Traveling to Iceland

This week on our travel series, we are going to Iceland. Iceland is known for its beautiful mountains and stunning landscapes. Despite it\’s name, only about 10% of its land is covered with glaciers and it has a surprising amount of geothermal hot-spots.

So, where is Iceland specifically? It\’s right between Europe and North America in the Atlantic Ocean. Technically, it\’s considered Nordic European.

The typical traveler may not think to travel to Iceland, and it\’s not built for the average traveler. Iceland screams adventure, beauty and action! Unsurprisingly, Iceland remains largely uninhibited. In fact, half of its 320,000 residents live in the capital city of Reykjavik. Lucky enough, if you choose to travel to the capital, a mere 20-minute drive takes you out of the city and into Iceland\’s most beautiful landscape views featuring sky-high mountains and the radiant coastline.

Because of its location, Icelandic culture has been shaped by isolation. Emigrants from Scandinavia and the British Isles populated this small country back in the tenth century. Now, Iceland\’s society is both modern and contemporary. The residents pride themselves on their resilience and have formed strong bonds with nature that gracefully surrounds them. It\’s location and culture have together formed a high standard of living and extensive political freedom that has led them to take an active role in sustainable development.

As for what to do when you get there: you name it! From hiking, biking and whale watching to caving, ice climbing and birdwatching, Iceland really has something for every adventurous soul! The most interesting thing about Iceland is its geothermic pools. The most famous of these is the Blue Lagoon, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, not far from their capital city. This pool actually has its own geothermal beach, with pristine white sands and warm geothermal ocean water.

What also makes Iceland unique is its impressive view of the Northern Lights. During the darkest of winters, you can look to the sky and see a striking array of colors called the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. According to Visit Iceland, \”The Northern Lights are formed by particles emitted by the sun during solar explosions. When these particles interact with the atmosphere in the Earth\’s magnetic field, energy is released, causing these peculiar luminous green streaks across the skies.\”

When going to Iceland, try to go between June and August. Besides the better weather, you\’ll also experience 24 hours of sunlight each day.

If you don\’t like outdoor activities, then Iceland is not the place for you. But if you love adventure, great culture and landscapes scenes that only come out of a storybook–Iceland is the place for your next vacation!

To read more visit: http://www.visiticeland.com/