 |
- On average, people in Iceland live longer than people in nearly every other country in the world.
- Every Icelander is required by law to learn to swim.
- Iceland is one of the few countries in the world with no military.
- Per capita, Iceland publishes more books than any country in the world.
- Family history is a passion for many Icelanders.
- Iceland has more hot springs than any other country on earth.
- The waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans that surround Iceland are ideal for whale watching. Some of the types of whales that be seen include minke whales, humpback whales, killer whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, and fin whales.
- Iceland was the last European country to be settled.
- All Icelanders are officially called by their first name even though they have a last name.
- Only seven species of wild mammals can be found in Iceland: foxes, reindeer, mink, brown rats, black rats, field mice, and house mice.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
View detail map as PDF
View outline map as PDF |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
The flag of Iceland, most recently adopted on 17 June 1944, is blue with a red and white cross. Red symbolizes the fire from Iceland’s volcanoes, white represents ice, and blue stands for the sea. Other Scandinavian flags also include the Latin cross. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Icelandic coat of arms was adopted in 1944. The shield, based on the Icelandic flag, has a silver cross on a blue background with a red cross inside the silver one. The shield-bearers are the four protectors, or guardian spirits, of Iceland: a bull, an eagle, a dragon, and a giant. According to legend, these guardians protected Iceland from invasion. |
|
|
|
|
