blue Lagoon; If you are planning on staying in Reykjavík then check out the 2017 opening hours here and for the Christmas buffet we recommend reserving a table in advance. Hydrate yourself with Icelandic H2O on any outdoor adventure and you’ll be sure to quench your thirst. We had it 5 times a week, every lunch, and we loved it. i plan to go there one day. 38. “and who knows what else they do with them” … what do you think REALLY think we also do with them ? I was not brave enough to try the fermented shark, but I did try whale and puffin and plenty of seafood. Nope! And no McDonald’s? The majority of present-day Icelanders (more than 50%, I was told) believe in the existence of fantastical beings such as elves and trolls. 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