Why Iceland?
A love letter to the land of fire and ice from someone who calls it home
‘Iceland is living proof that paradise can be forged in fire and sculpted by ice.’
What’s the difference between Iceland and the rest of the world, you may ask? Oh, come on! This island is utterly, magnificently, impossibly dramatic! We’re talking about a place where glaciers sit atop active volcanoes, where you can stand with one foot in North America and the other in Europe, where the sun refuses to set in summer and the sky dances with green fire in winter. Seriously, if Mother Nature decided to show off everything she could do, she’d create Iceland.
A Geological Playground Like No Other
Let me paint you a picture: Iceland sits right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two massive tectonic plates are literally tearing apart. We’re one of the few places on Earth where you can walk between continents at Þingvellir National Park—and yes, it’s as mind-blowing as it sounds. This geological drama means we have over 130 volcanic mountains (about 30 of them still active, thank you very much), sprawling lava fields covered in otherworldly moss, and enough geothermal hot springs to keep the entire nation warm through the darkest winters.
Fire and ice aren’t just words here—they’re our daily reality. Massive glaciers like Vatnajökull (Europe’s largest) carve through our landscape, while beneath them, volcanoes simmer and occasionally remind us who’s really in charge. The result? Ice caves that glow electric blue, glacier lagoons filled with ancient icebergs, black sand beaches where glacial rivers meet the North Atlantic, and waterfalls—oh, the waterfalls! We have more spectacular cascades than we can count, each one more photogenic than the last.
Where the Sky Puts on a Show
Here’s something special: Iceland sits just below the Arctic Circle, which means we get the best of both cosmic worlds. From September through April, the aurora borealis dances across our skies in ribbons of green, purple, and pink—nature’s most spectacular light show, and we have front-row seats. I’ve been chasing the northern lights for years, and I still get goosebumps every single time they appear. There’s something about standing beneath that celestial fire that makes you feel both infinitely small and deeply connected to the universe.
Come summer, and the tables turn completely. From May through August, the sun barely sets—we call it the midnight sun, though “3 AM golden hour” might be more accurate. Imagine hiking at midnight with perfect light, photographing waterfalls at 2 AM, or simply sitting outside at 11 PM watching the sky glow in endless twilight. It’s disorienting, magical, and absolutely intoxicating.
The Wildlife (And They’re All Characters)
The North Atlantic surrounding us is teeming with life. Puffins—those comically charming birds with their bright beaks and tuxedo bodies—nest by the millions along our cliffs each summer. They’re clumsy, adorable, and utterly fearless. Whales breach in our fjords and bays: humpbacks, orcas, minke whales, and if you’re lucky, even blue whales. Seals pop their heads up in harbors and lagoons, watching humans with the same curiosity we watch them.
The Wildlife (And They’re All Characters)
But the real stars? The Icelandic horses. These aren’t just any horses—they’re descendants of the original Viking horses brought here over 1,100 years ago, and they haven’t been crossbred since. They’re tough, friendly, and possess a fifth gait (the tölt) that no other horse breed has. They’re also ridiculously photogenic with their wild manes and gentle personalities. Give one a scratch on the nose, and you’ve made a friend for life.
We’ve also got Arctic foxes (the only native land mammal in Iceland), reindeer roaming the eastern highlands, and if you’re very observant, you might spot the hidden folk—the álfar and huldufólk who supposedly live in our rocks and lava fields. About half of Icelanders won’t completely deny their existence, and we do occasionally build roads around suspected elf dwellings. We’re practical people, but we’re not foolish.
A Nation of Storytellers and Survivors
We’re a tiny nation—only about 370,000 of us scattered across this volcanic island, making us one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe. Two-thirds of us live in or around Reykjavík, which means the rest of the country remains beautifully, wonderfully wild. We’re descendants of Vikings and Celtic settlers who looked at this harsh, unforgiving landscape and said, “Yeah, we’ll make this work.”
And we have. Through volcanic eruptions, brutal winters, isolation, and more than our share of hardship, we’ve not only survived—we’ve thrived. We’ve built a society consistently ranked as one of the happiest in the world, powered almost entirely by renewable energy (geothermal and hydroelectric), and created a culture that values storytelling, creativity, and genuine human connection.
Our saga tradition runs deep. We’ve been writing epic stories since the 12th century—tales of heroes, outlaws, love, betrayal, and survival that still captivate readers today. Every rock formation has a story, every fjord has a legend, every mountain has a name with history behind it. When you travel through Iceland, you’re not just seeing landscapes—you’re walking through living mythology.
The Intangible Magic
But here’s what really sets Iceland apart, what I can’t quite capture in words but feel in my bones: it’s the raw, untamed energy of this place. Standing on a black sand beach as Atlantic waves crash with thunderous power. Watching steam rise from the earth in geothermal areas, reminding you that the ground beneath your feet is alive. Feeling utterly dwarfed by a glacier, humbled by a waterfall, awestruck by the aurora.
Iceland doesn’t coddle you with tropical warmth or gentle landscapes. Iceland challenges you, surprises you, occasionally terrifies you, and always—always—leaves you changed. It’s a place that demands presence, that strips away pretense, that reminds you what it feels like to be genuinely, profoundly alive.
We Icelanders have a word: “þetta reddast” (pronounced “thetta red-ast”). It roughly translates to “it will all work out” or “we’ll figure it out.” It’s our national motto, our approach to life, born from centuries of adapting to this magnificent, unpredictable land. When you come to Iceland, you’ll understand why we live by this philosophy.
So, Why Iceland?
Because nowhere else on Earth offers this combination of accessible adventure, raw natural beauty, genuine cultural warmth, and cosmic phenomena. Because you can experience geological forces that shaped the planet, wildlife that’s utterly charming, and celestial displays that defy description. Because despite being one of the youngest landmasses on Earth (geologically speaking), we offer ancient wisdom and modern comfort in equal measure.
Because Iceland isn’t just a destination—it’s a transformation. It’s that place you visit once and find yourself planning your return before you’ve even left. It’s where photographers run out of memory cards, where adventure seekers find their limits (and then push past them), where romantics discover landscapes that match the grandeur of their feelings, and where families create memories that become stories told for generations.
We’re waiting for you here, on this volcanic island at the edge of the Arctic, where fire meets ice, where the sky dances, where stories live in every stone, and where 370,000 of us would love to share our home with you.
Come see why Iceland isn’t just another destination. Come see why Iceland is the destination.
Vertu velkomin—you are welcome.
Heimir
Ultimate Iceland & Aurora Experts