Iceland’s Interesting Name Choice

Most of us know Iceland as the Nordic country located in Europe. But few people know that it’s Europe’s most sparsely populated country. And it’s easy to believe its low density if you’ve Icelandic tales are your thing. According to legend, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson named it Iceland to discourage extra settlers.

After all, this was the era of Vikings who were always searching for new territory. What’s the appeal of a ‘land of ice,’ right? The truth is that Vilgerðarson and other settlers arrived during winter. And when they climbed a mountain and spotted a fjord full of icebergs, they aptly named the territory what we know it as today.