It’s confusing, we know. Iceland is the one with greenery (though mostly moss and shrubs over a brutal, beautiful tundra landscape); Greenland is the one with ice. Iceland is an independent, sovereign country, while Greenland is a constituent country of Denmark.
Let us demystify the misty isle of Iceland for you, and, in the process, show you why it should be your next European destination.
Iceland is one of the Least Densely Populated Countries in the World
Iceland has a total landmass of 102,775 sqm, but only a population of just 357,040. To put it differently, if you were to divide the island equally among all the people, each person would be entitled to 3.5 km2, or about 655 football fields, to themselves!
While some people might find such a small population claustrophobic, we think otherwise. It makes us feel more like we are visiting the residents of Serangoon and Hougang (which add up to about 360,000 people), which allows us to connect on a deeper and more intimate level with the residents of Iceland. Sure, you can lose yourself in the crowd of Times Square, but in Iceland, you’re more likely to lose yourself in the warmth of a home-cooked dinner, prepared by an Icelander.
Iceland is Not as Cold as You Think
Even though Iceland lies incredibly near the Arctic Circle and Reykjavik, its capital city, has a latitude that is one of the highest among all cities, it is—contrary to popular belief (caused by, we don’t know, maybe its name?)—Iceland is not encased in ice permanently, nor is it as cold as many European and American cities.
This is because Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that brings to Iceland crisp summers and cosy winters, giving it a temperate, not arctic, climate. The temperature in Iceland averages about 3 degrees Celsius in winter and 12 degrees Celsius in summer, making it much more comfortable than somewhere like New York, where it can drop to negative 3 degrees Celsius in winter.
Iceland Runs Almost Entirely on Green Energy
The coming ecological collapse worrying you? Massive carbon footprints generated by flying putting you off overseas travel? Well, visiting Iceland is one way to have your cake and eat it.
Almost all of Iceland’s energy needs are derived from lean, renewable sources. The geothermal geysers that Iceland is famous for are not only a tourist attraction, but a source of power for Iceland’s citizens; the remaining energy needs are made up by hydropower plants.
In fact, Iceland (again, not Greenland) is the world’s greenest island and country, in terms of carbon emissions. So you can charge your phones and laptops and GoPros without guilt, letting you enjoy your travelling without feeling like you’re inadvertently killing that cute Arctic fox you just saw.
Iceland Has 24 hours of Daylight
Because of its high altitude, the hours of daylight that Iceland receives throughout the year vary a great deal. And we do mean A Great Deal. In summer, from around May to July, Iceland can have a full day of daylight – that’s right, a whole 24 hours of sunlight.
This brings about what is known as the “midnight sun” phenomenon, in which the sun is visible even at midnight. At this time, the sun casts an ethereal, phantasmagorical glow that brushes the sky rose and orange, dips down into the sea for the merest second and rises again, “as if it had been down to drink,” as Knut Hamsuns, a writer, puts it.
Such an experience of daylight – coupled with the beautifully alien landscape of Iceland – is otherworldly and incredible, and makes us feel like we are on a faraway planet watching the sun with new eyes.
But we hear a friendly Icelander – who has also been admiring the midnight sun – speak, inviting us for a drink, and we remember we’re in Iceland, this most mysterious and astounding of islands.
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The article was first published on 21 March 2019. Last updated by Discoverist Team as of 26 April 2023.
