Things considered "normal" in Iceland

When the world seems a little smaller, it's time to find fun in unexpected places and embrace the unusual. This is where Iceland comes in. Iceland is the most amazing and spectacular work of art of Mother Nature.

This small island nation hanging from the Arctic Circle, with its geothermal landscapes, seems ready and capable of amazeing us. Wonderful, beautiful and often exotic life in Iceland can be very different from what you are familiar with and our list will show you what to expect.

There are no last names in Iceland

With some exceptions to this: Icelanders generally do not have surnames or family names. Most Icelanders have a paternal family name, meaning it is their father's first name with the accompanying daughter or son suffix.

Women also don't change their names when they get married. But all this doesn't matter much as everyone is always called by their first name, from teachers to doctors and even politicians!

Colorful beaches

On the beaches of Rainesvagara, you'll notice stunning black sand covering the coastline and located alongside basalt cliffs of unusual geometric design. This quaint-looking beach is located in Vik, the southernmost village of the country.

Baby names

Iceland takes children's names very seriously and therefore has very strict rules that state that all names must correspond to the Icelandic language and come from the official register of approved names.

If parents want to choose a different name for their newborn, they must first seek permission from the official "naming committee".

Spherical polar clouds

Polar clouds with a spherical stratigraphic shape are a charming attraction in Iceland. These rare clouds form mainly at high latitudes when temperatures are low enough during winter, and their appearance is cast in a light iridescent color multi-colored across the sky. These clouds are so rare that sighting them may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Gender equality

Here's another surprising fact about Iceland's strange valley. This is a real plus for tourism in Iceland – many Icelandic women own businesses.

When it comes to gender equality, Iceland performs far better than most other countries, with a flood of inspiring success stories. Women have the support of the progressive right movement, which has cemented Iceland's position as the best country for gender equality for nine years in a row.

Does McDonald's exist?

Iceland is truly a special place on the planet with a fixed population of 360,000 and no McDonald's. That's right, the last McDonald's was closed in 2009 and no new branch has been opened since. This is not to say that Icelanders don't like junk food, as they eat out a lot.

Despite this, McDonald's couldn't figure out how to survive among Iceland's volcanoes, hot springs and gorges.

There is an app to check your relatives

In this small, sparsely populated island nation of less than half a million people, it is understandable that it can be difficult to date someone with whom you are not related.

For this reason, an app was created by a group of college students, which allows people to filter potential dates before knowing if they are second-degree cousins. The app is called ÍslendingaApp, which provides information on Icelandic genealogy.

There's a school for goblins.

In the completely modern city of Reykjavík, there is a school of goblins that offers lectures and guided tours on Icelandic mythology and folklore. According to tradition, there are 13 different species of elves and more than 60% of Icelanders believe they are real!

Children sleep outside

In most Scandinavia, children are taken out on wheels to take a nap outdoors, and Iceland is no exception. Parents believe that fresh air helps ward off diseases, and some sleep experts argue that cold air can lead to deeper sleep.