Iceland is popular now but before 2010, hardly anyone came to see this spectacular place. It is fascinating now that you can’t find a “must-see” destination list without this amazing country being featured. While there are many reasons why this small, island nation located in the Atlantic ocean is so popular, I am sharing my top six. I split this list into two parts to keep the episodes relatively short. Also, the list is in no particular order because I believe that each of the reasons that I share continue to have a major impact on the country’s popularity. Below are three out of six.
1. Nature in Iceland
Craters from a volcano
I can wax poetic about the diverse and beautiful landscape of Iceland all day. It really is an enchanting place that will surprise and delight you. I like to this of this country as a foreign planet because it is so unlike anywhere else on earth. The dark, long winters are a wonderland of snow and ice. Powerful wind storms during this time of the year show you just how intense mother nature can be in this country; and, if you are lucky, you might even get a delightful Northern Lights show. During the summer, everything springs to life and you can enjoy 24 hours of day light for a few months. This land of contrasts gives you ample opportunity to enjoy loads of activities in each season.
Some of the most notable natural wonders in Iceland are bubbling hot springs, numerous glaciers, active volcanoes, stunning lava rock, black sand beaches, colorful mountains that can be seen in the highlands, vibrant green moss as far as the eye can see, iceberg filled glacier lagoons, countless waterfalls, and remote wilderness. The power of Icelandic nature usually just affects people who live on the island or those that are visiting. However, in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull, an active volcano, erupted. Strong winds pushed the ash from the volcano into the direction of major flight routes, which interrupted airline travel for people around the world. It is funny that this eruption is why kicked off the tourism boom. Iceland is popular now because people were so curious to know more about this tiny island that could disrupt the whole airline industry.
Sheep in Iceland photo by Topich
On the land and in the sea surrounding the island, live fascinating animals. If you drive on the ring road (the main one that goes around the country) during the summer, you will come across free roaming sheep and lamb. They outnumber the Icelandic population two to one! You are also likely to spot majestic Icelandic horses grazing or galloping in open fields. The cunning arctic fox can be found throughout Iceland, but the largest population of them can be found in the West fjords. If you are wiling to head into very remote regions in the east, you might spot a reindeer.
About 370 bird species can be found in the country but their presence and whereabouts depends on their breeding habits and season. The adorable Puffin is a popular bird that many people flock to see in Iceland (pun intended ;-)), but it is only possible to seem them between May and August, when they are breeding. Luckily, you can see these fascinating birds in different parts of the country. I’ve had the privilege of viewing Puffins up close in the West Fjords. So cute!
Puffin in Iceland – photo by pascal-mauerhofer
In the vast sea surrounding the island, various whale species and seals have been spotted. Summer time is your best bet for whale watching, so just keep that in mind when you plan to visit.
The country’s nature and animals have been popular among nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts circles for decades. Over the last few years, the internet, specifically blogs and social media have helped to spread the word about just how amazing nature is in the land of fire and ice.
2. Icelandic People are a Big Part of Why Iceland is Popular
Icelandic people in 1927
Many people think of Iceland as the land of the Vikings. While invading foreign lands is a part of their history, Icelandic people are much different now. Their family-centered culture mixes modern European living with traditional holidays and celebrations. One of the most notable aspects of the people is their intriguing language. If you think it sounds strange, you are not alone. Icelandic people cherish their mother tongue and are working hard to preserve it. If you are curious about the history of the Icelandic language, check out episode two of this podcast
There is a rich culture of storytelling through written word and literary text. People the world over have heard about or read the famous sagas. There are many tales of hidden people, trolls and all sorts of mystical creatures that may exist.
It seems as though creativity courses through Icelander’s veins. There is no doubt that Iceland is popular because of the artistic talent of its natives. If you are a fan of music, you might have heard of some famous Icelandic artists, such as Björk, Sigur Ros, Of Monsters & Men and Emiliana Torrini. This is just a handful of Icelandic artists that are sharing their passion with the world. Below is a great Spotify list of Icelandic singers for you to check out.
Along with producing great literature and music, as well as being the descendants of Vikings, Icelandic people have become popular for having one of the happiest and most peaceful countries in the world. It’s not hard to see why so many people are interested in exploring this place.
3. The Men’s National Football Team
Iceland men’s football team – photo by KSÍ
While the men’s national football team are Icelandic people, I decided to talk about them separately as a reason for Iceland’s popularity boom. They have had a major impact on sparking people’s interest in the country.
With about 3.5 billion fans in the world, football (soccer), is by far the most popular sport in the world. The team first garnered a lot of attention In 2014 when they made it to the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup. That year, they reached the playoffs but ending up losing to Croatia.
The next time that this team stunned the world was in 2016. They made it to the UEFA European Championship. This was the first time they made it to a major tournament. In a dazzling show of athleticism, grit and passion for the game, Iceland knocked out the Netherlands and England to make it to the quarter finals! No one expected them to make it that far. In fact, I think the Icelandic team was even stunned that they beat England! You might be familiar with the viking clap that the team does after a victory or just to celebrate.
They ended up losing to France in the quarter finals but they still walked away winners because the team had proven that they are competitors that must be taken seriously.
Fast forward to October 2017 and men’s team stunned the world again by qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals in Russia. They are the smallest nation ever, by population, to qualify for the world cup finals. Every time the men’s team plays in a major tournament, the interest in Iceland spikes on the internet.
Even though the men’s team are getting a lot of attention, the women’s team has made a historic win as well. During a World Cup qualifying match in 2017, they amazed football fans by defeating the Germans. The German women’s team hadn’t lost a match in the qualifiers since 1998! That historic and shocking win shows that the Icelandic women’s team are serious contenders in the sport.
Making historic wins in football matches has made Iceland a darling of the sport around the world. Win or lose in June, the country wins because people, more than ever, want to learn about and visit this fascinating place. There is not doubt that Iceland is popular because of their football teams determination to show that they can play on the world stage with larger countries.
The Icelandic Word of the Episode
The Icelandic word of the episode is Eyjafjallajökull, which is the name of the volcano that I wrote about at the beginning of these show notes. Listen to the podcast at 13:18 to hear how it is pronounced. I also shared a random fact about Iceland during this episode at 13:00. Check it out.
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These three reason gave you a taste of how Iceland is popular. However, there were other factors that helped. Make sure to check out part 2 of this episode, to learn even more about how the popularity of the country is growing.
Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að lesa ( og að hlusta). Sjáumst fljótlega!
Thank you kindly for reading (and listening). See you soon!
