Ah, Iceland, one of the most magical places on Earth and on this side of the Milky Way. The beauty of the country, however, goes deeper than the gorgeous fjords, (sometimes) slumbering volcanoes, and windswept tourists you’ll find on the covers of brochures (though the nature there is truly stunning and a large part of the draw).

Iceland embodies the essence of community, happiness, and health, and we hope to show this to you in this list, compiled by our travel-hungry Bored Panda team. As you’re scrolling down, upvote the Icelandic facts that caught your attention, and let us know what you think of the country in the comments. If you’ve ever been to Iceland yourselves, Pandas, then we’re itching to hear all about your adventures there!

If you’re in the mood for some more Icelandic awesomeness after this list, then you’ll want to check out Bored Panda’s earlier articles about the fabulous country here and here.

#1 This Street In Iceland

Image credits: TransIndian

It isn’t an overstatement to say that the Icelandic people are some of the happiest on our planet. The 2021 World Happiness Report ranked Iceland as the fourth happiest country on Earth, right behind Denmark in second place, Switzerland in third, and just ahead of the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

Finland was given the number one spot in this year’s World Happiness Report update (its fourth consecutive year!) whereas Afghanistan was ranked as the unhappiest country in the world.

#2 Iceland Does Not Want To Deal With Your Stupidity - And I Think That’s Beautiful

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#3 Without An Address, An Icelandic Tourist Drew This Map Of The Intended Location (Búðardalur) And Surroundings On The Envelope. The Postal Service Delivered

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The difference between the overall happiness index in the top few countries is marginal at best, meaning that European, especially Northern European countries are consistently the best places to live. If happiness is your thing that is.

According to the World Population Review and the World Happiness Report, Iceland has the highest feeling of social support in the world, even ahead of such countries as Finland, Norway, and Denmark, which tied for second place in terms of this metric.

#4 Iceland Has The World’s Highest Gender Equality

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#5 My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky

Image credits: KristjanHrannar

#6 Modern Icelandic Houses Are Built With Geothermally Heated Water Pipes Under Their Sidewalks So Icelanders Never Have To Shovel In Winter

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Currently, Iceland has a population of just 371k, according to Encyclopædia Britannica’s latest figures. That means the country is incredibly sparsely populated. Or, as Arctic Adventures puts it, that’s around 3 people per square kilometer (that’s roughly 8 people per square mile for our British and American Pandas).

They might be a small nation, but they’re tight-knit and really do know how to live a high-quality life. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the data, but it’s far better to experience the hospitality in person than to read about it or to look at just the stats and figures.

#7 Polar Stratospheric Clouds Over Iceland A Few Days Ago

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#8 Fun Fact Iceland Is Full Of Rainbows. Their Rainbow Paths Were Created To Show Their Immense Support For Pride, Diversity, And Acceptance

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#9 Work Signs In Reykjavik, Iceland Feature A Female Worker

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When we talk about Iceland being magical, it’s not all just fantasy and evocative words. According to the Nordic Visitor Blog, around a third of Icelanders believe in the existence of elves. Meanwhile, there are even spokespeople for the elves present when constructions take place in certain lava fields in Iceland.

#10 My Sister Rented A Flat Here In North Of Iceland For Christmas, This Is Her View

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#11 In Hólavallagarður Cemetery, Iceland, It’s Said Trees Are Planted On Graves As A Old Norse Tradition. You Can Touch The Trees As A Way To Connect With The Deceased

Image credits: Yako_hello_nurse

#12 The Viking Sword Road In Iceland

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Some of the reasons why Icelanders are so happy include their strong sense of community, their focus on equality and inclusion, and their high levels of transparency. This means that the Icelandic people have very high levels of trust in their governments while they also boast a low crime rate. Statista notes that there were 167 prisoners in the entire country in 2010. This number fell to 136 in 2018.

#13 Town In Iceland Paints A 3D Pedestrian Crossing To Slow Traffic

Image credits: Gústi Productions

#14 Went To See A Volcano That Is Only A Couple Of Kilometers Away From My Home. This Volcano Has Been Erupting For The Past Months In Iceland

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#15 There Are Places In Iceland Where You Can Be Standing On The North American And European Tectonic Plates At The Same Time. This Rift Was From An Earthquake

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Of course, all the natural beauty, stunning settings, and fresh air don’t help your chances of wanting to settle down in Iceland, either. Quite literally everyone that we personally know who’s been to Iceland has expressed their deep love of the country and has promised to go back. Hey, it might be an amateurish scientific study, but the sentiment is real.

#16 Black Church In Iceland

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#17 Blue Lagoon In Iceland, A Geothermal Hot Spring

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#18 Information Sign Nr 1, Geysir Iceland

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Some time ago, Bored Panda spoke about traveling etiquette and the importance of learning local costumes with Professor Christine Vogt from Arizona State University. She said that it’s vital that we do proper background research about the country we’re traveling to before setting out on the adventure itself. Analyze the customs, get to know the language. “More than likely that is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in," she said.

#19 Breathtaking Icelandic Landscape

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#20 Today I Drank Straight From An Icelandic Glacier. The Finest Of H20

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#21 Krónur Coins, The Icelandic Currency, Have National Marine Species As Heads

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"Local customs can include how a traveler dresses, eats, uses a cell phone, etc. When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play. For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few key words to enhance your experience," the professor explained to Bored Panda.

#22 This Is How Glacier Rivers Looks From Above In Iceland

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#23 This "Where Are You From" Map At The Aurora Museum In Reykjavík, Iceland

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#24 People Gathered Around Lava, Iceland

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Meanwhile, Professor Vogt added that travelers should refrain from taking any historic artifacts home with them as souvenirs. Some of the ways that the locals can make sure nothing gets taken is to set up signs that discourage people from pocketing what they shouldn’t. If that doesn’t work, penalties for stealing and setting up cameras to catch rule-breakers might work. It’s also a good idea to set up a display of all the items that tourists had stolen and then returned later on.

#25 The Coolest House I Found During My Trip In Iceland

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#26 This Scuba Crossing Sign In Þingvellir, Iceland

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#27 Remember That Icelandic Mayor Who Was Offering Signed Pictures Of Himself? Yeah. Mine Arrived Today

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#28 Elephant Rock - Don't Miss Out The Natural Statue Of Gaint Elephant Near Heimaey Island, Iceland

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#29 This Is The Last McDonald's Burger Sold In Iceland

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#30 Every Stop Light In Akureyri, Iceland Is Shaped Like A Heart

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#31 Reykjavík Looking Extra Soft After Today's Snowstorm

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#32 This Gate Made From An Old Bike In Reykjavik

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#33 This Poster Under A Camera In Iceland

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#34 In Iceland, There's No Such Thing As The Flavour "Ranch"

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#35 Icelandic Condoms

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#36 A Convenience Store In Reykjavik, Iceland Has A Well As You Walk In

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#37 No Church In The Wild. Oldest Church Of Iceland, So Cute

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#38 Fun Fact The Sheep Population Of Iceland Is More Than Double The Human Population

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#39 Went To A Beach In Iceland And Took A Full-Color Picture That Looks Entirely Grayscale

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#40 My Hostel Has Preserved The Last McDonald's Cheeseburger Sold In Iceland

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#41 Hostel In Iceland Has No Elevator, But Offers Elevator Music

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#42 Icelandic Girl Watering The Rooftop Of A Restaurant In Downtown Reykjavik

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#43 Campsite Inside A Greenhouse To Keep Us Warm (Hverinn, Iceland)

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#44 Meet Óttarr Proppé, Iceland's New Minister Of Health

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#45 Fun Fact About Iceland

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#46 Beautiful Photograph Taken In Iceland Where The Blue Sea, The Black Beach, The Yellow River And The Green Fields Meet In Perfect Harmony

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#47 A Bra Fence In Iceland

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#48 Speed Bump And Cross Walk Signs In Iceland Look Like Alien Abduction

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#49 The Icelandic Pledge For Tourists

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#50 My Flight To Iceland Has Aurora Style Lighting

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#51 My Favorite Photo From My Trip To Snæfellnes Peninsula In Iceland Last March - Búdakirkja. Surreal To Be There In Person

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#52 In Winter The Sun Sets At 2:00 PM In Iceland

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#53 This Sign Reminding Tourists Not To Walk On A Geothermally Active Area In Iceland

Image credits: SaltyHairNCupsOfTea

#54 This Oil Tank In Reykjavík Is Lit Up With LED Lights In The Colors Of The Pride Flag During The Pride Week In Iceland

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#55 This Pavement In Iceland For Wheelchairs Is Warmed Up So They Don't Slide Down

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#56 In Iceland, Handicapped Parking Spaces Have Ramps Onto The Curb

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#57 This Eve Online Monument In Iceland Contains All Usernames Up Until 2014

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#58 They Sell Icelandic Air In A Can At Gift Shops In Iceland

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#59 Laugarvatnshellar Caves. House Built Into A Hill In Iceland

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#60 Sheep Taking Shelter In A Tunnel In The Westfjords Of Iceland While A Bad Storm Blows Over

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#61 Icelandic Benchpress Record Being Broken On Top Of A Glacier, 1986

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#62 A Chilly Day In Þingvellir National Park. Glimmering "Good Luck Coins" In The Water

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#63 Facts About Icelandic Water

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#64 Traditional Icelandic Dishes

Smoked lamb "Hangikjöt" with beetroot, yellow turnip & redcurrant. Cured Minke Whale with horseradish, blueberry & mustard. Lamb rib eye with wild thyme, oyster mushroom and cauliflower. Icelandic Skyr Mousse with buckthorn berry, carrot cake, carrot sorbet and lemon.