{"id":17970,"date":"2021-04-13T13:53:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T11:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/?p=17970"},"modified":"2021-04-14T08:49:04","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T06:49:04","slug":"curiosities-of-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/en\/iceland\/curiosities-of-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Howlanders arrives to Iceland! Do you know these surprising facts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exploring, exploring, we discover Iceland. Howlanders arrives in Iceland<\/a> to offer you unique experiences<\/b> in the country. But before you jump into the adventure you have to know a little more about this new world that we bring you today. We’re excited to reveal some curiosities of Iceland<\/b>.<\/p>\n

More sheep than inhabitants<\/h2>\n

No more and no less than twice as many sheep<\/b> as inhabitants. That’s about 360,000 inhabitants and more than 600,000 sheep. It is one of the countries with the lowest population density<\/b>, in 2018 it was 3 inhabitants per square kilometer. That would then be about 6 sheep per square kilometer. Get ready to give way to the sheep, in Iceland they rule.<\/p>\n

\"Sheep<\/p>\n

There is no McDonald’s<\/h2>\n

In Iceland there is not even a McDonald’s<\/b> and is that with the collapse of the country’s economy in 2009 closed its last establishments. But there are still remnants of the brand. Hj\u00f6rtur Smarason bought a menu and decided to keep it inside a glass bell<\/b> that today can be visited in a guesthouse in the south of the country.<\/p>\n

More volcanoes than soccer players<\/h2>\n

If there are more sheep than people, it’s not surprising that there are more volcanoes than footballers<\/b>. That’s 120 professional footballers and 126 mountains with volcanic activity – not a bad ratio Iceland!<\/p>\n

\"Volcano<\/p>\n

Trolls, elves, fairies and goblins<\/h2>\n

54 % of Icelanders believe in the existence of these beings of nature and not only that, many of them claim to have seen them<\/b>. It is said that the construction of a road was interrupted by demonstrations because it crossed through the middle of a settlement of elves. No kidding!<\/p>\n

Stinky Santa Claus<\/h2>\n

Did you know that in Iceland there are 13 Santas<\/b>? Well let’s see, it’s actually not the classic red-hatted Santa Claus you’re imagining. They’re ‘The Yule’ and they’re ungraceful<\/b> and smelly elves who live in the mountains<\/b>. They deliver gifts from the 12th until Christmas Eve, every day one. At Christmas they return to the mountains until the next year.<\/p>\n

Good sleep with an opened window<\/h2>\n

The window open and the heating plugged in. And isn’t that a crime? You see, the reason they sleep with the window open is to breathe the fresh air<\/b>. We know it still amazes you that they let the heat escape, but heating is cheap for them because they use renewable energy<\/b> from the island itself.<\/p>\n

\"Opened<\/p>\n

The purest water in the world<\/h2>\n

Island is one of the countries with the purest water in the world, it does not need to be treated and can be drunk directly from the island’s rivers. The tap water is better quality<\/b> than any bottled water and of course, is a source of pride for its citizens. The bad thing is not being able to carry bottles on the plane.<\/p>\n

A plane stranded on the beach<\/h2>\n

That’s right, this is a military aircraft that served in the Korean and Vietnam wars<\/b>. It has no wings or tail, but you can see the bullets in its fuselage. How did it get there? It had to make a forced landing on the volcanic earth<\/b> with no loss of life. What a relief! <\/p>\n

\"Airplane<\/p>\n

No ants or mosquitoes<\/h2>\n

Is Iceland a camper’s paradise? It seems strange that in a country without ants attacking your food or mosquitoes keeping you awake at night, but it is. It is not known why, but it is said that it is because of the cold climate that does not allow ants to nest<\/b> and that hinders the mosquitoes’ procreation process.<\/p>\n