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Iceland Local Customs

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Iceland Local Customs

by kylamees

Learn the local customs of Iceland. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Iceland locals.

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Iceland Local Customs

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	Trolls or Rocks?? Tip Rating:

By sue_stone on June 19, 2005

Iceland Page by sue_stone

Rocks...or perhaps trolls?

by sue_stone

Icelanders believe their country is populated by hidden races of small people such as trolls and elves, who are responsible for bizarre rock formations that are dotted all over the country.

I do have to agree that these formations look pretty unusual - like some one has been standing in lava fields stacking up piles of various size rocks.

I have also read that they say some of these odd rock formations were actually trolls that were caught at sunrise doing something evil and were therefore turned into stone....

The stone piles in the photo are located in a lava field in the middle of nowhere, on the road between Vik and Skaftafell. Very strange!

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	Icelandic Vehicles Tip Rating:

By sue_stone on June 19, 2005

Iceland Page by sue_stone

Ice Cool...

by sue_stone, 2 more photos

How silly did we feel in Iceland in out tiny hire car.....when the locals were driving scary looking 4WD's crossed with monster trucks!!

Take a look at the photo for the typical type of vehicle we saw in Iceland. HUGE tyres are a must, which makes sense due to the arctic conditions for most of the year, coupled with the fact that many of the roads are unsealed.

Some of the cars we saw were pretty funny - looked like they had taken a standard "city 4WD" and added the largest tyres available. Everywhere we went we saw troops of these cars, though I must say they did look a little out of place on the streets of Reykjavik!

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	Grapevine Tip Rating:

By bpwillet on July 25, 2004

Iceland Page by bpwillet

Local knowldege

by bpwillet

The is a free periodical which can be found in many different cafe's and especially the locak bookstores lining Laugavegur and the BSI Bus Terminal. It is in English and it lists local happenings, calendars of events, articles profiling local people and exhibits. Worth a look through if you are hoping to catch some local events.

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Website: http://www.grapevine.is/

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	Icelandic Skyr Tip Rating:

By bpwillet on July 21, 2004

Iceland Page by bpwillet

Skyr with blueberries

by bpwillet

Skyr is a type of yogurt that is served as a dessert in Iceland. Usually accompanied with blueberry sauce and maybe even some blueberry sorbet, it is a real treat. It is served in many restaurants around Iceland or you can even pick up a pint of it at a local convenience store or grocer.

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	Automated Gas stations Tip Rating:

By bpwillet on July 21, 2004

Iceland Page by bpwillet

Pumping gas in Iceland

by bpwillet

So technology has done wonderful things for us. As travelers we get the opportunity to see how "they" do things in "their" country. Something that is very common in Iceland are automated gasoline pumps. Instructions in Icelandic and English are given but it can be quite confusing - or maybe that was just me in a rush to fill up the rental car's tank. Essentially you go to the automated teller (kind of like an ATM machine) you put your card in and tell it what pump # you are at. Then you select the price. I am not sure if there was the option for "fill it up" but you will only get to fill up to the amount you selected and you don't get change back. Then you go to the pump and begin pumping. When finished you can leave or get a reciept. Keep in mind that many gas stations are like this and they are not all that central around Reykjavik center, but towards the highway.

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	What temperature ? Tip Rating:

Updated By JLBG on November 28, 2004

Iceland Page by JLBG

by JLBG

At first, the water temperature is pleasantly warm. The air is about +4°C, the water around 30-32°C ! When you swim, you will find that in some places, there are underwater hot springs and water is becoming hotter. Swim slowly and don't go too close, you might get burned !

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	One more ford ! Tip Rating:

Updated By JLBG on November 27, 2004

Iceland Page by JLBG

by JLBG

The Sprengisandur track has a great many fords to pass. Most are very easy, as this one. Other require checking first to avoid deep waters. In any case, it is advisable not to drive to fast (just a little bit, for fun !) as that might send water in the engine and drown it !

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	Polygonal soil Tip Rating:

Updated By JLBG on November 27, 2004

Iceland Page by JLBG

by JLBG

Polygonal soils occur when these permafrost soils are made of thin matter and are on flat areas. The alternation of frost/defrost makes some elements of the soil to migrate and draws clearly polygons.

That is what occurs in Sprangisandur (elevation 400-600 m), as well as at very high elevations in the Alps (2500-3000m)

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	Obsidian search Tip Rating:

Updated By JLBG on November 28, 2004

Iceland Page by JLBG

by JLBG

A short trek (one hour) leads to a place where there is obsidian (volcanic glass). It is amazing to look at these perfect black splinters of natural "glass". Its edges are sharper than a knife and it is easy to understand why our ancestors used obsidian for their cutting tools.

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	Svarta Tip Rating:

Updated By JLBG on July 3, 2004

Iceland Page by JLBG

by JLBG

Under ''Local customs'', will appear the south-central part of Iceland : Svarta, Kerlingarfjoll, Sprengisandur, Tungnafell, Lodmundur, Laugar,

The name Svartá means black river, and there are several rivers of this name in Iceland. This one is on the way to Sprengisandur.

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