I went with a tour group around the ring road. The country is beautiful. The photos in the video just scratch the surface of the country's beauty. The people all seemed really friendly. They value the clean water from the glaciers and the puffins and whales. The government is taking steps to reforest the landscape but reforesting takes many years. I keep thinking about moving there but I'm an old, retired guy and am not sure I can handle the winter.

A very good job on your pronunciation of the place names. You clearly but a lot of research, time and effort into getting it as close as possible, which can't be said of similar videos on KZread where more often than not the creators just make cheap jokes instead.

As an Icelander I would like people to know that we aren't this Utopia that people seem to think. Yes we score high on gender equality compared to other countries but that says more about how low other countries score. We have done a lot to make gender equality better but it is not perfect yet. We all need to do more. Also, don't drive off road, even if you saw someone on tv or an ad do that. Our nature is fragile and off roading can leave scars that take years or even decades to heal.

@DenzelPF31

Жыл бұрын

The landscape is paradise to me. But I couldn't live in this climate... And I'd definitely miss forests 🙈

@maitreyajambhulkar

Жыл бұрын

Ok. I keep that in mind vro. I am from India and I want to visit your nation. I first heard about Iceland in a James Bond movie in which James Bond go to an Ice Hotel. So amazing you Icelanders are. You guys make an entire hotel out of ice.

@zeara7692

Жыл бұрын

that and tourists always seem to dissapear or die

@onlinegoldminer234

Жыл бұрын

Its true. This is far from paradise. Iceland scores highest by far on corruption of the Scandinavian country. The politicians here are corrupt to the bone. Forget about moving here and finding housing. The housing market is horrible. If you find one - expect to pay an arm and a leg with the worst loans imaginable on the planet. The most expensive contry in Europe...perhaps the world. The government just loves to tax their citizens.Should we talk about the weather? It sucks. And yes ...Icelanders are very racist...it's just that it's more under the surface...people say that they are not racist...but they are. Yes the job market is ok...but if you are foreigner you will only get jobs that Icelanders don't want to work....in tourism, cleaning hotel rooms, working in grocery stores etc.

@richlisola1

Жыл бұрын

@@DenzelPF31 Iceland was once shrouded in woodlands, but it was slowly stripped away since the onset of Norse settlement. The Icelanders are regrowing the forests now with an impressive reforestation scheme.

As an Icelander I would like to draw attention to few of our habits that seem strange to other nations. For example, it's not strange or rude to "suck" the liquid that forms inside your nose back up when you're outside in the cold. We find that a lot more acceptable than letting the liquid run down to be visible to others. We will of course blow our noses eventually when we get a hold of paper towel. So "sucking it up" and forgetting ourselves in social situations once we're inside/still outside is not utterly rude in casual circumstances. Oh and that leads me to another thing. We like to blow our noses in private or in the bathroom. Not in front of others or by the dinner table. That seems a bit odd to me personally at least. We do not carry reusable napkins on us like many Europeans do and we certainly do not blow our noses in some handkerchief and then put it back in the pocket to use later. That is a bit peculiar behaviour to see in Iceland. Why would any sane person do that? 😅 You're carrying your bacteria around in your clothes! Also we don't use umbrellas. Perhabs one or two native Icelanders do it occasionally but most of us just dress accordingly in rain coats or not, depends on your mood and how willing you are to get soaked 😜 I personally like the feeling of getting just my trousers and my face and hair a bit wet if I'm not going to any formal event. Makes me feel alive and truly FEEL the weather. I think the main reason for the unpopularity of the umbrella here is due to the fact that most often there's some kind of wind accompanied by the rain. Also because rain here is most often not in the form of massive drops like in Europe. Often it's mist. Weather here changes rapidly and if you don't like it, wait for 5 minutes we say. So we don't seem to bother to carry with us an umbrella when it's going to rain on us from the side anyways and it changes after 10 minutes. Sometimes the rain occurs in still weather and that makes me think of mainland Europe :)

Really great video, thank you! I've been learning Icelandic for more than a year and I'm going to visit Reykjavík in November. Greetings from Hungary!

@ingoingason6680

Жыл бұрын

Why did you decide to start learning it ?

I've visited Iceland twenty years ago as a graduation trip. This is an amazing country with stunning landscapes (with light and colors almost alien) and very friendly people. I wish I was more proficient in English to be able to talk more with locals. Just a small note: Blue Lagoon is a tourist trap, mostly artificial and high priced for what it is. I rather suggest going to a closer municipal outdoor pool (one that contained additional jacuzzis and sauna to complete the experience) or make a reservation for a small natural hotspring pool with more intimacy and a better scenic view.

@Sindrijo

Жыл бұрын

The price-hikes have been quite drastic over the years as the lagoon became a 'luxury destination', we're talking like 3-4x increases.

@PainterVierax

Жыл бұрын

@@Sindrijo oof! I wasn't even aware of that. At least this boosts the audience of other affordable solutions. All in all, even in 1999 If I knew I'd rather find another spot instead as it was a bit underwhelming like visiting the Musée Grévin in Paris.

I spent almost 4 months in Reykjavik right before COVID, and i loved it there. One thing he didn't mention is that Iceland has a decent sized Polish population, which was brought over during WWII. In fact, there was a Polish butcher shop near my apartment!

@Svograth

Жыл бұрын

Pylsumeistarinn?

@brianpalas

Жыл бұрын

@@Svograth I'm sorry, i don't remember the name. This was before COVID. I know there was a Bonus and Domino's in the area, and Stræto station wasn't that far away.

@KronikAlkoholik

Жыл бұрын

While true that Polish people are by far the largest minority in Iceland their immigration is much more recent. This didn't really start happening until first after fall of communism in Poland and increased greatly after Poland joined the EU.

@Sindrijo

Жыл бұрын

@@KronikAlkoholik Yep. EU in 2004 and Shengen Zone in 2007. Notably these two events happened before the 2008 crash and the preceding growth years in Iceland had made it more attractive to immigrate to. Many Poles that immigrated during these years were construction workers and eventually their families, imported by the construction boom pre-2008.

@MrKorton

Жыл бұрын

During WW2?! That is false. Most of them came after the 21 century.

Cant get enough of your content, happy for this channel. 🎉

I'm honestly impressed by your pronounciation

Thank you Paul for making another video about Nordic countries. You're a very good KZreadr who listens to viewers' suggestion!

Thank you for covering one of my favourite countries, Paul. I fell in love with Iceland during university (I did a diploma thesis about Norse myth) and the love lasts to these days. I have even considered the idea of moving there, at least until I discovered that Icelandic politics is even worse than our own Italian one. Icelanders appear to be unable to elect a government that will put the interests of the common people before that of corporations and it shows in every aspect of their daily life. That said, learning Icelandic is still high on the agenda and one or more visit will certainly happen in the future - as soon as world situations normalise.

@Sindrijo

Жыл бұрын

I'd suggest that most countries have similar or worse politics though. But yes, definitely often does feel like a 'banana republic'.

@AslamKhan-oj7ye

Жыл бұрын

what meant by norse myth?

One very important thing you must know if you plan to come here is just how dangerous the nature can be and how to stay safe! We have way too many incidents of tourists getting in trouble and some of them even dying. You should also know about björgunarsveitin (the rescue troupes) that come and (try to) rescue you if you do get in trouble. That is mostly volunteer work so make sure to respect them and not act recklessly. Another thing to mention are our Celtic roots as we are descended as much from Irish women as we are Norse men. Otherwise a wonderful video, well researched and pronunciation excellent :D

Very good. Well done. Iceland is as beautiful and wonderful as it can be harsh and difficult

I’m impressed with how well you pronounced the double L’s

Wonderful! Perfect Thank you!!!

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

The pleasure is mine!

I spent a few layovers in the Reykjavik airport, and the views on takeoff/landing were stunning, made me want to come back for a proper visit. It's one of my highest priorities next time I can afford international travel.

One of my top bucket-list destinations!

It's true that Iceland has 24 hour sunlight for a month around summer solstice, but it's *not* true that Iceland has 24 hour darkness during winter solstice (it's closer to 4-5 hours of sunlight during winter solstice). You'd have to travel further north than Iceland to experience 24 hour darkness. Also, pro tip: If you want to experience Iceland in the summer time without tourists and traffic, go sightseeing at night. There's 24 hour sunlight anyway so you might as well use it to your advantage (be prepared for all kinds of weather though!).

4:21 From what I've read the occupation of the country wasn't all smiles and laughter as you say. Icelandic women marrying Allied soldiers and having children with them was a rather controversial topic as the women were accused of betraying their country. It caused a somewhat of a division between Icelanders and Allied troops.

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

@KronikAlkoholik

Жыл бұрын

The biggest victims here where the women. Patriarchy showed its face there and the Icelandic government had some major cases of right wing actions during the cold war era (similar to the UK and US I guess ). Fascist police, nazi apologists and harboring of war criminals are things that still seem to be a bit of a taboo to talk about.

@nannabibi8958

Жыл бұрын

Women who dated soldiers were called “kanamellur” which is a ugly word and means a soilders whore or hooker. I hope nobody uses it today but 30 years ago it was used quite alot.

I think you should make a Discord server, Paul, for this channel and Langfocus just saying :) and of course, great video as always

I do know that Iceland produces some of the World's Strongest Men....they seem to have a good genetic core for strength sports. They always seem to have at least one man competing in the famous "World's Strongest Man" competition every year. Also seem to be very friendly people too.

I want to visit one day. The mountains and landscape are so beautiful.

Thanks Paul. Great content!

Ísland, ég elska þig!

@hafthorpalsson3148

Жыл бұрын

Ísland elskar þig líka 😀

@joshuataylor3550

Жыл бұрын

Iceland is incapable of love.

Would love to visit!

Spent 2 in the second largest city … Awesome people

I guess, I've been curious about Iceland since the day I saw it in a secondary school geography book. I identify myself with Iceland. It's part of being, but it's also abstracted. Of course, the second reason is its incredible wilderness.

Honeymooned in Reykjavik in 2006. Would love to go back.

I love your videos, amazing job. I'm from Poland trying to mater English and love Linguistics.

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I’m happy to hear that.

I'll give you a solid 8.5 for pronunciation, all you need is a tweak in emphasis in words. One thing I'll say about Icelanders is that we're very friendly when we first meet you but we don't make new friends easily. If you move here, the pursuit of friends is on your prerogative.

Thanks!

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Inez! I appreciate your support! :)

I wish to go and visit Iceland, it looks amazing!

lceland is a fascinating country, with great scenery, and an interesting history. But what intrigues me most about lceland is that it is the birthplace of Eirik Raude ("Eric the Red"), who was forced to leave lceland after he murdered somebody. He went to Greenland, where eventually he met Bjarni Herjulfsson, who told him he had strayed too far off the route to Greenland, and discovered an unknown land. Eirik was intrigued, and eventually he was about to sail west, in search of the land; but he didn't leave, after all, and his son, Leif Ericsson, sailed without his father. He found the land, which he named Helluland, today Baffin lsland, Canada; he sailed on, reaching Markland, today Labrador, and thus became the first European to set foot on the mainland of the American continent. Sailing on yet some more, he reached Vinland, today Newfoundland, where he founded a short-lived colony, Leifsbudir. Surprisingly few Americans are aware today of the Viking history of America (although the Norse never reached what today is the United States); Canadians seem much more knowledgeable.

Great video and impressive pronunciation. one thing, Akureyri have lost there 2 spot to Reykjanesbær last year

I am from Southern Italy and last August spent two weeks in Iceland for work first and holiday next. The landscapes are stunning, living standards are pretty high and I also found that people are more friendly than expected. Living there would be beautiful, though I had a hard time with the weather (even if it was summer). I also imagine that the linguistic barrier would be difficult to overtake. Even though I am pretty proficient in English, I reasonably assume that locals would prefer speaking Icelandic, so possibly staying with a foreigner may be a bit labrious to Icelanders and hence they may legitimately prefer to stay in their circle.

I'm from Mexico and ever since I learned about Iceland (mainly thanks to Geography Now) I've been absolutely in love with the country, the culture, the language... It's like my obsession with Japan all over again haha I would definitely love to live there some day!

Until recently Colorado had a law against grocery stores selling beer that was higher than 3.2% ABV or "three-two beer." This is the only other time that I've heard of a similar restriction

I'm impressed with your pronouciation of Icelandic names. What I would like the rest of the world to know about us is that most of us do not believe in elves and trolls. Icelanders are a very secular nation and well educated, so in general we don't believe in superstition.

I want to visit 8celand one day...it's magic !!!

Hi, could you do one with Brazil?

A country I've always wanted to visit. I wouldn't mind living somewhere that is dark most of the time. I've heard there is a place one can go in Iceland that lets you put one foot on North America and another on Europe. I think it's beneath the water, though.

cools beens!

Yes I'd like to visit one day, because it's one of the few European countries I've never been to and I've heard good things about the people. Also I'd like to sample some of the stranger food. A friend once brought some kæstur hákarl for me to try and it was repulsive (literally), but there must be some other seafood or arctic birds that I can try :)

I live in Alaska. I am attracted to Iceland because it's very similar to Alaska, but not part of the U.S., which is increasingly in political turmoil due to unhinged conspiracy theorists which are increasingly viral and dangerous. I am considering safer retirement places.

🇮🇸 🇮🇸 🇮🇸 One of the best videos on this channel 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I love your vedio make a vedia of 🇮🇳india

0:57 Iceland has population like Czech second largest city, but its area is almost 3/2 times than the Czechia' s.

@gfritlev9956

Жыл бұрын

excactly. Iceland is like one medium sized city in more populated countries

Yes I would love to visit it but due to my resources is far away of my priorities at the moment 😅 I hope to be able one day, its nature is unique, sometimes it looks like another planet (yeah yeah I know, I've watched too many sci-fy movies that were filmed there). But I must clarify, It must be between april and september, I wanna have long days, more than 12 hours at least, during the other 6 months period is the other way around 😅

❤️ Iceland from India. Very nice country. I will visit this nation

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

Me too!

sun will never set

@ulli-dulli333

Жыл бұрын

except for in the winter, then it never rises.

2 minute: Iceland was forested by native downy birch, not the conifers pictured (they grew here before the iceage). Sure we do grow conifers now that we got from abroad ;)

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I just couldn't find images of the original trees (but needed something to illustrate).

I was hoping to hear something about Icelandic honey.

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

If you search for “Langfocus Icelandic” you will see my video on it.

Do you not count Nuuk (formerly Godthåb) as a capital city? It’s further north than Reykjavik by just a few kilometers

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

It was referring national capitals. So it depends whether we're counting Greenland as its own country or as part of Denmark.

I would like to become a citizen of Iceland, but I doubt they would allow me. All respects to Iceland

Wow, that's a shame about the forests. I suppose they were used to build ships.

@iddet8867

9 ай бұрын

Actually I don't think Icelandic forests were suitable for building ships, they were mostly used as fuel. Native Icelandic trees are mostly more like bushes than real trees.

I want to see Iceland how to go

I'm surprised you didn't mention anything about arctic foxes

I was born and raised there but took the first opportunity I got to get off this damn rock. Sure it's pretty sometimes in some areas but obviously the weather and dark winters suck. The locals are mostly alcoholics (which is why we had to ban beer until 1989) and the culture (or rather lack thereof) has become Americanized to such an extent it makes me kinda sick. Well at least we don't have McDonalds anymore but the "Icelandic dream" involves living in a suburb with a Ford F-350 in the driveway to haul all the crap home from Costco. Worst of all though is that in spite of the glossy image this is a highly corrupt kleptocracy governed by puppets in the pockets of the fishing industry (google Samherji and "fish rot files" ). Also lots of "Trump-ists" and racists and xenophobes. Having said that...in many ways its still a nice place to be From and to visit as a tourist from time to time. :) Oh and did I mention the ever fluctuating micro-currency, criminally high interest rates and indexed mortgages that go up with inflation, impossible housing market and cost of living? Just some things to consider if you were crazy enough to consider moving there.

Another excellent video ... but I feel cheated, as I spent 10 days circumnavigating the country (by car) and didn't see any of the 130 volcanoes ! I did see loads of whales, so I don't feel hard done by !!

@HD-dq9kr

Жыл бұрын

You definitely saw a volcano but it just wasn’t erupting ;)

@MrKorton

Жыл бұрын

30, not 130. And some of them not central stratovolcanoes but fissure systems and some underneath a glacier like Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga. Anyway how can you not notice volcanoes like Snæfellsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla, when passing through is beyond me. 😉

Funniest guy on youtube 😂

@GEOfocusChannel

Жыл бұрын

You must have mistaken me with someone else. lol

@miro007ist

Жыл бұрын

@@GEOfocusChannel Love your videos man they’re amusing and informative!

Genetically, Iceland is more closely related to Celts (from Ireland) than to Scandinavians.

@idraote

Жыл бұрын

Not true. It's about 50%

@hodor6994

Жыл бұрын

@@idraote its 60/40 :)

@MrKorton

Жыл бұрын

No, not more. But we have more celtic in us than compared to Scandinavians.

what if greenland and iceland switch names

“Jónsdóttir:)

@Gamer-3458

Жыл бұрын

Yes not jónssdótir

Jónsdóttir *

I want to travel to Iceland to eat Hakarl.

And then along came in an icelandic (is that correct?) mother at the hotel with her 2 children, and at the moment of the checking in none of them have the same last name.

@ulli-dulli333

Жыл бұрын

icelander or icelandic person

@MrKorton

Жыл бұрын

They have their father's name ending with -son or -dottir (daughter). Patronyms, look it up.

The occupation didnt help as much as it caused a Big problem, locally known as the "Ástandið" also aside from the sinking of one ship by a uboat probably more Icelanders died from Allied than Axis bullets, like by militaryguards taking their job too seriously and shooting civilians, like in other places they have gone to before and after. I have seen material where british soldiers that were sent up to iceland to occupy tell yhat they had been told the germans were only days away from occupying Iceland, however I have not so much as heard of a single name of a single plan to do so from the german side, as in possibly a lie as it would have greatly overextend their supplylines so not worth persuing, not unless after britain had fallen which didnt happen either. the army left and then returned again soon after, the marshal plan money was used in part to buy trawlers and speed up the fishing fleet transformation, as i understand only wartorn countrys were supposed to get part of that plans funds but not a single bomb had been dropped on iceland as in it was pretty much out of range for the germans for the entire WW2. Iceland and Danmark agreed in 1918 to declare Iceland Fullveldi but to delay the total Independence decision for 25 years and so on 1 Descember 1943 Iceland was in their right to declare full Independance but as Denmark was occupied and there are some things that hint at pressure from the Allied occupants to delay it till after D-day for their own convenience and so on 17 June 1944 it finally happened with 95% vote for Independance, and yeah also the King of Denmark naturally sent a letter of Congratulation coz this was all long since well known and agreed upon change before the war, and some more history oriented Icelanders often feel 1 Des is more significant than 17 June as a Independent Nation.

In a distante past, ir was legal to kill Basques in Iceland. No joke. That law was abolished much later, when someone found out it was still valid... as it had been forgotten.

@ulli-dulli333

Жыл бұрын

There also may have been a law that made it legal to kill turks, but weather or not it existed or exists it has since become illegal.

@KronikAlkoholik

Жыл бұрын

Funny story but mostly untrue, in Iceland it is better known as a story about Turks being legal to kill. About the Basques, they came to Iceland throughout the ages mostly to fish or whale, contact between Icelander and Basques was mostly friendly business affairs and even had a pidgin language. However there was cases of some bad blood and instances of robberies in the westfjords during the 17th century, enough so that the King ( King of Denmark as Iceland was a danish territory at the time ) issued that the local sheriff had authority to harm and capture Spaniards ( as Basques were mostly known as here ) and robbers. After that 3 whaling ships wrecked and the survivors went around pillaging and looting to survive and the local sheriff decided to go on a murder campaign against them. This is the basis of the legend that they were legal to be killed and made some headlines in 2015 when the modern sheriff in the same area abolished the decree as a symbolic gesture. In fact any danish laws and decrees from that time would have no effect in an independent Iceland and would have been overruled by the more stronger constitution. The Turk story is connected to the Turkish Abductions that also happened in the 17th century regarding Barbary pirates that killed and kidnapped people in southern Iceland.

Dragon East Fire Eagle North Air Bull West Water Giant South Earth

where is two deas of different colours adjacent but twocolours always distinctly visible...like they never get mixed up...this id mentioned by God /Allah in holy Kuran..miracle is is when people came to know?

Iceland should have been purchased by America

@lucasmossman3820

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely not, tf

@idraote

Жыл бұрын

Luckily they didn't.

@siyacer

Жыл бұрын

@@lucasmossman3820 absolutely yes

@siyacer

Жыл бұрын

@@idraote *unluckily

@KronikAlkoholik

Жыл бұрын

Not for sale mate!