𝟮𝟭 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱:
1. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe, with a population of around 340,000 people and an area of 103,000 km².
2. Despite its name, Iceland has a relatively mild climate due to the Gulf Stream, while Greenland, which is icier, has a colder climate.
4. Reykjavík, the capital and largest city, is the northernmost capital of a sovereign state in the world.
5. The Icelandic language has changed very little from its origins, making ancient Viking sagas written in Old Norse understandable to modern Icelanders.
6. The Icelandic parliament, Althingi, was established in 930 AD, making it the oldest surviving parliament in the world.
7. Iceland does not have a standing army, navy, or air force. It does, however, have a Coast Guard that maintains the defense of Icelandic territorial waters.
8. The country has one of the highest levels of internet usage in the world, with over 98% of the population connected online.
9. In 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causing massive disruption to air travel across Europe due to the ash cloud it emitted.
10. Iceland is home to the Great Geysir, which has been active for more than 10,000 years and is one of the oldest known geysers in the world.
11. About 11% of Iceland’s surface is covered with glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe.
12. The Icelandic horse is a unique breed that came with the first settlers from Norway in the 9th century and has remained purebred due to the country's isolation.
13. Traditional Icelandic cuisine includes hákarl (fermented shark), which is considered a national dish.
14. Iceland has no forests. The Vikings cut down the original forests that covered much of the island, and reforestation efforts are ongoing.
15. The country is one of the world's leaders in gender equality and was the first country in the world to elect a female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, in 1980.
16. Iceland is the only place in the world where you can stand with one foot on the North American tectonic plate and the other on the Eurasian plate at the Þingvellir National Park.
17. The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most famous tourist attractions, is a geothermal spa located in a lava field.
18. Icelandic law prohibits the import of foreign horses to the country. Once an Icelandic horse leaves, it cannot return.
19. The majority of Icelanders believe in, or at least don't deny the existence of, elves and other mythical beings.
20. Iceland experiences nearly 24 hours of daylight during the summer solstice and nearly 24 hours of darkness during the winter solstice.
21. Iceland has a strong literary tradition dating back to the early medieval period, with the Sagas of Icelanders being among the country's most precious cultural treasures.
Finally, What is it about dictators (or wannabe dictators) and their obsession with tacky gold interiors?
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