We’ve just returned from a family road trip around Iceland. We had a fantastic time together encountering all kinds of weather, geological landforms, nature, and food. These are some of the things we learned about unique Iceland.
1. Heart-shaped traffic lights
In the second-largest city of Iceland, Akureyri, all of the traffic lights shine a red heart to indicate when vehicles should stop. These whimsical lights brought a smile to our faces and warmed our hearts when we saw them on a cold day.
2. A Mall Built on a Fault Line
You would think that when a fault line is found during the building of a mall, that construction would be halted and a new strategy would need to be implimented. This wasn’t the case at Sunnumork Shopping Center in Hverageroi. They worked with the unexpected geographical feature and built the mall over it, making it a feature by placing glass floor tiles over it. They took it a fun step further by adding some twinkling red lights to make it appear that there’s glowing magma below.
One side is on the North American plate and the other is on the European plate, so Phil and I had some fun with each of us standing on our home techtonic plates and meeting in the middle.
3. Continental Divide
If you’re looking to get even more up-close and personal with the continental divide, drive out to the end of the Reykjanes Peninsula to Sandvik and cross the Bridge Between Continents, also known as the Leif the Lucky Bridge. Not only can you cross the bridge, but you can safely climb down into the divide. It was a place I’d wanted to visit with the teens and it was our last stop before returning our rental vehicle after 10 days.
4. Dine with your dinner
FarmHotel Efsti-DalurII‘s tag line is “From our farm to your table” – but they go one step further – you can watch the cattle eat as you eat your burger at your table. The dining room is situated upstairs and you can sit next to a window that looks down on the cowshed.
The view through the full-width windows at the end of the dining room
It is a unique experience for sure, but it is best to note that the cattle you are watching are dairy cattle, not beef cattle. Their milk is used to make the most delicious gelato right on site (try the licorice and you won’t be disappointed). The burgers were outstanding, too, of course! They also have accommodations on site if you’re travelling the south of Iceland.
5. Deforestation
Hallormsstaðaskógur is Iceland’s largest forest at 740 square kilometres. At one time Iceland was about 40% forests, but now only 2% of the country is forested. The vast majority of the deforestation was due to human activity and there is work being done to increase the tree cover. This forest has been doing research on trees since 1903, and includes 80 species from 177 worldwide locations. Hallormsstaðaskógur has 2 campsites and many walks to enjoy.
6. English is an Icelander’s 3rd language
The official language of Iceland is Icelandic, an Old Norse language that is as close to the languae of the Vikings as you can get. Of course, Icelandic is spoken throughout the country as it is the main language of the country. However, Icelanders are multilingual (great for us tourists). They learn Danish in school due to the historic connection between Denmark and Iceland. English is also taught from primary school, to a high level – you will not have any trouble at all conversing with Icelanders. In addition to these three languages, they will often speak other languages as well, putting most English speakers to shame.
7. Renewable Energy is Unbeatable
With 600 hot springs and 200 volcanoes, Iceland is situated in a unique location, and they have achieved a renewable energy supply of 99.96% through hydropower and geothermal energy. The heat in buildings and hot showers is all natural and sustainable. That’s a wonderful thought when you come in from the cold and windy outdoors and are met with a cozy room. The country is working on improving that percentage when it comes to vehicles and other areas.
8. Be in the Same Room as Molten Lava
Only in Iceland will you find the Lava Show, where lava is superheated to 1100C and poured out of the furnace into the room where you’re seated to watch how it reacts. Feel the heat, learn about the volcanic activity of Iceland, and take a piece of volcanic glass home with you (with a premium ticket). You can experience this spectacular show in Vik and Reykjavik.
9. Penis Musuem
Also only in Iceland is the world-famous penis museum, officially called The Icelandic Phallological Museum. My children weren’t keen to go, so they stayed in and watched TV, but there were families of all ages there. If you have an interest in biology or anatomy, or even just a dark sense of humour, you will find phalli specimens from a huge variety of mammals, rodents, and even elves.
You can visit the cafe and gift shop without entering the museum itself, and the (penis-shaped) waffles are delicious (we were grateful to receive a free waffle platter after a cold walk back from dropping off our car rental).
10. Touch an Iceburg
Jökulsárlón, more commonly known as ‘Glacier Lagoon’ is on the south coast of Iceland and is growing as global warming melts Iceland’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull. As the glacier warms, pieces break off and travel down the lagoon, under the bridge, and out to sea. Some will not make it and wash up on ‘Diamond Beach’ and glisten against the black sand of the beach, where you can get up close to them, though these tend to be smaller in size than those in the lagoon itself. Be in awe at the brilliant colours and striations showing off the earth’s history of past volcanic eruptions.
There is so much more that makes unique Iceland a beautiful and magnificent country, unlike any other. If you have the opportunity to visit, please do, but remember to treat it with respect and leave no mark behind, and take only photographs and memories home with you.
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