Iceland

Notable facts

• Iceland runs almost entirely on renewable energy — hydro and geothermal supply nearly all its electricity and heating.
• It has no standing army and no mosquitoes.
• The Althing, founded around 930 at Þingvellir, is among the world’s oldest parliaments.
• Icelanders mostly use patronymics rather than family names: Jón’s daughter is “Jónsdóttir”.

World Heritage 3 sites

• Þingvellir National Park 2004 · Cultural
• Surtsey 2008 · Natural
• Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice 2019 · Natural

National dish

Kjötsúpa Lamb on the bone simmered with root vegetables, cabbage and herbs.

Hákarl, fermented Greenland shark, is the famous Icelandic food but is a þorrablót curiosity rather than everyday eating. Plokkfiskur, mashed fish and potato, is the other homely answer.