1. Iceland is the fourth happiest country in the world.
Based on an actual scientific study.
2. And their literacy rate is 99%.
3. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country.
4. This is the best Christmas Eve tradition ever.
I want to be in Iceland...#christmasfacts
Phoebe Morgan@Phoebe_A_MorganFollow
I want to be in Iceland...#christmasfacts
11:08 AM - 22 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
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5. During the summer, the sun basically never sets.
The days last from midnight to 3 am and the three hours of darkness never get fully dark.
6. And this is a typical night view during November and December.
Oh, just the Aurora Borealis, nbd.
7. Seriously, look at this.
It's so pretty it should be illegal.
8. Iceland banned strip clubs in 2010--not because they are conservative but because they are ultra-feminist.
Other views on sexuality and sex are highly progressive.
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9. It was the first country to elect a female president.
Vigdis Finnbogadottir was elected in 1980 and stayed in office until 1996.
10. The houses look like this.
11. When it gets too cold outside you can just hop into one of these hot springs.
12. Most Icelanders don't have last names.
Surnames are derived from the mother or father’s first name. So Erik Jonsson would be Jon’s son. In the phonebook, everyone is listed by their first name.
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13. The arctic fox is the only native mammal.
Look at that face!
14. But actual reindeer were imported in the 18th century and their descendants still live there today.
Dasher? Is that you?
15. And THIS is what their horses look like.
So f*&king majestic.
16. The Icelandic version of yogurt, Skyr, is actually cheese.
They really get my Cheese for Every Meal philosophy.
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17. Icelandic cuisine has a special sauce for everything.
All food is just a vehicle for sauce.
18. They even have special kinds of mustard for sandwiches and fries and hot dogs.
19. There is no McDonald's in Iceland.
The last McDonald's franchise on the island closed in 2009 because of the financial crisis and no more are scheduled to open.
20. But there is a KFC that looks like this.
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21. Iceland is the most web-savvy country in the world
Over 97% of people are connected to broadband.
22. Most Icelanders believe in Elves and Trolls and other mythical creatures.
And they even build these tiny adorable houses for them.
23. Sometimes they even build roads around places where elves are said to live.
24. Björk should be everyone's national treasure.
Before she became an international sensation, the Icelandic singer was in a gothic anarcho-punk band called KUKL. KUKL, which means "witchcraft" in ancient Icelandic.
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25. Iceland has over 200 volcanoes.
They use them to generate over 25% of their national power with geothermal energy.
26. There is virtually no violent crime.
The police don't even carry guns.
27. The former mayor of Reykjavik (Iceland's capital and only city) was a punk rock taxi-driving comedian.
Jon Gnarr, elected in 2009, created "The Best Party" to mock the other secretly corrupt political parties in the country. They openly admitted that all their party promises couldn't be kept, including free towels in all swimming pools, a new Disneyland, a drug-free Parliament by 2020 and a polar bear for the ReykjavÃk zoo.
28. He also has pretty strong liberal opinions.
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29. They plant more trees per capita than any other country.
30. These two go there on vacation.
That's Jay-Z and Solange's sister.
31. There is a penis museum in Reykjavik.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum contains art and phallic objects as well as actual phallic specimens from every mammal.
32. There are ZERO mosquitos.
Along with the Faroe Islands, Iceland is the only country where mosquitoes don’t exist.
