Travel guide
Iceland

The 12 keywords Iceland

1. Northern Lights

This natural phenomenon is the result of the rubbing of the solar winds against the earth's atmosphere. The result is a fabulous spectacle to be admired as soon as night falls and under clear skies, from the end of August to the beginning of April. The best time to observe the Northern Lights is from October to March, between 8pm and 2am.

2. #Blue Lagoon

One of the most famous lagoons in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon, which has become very popular in recent years. Located near the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, not far from Grindavík, it offers turquoise water with a temperature of around 39°C. The pleasure of bathing in naturally warm, milky water is immense.

3. #Crater

Volcanic eruptions, both explosive and effusive, are the source of most of Iceland's craters. On the Laki fault, it is possible to discover a row of no less than 115 craters. Testimony of a catastrophe, that of the eruption of Laki in 1783-1784, this alignment forms one of the many tourist places of Iceland.

4. #Farm

Some travelers decide to tour Iceland simply to see the multitude of abandoned farms that are found there. Several of them have been converted into museums, while others remain uninhabited. You can even stay there! Of course, there is a plethora of farms dedicated to breeding.

5. #Ice

With the largest glacier in Europe, Iceland has well earned its name "land of ice". One eighth of its surface is indeed covered by glaciers which in some places reach a thickness of nearly 1,200 m. But global warming is not far off... The ice is also a great place for many sporting activities

6. #Lainage

If Iceland is known for its ceramics, it is even more famous for its woollens (the famous Icelandic sweater), knitwear and other textile productions with geometric jacquard patterns. The oldest Icelandic knitting patterns date back to the last quarter of the 16th century. They were even exported to northern Europe in the Middle Ages

7. #Fishing

The Icelandic economy is based primarily on fishing and its by-products. Reykjavík, Akureyri, Grindavík and Heimaey are among the main ports of the country. But there are still dozens of small localities where fishing is done by hand. Thus, in the fjords of the East is a charming fishing village, located in a grandiose decoration, Djúpivogur.

8. #Runtur

When the skies darken, the streets of Reykjavík remain alive, giving young people the opportunity to enjoy themselves in nightclubs. And these traditional weekend nights have a name: runtur. The streets are packed with people shouting, singing and drinking. It seems as if a hurricane has passed by...

9. #Sulfur

You will inevitably be confronted with the smell of sulphur during your trip. Near Geysir, for example, solfataras let out water vapor mixed with hydrogen sulfide. The sulphur even gets into the water you use (you'll notice it when you take a shower), but it is not dangerous

10. #Legends

Elves are part of Icelandic mythology, strongly rooted in the imagination of a population very fond of the Huldufolk ("hidden people") legends. Among the local legends, there are also often so-called haunted places (some of which are mentioned in the guidebook), and trolls behind certain rock formations.

11. #Viking

The sagas contain many stories of famous Viking heroes. This name was given to the Scandinavian navigators who crossed the seas from the end of the 8th to the beginning of the 11th century. During this period, they also developed a real art by elaborating wood carvings, fabrics and hangings, but also goldsmith's art

12. #Volcanism

As a "hot spot", i.e. located at the boundaries of tectonic plates, Iceland has increased volcanism which shapes the country. The most active volcanoes in Iceland are Hekla, Krafla and Grimsvötn. Eyjafjöll and Bárðarbunga are the best known volcanoes, having erupted in 2010 and 2014 respectively