What animals live in Iceland?

Iceland has some really interesting wildlife! The Arctic fox is the only land mammal that is native to Iceland — meaning it was already there before people arrived. You can also find reindeer, but they were brought over from Norway a few hundred years ago. Along the coasts, curious grey and harbor seals like to sun themselves on the rocks. The skies and seas around Iceland are just as lively as the land. Puffins — those small black-and-white seabirds with bright orange beaks — nest on Iceland's cliffs by the millions every summer. Orca whales, humpback whales, and minke whales swim in the cold waters offshore. Icelanders have fished these waters for centuries, and the sea has always been a big part of daily life there.

What do kids eat in Iceland?

Icelandic kids eat some things you might recognize and a few that might surprise you! Skyr is a thick, creamy dairy food — kind of like yogurt but even denser — and kids there eat it almost every day, often with berries on top. Lamb is also very common because sheep roam all over Iceland's green hills. Since Iceland is a small island nation in the North Atlantic, fish is a huge part of life there. Cod, haddock, and Arctic char show up on dinner tables regularly. One old Icelandic tradition is eating dried fish as a snack — just tear off a piece and chew it, almost like jerky. And on cold winter days, a warm bowl of lamb soup called kjötsúpa (say: KYOT-soo-pah) really hits the spot.

How do people say hello in Iceland?

In Iceland, people say hello by saying 'Halló' (sounds just like our word 'hello') or 'Hæ' (sounds like 'hi'). A more formal greeting is 'Góðan dag,' which means 'Good day.' Icelandic is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and people there have spoken it for over a thousand years! What is really interesting is that the Icelandic language has changed so little over the centuries that Icelanders today can still read ancient Viking writings called the Sagas. The Bible has been translated into Icelandic, which means people there can read God's Word in their own historic language — and that is a real gift. Most people in Iceland have heard the name of Jesus, and missionaries and local churches keep working so that hearing His name becomes truly knowing Him.

What sports or games do kids play in Iceland?

Icelandic kids love football — what you might call soccer — more than almost any other sport. Iceland has one of the highest numbers of football players per person in the whole world, which is pretty remarkable for such a small country. Kids also play handball, which is a fast team sport where you throw a ball into a goal with your hands. In winter, ice skating and skiing are popular because Iceland gets plenty of cold weather and snow in the highlands. There is also a traditional Icelandic sport called Glíma — it is a type of wrestling that Vikings practiced over a thousand years ago, and some kids still learn it today. Iceland is a small island nation with only about 370,000 people, so when Icelandic kids grow up loving a sport together, it really pulls their whole community close.

What's the weather like in Iceland?

Iceland's weather is one of the most unpredictable on earth — you might get sunshine, rain, and snow all in the same afternoon! Even in summer, temperatures stay pretty chilly, usually between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind can be fierce, and storms roll in fast off the North Atlantic Ocean. In winter, Iceland gets very little daylight — sometimes only four or five hours of pale light before darkness returns. But in summer, the sun barely sets at all, giving Iceland its nickname 'Land of the Midnight Sun.' Icelanders have learned to live and work through all of it, and it makes their country unlike almost anywhere else on the map.

Tell me a fun fact about Iceland.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Iceland sits right on top of a place where two giant plates of rock under the earth are slowly pulling apart — which means the island is actually getting a tiny bit wider every single year. It also has more active volcanoes than almost anywhere else on the planet, and you can see glowing lava, spouting geysers, and bubbling hot springs all in the same country. Rusty wants to add this one: Iceland has nearly 24 hours of sunlight in summer and nearly 24 hours of darkness in winter, which means some kids there go to bed when it is still bright outside! Most Icelanders speak Icelandic, one of the oldest languages in Europe, and the Bible has been translated into Icelandic so people can read God's Word in their own tongue — that is a gift worth knowing about.

What is school like for kids in Iceland?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Iceland start school around age six, and they stay in the same school all the way through age sixteen — that is ten years together with the same community. Iceland has very few students per teacher, so kids get a lot of attention. Most lessons are taught in Icelandic, but English is learned early too. Rusty wants to add something interesting: because Iceland is a small island nation with only about 370,000 people, many schools outside the capital Reykjavík are quite small — sometimes a whole school has fewer students than one grade in a big city. Icelandic children also learn a lot about their country's old Viking sagas and stories. Most people in Iceland identify as Christian, but for many it is more of a tradition than a living faith. That is why missionaries and local believers work hard to help Icelandic kids and families know Jesus not just as a name from history, but as a real and living Savior.

Who are the unreached people in Iceland?

Great question! Iceland is a small island nation in the North Atlantic, and almost everyone there speaks Icelandic. Most Icelanders are registered as part of the Lutheran church, but studies show that very few actually believe the Bible or have a personal faith in Jesus. That means millions of people who say they are 'Christian' by culture have never truly trusted Jesus as their Savior — and that matters a lot. There are also growing communities of Polish workers, Filipino immigrants, and people from other countries who have moved to Iceland for jobs. Some of these folks come from places where the gospel is hard to find. Rusty and I think it is worth praying that Icelandic Christians would get bold about sharing their faith with neighbors, and that workers from other countries would hear about Jesus while they are there. God can use Iceland as a place where people from all over the world discover the good news!

How can I pray for the people of Iceland?

Great question — Iceland needs real prayer! Most people in Iceland have heard the name of Jesus, but many do not know Him as their Savior. The country has old church buildings everywhere, but a lot of Icelanders have drifted away from trusting the Bible as true. Pray that God would open their hearts to the real gospel. You can also pray for the small but faithful churches in Iceland — that they would grow strong and bold in sharing their faith with neighbors and friends. Pray for Icelandic Christian leaders who are working to reach their own people, and ask God to raise up more of them. Iceland may look comfortable and modern, but people there need Jesus just as much as anywhere else on the map.

What is a holiday or celebration in Iceland?

One of the most beloved celebrations in Iceland is Þorrablót (say it like 'Thor-ra-bloat'), a midwinter feast held in January and February. Icelanders gather with family and friends to eat traditional foods that Vikings once ate long ago — things like smoked lamb, dried fish, and even fermented shark! Iceland also celebrates Christmas with great joy, and they have a fun tradition of 13 'Yule Lads' — mischievous characters from old Icelandic stories who visit children in the days before Christmas. Most Icelanders grow up knowing about Jesus and Christmas, but missionaries and local churches still work hard to share the true good news that Jesus came to save us — not just as a holiday story, but as real and living hope for every person in Iceland.

What language do people speak in Iceland?

People in Iceland speak Icelandic, one of the oldest languages in the world! It has changed so little over the centuries that Icelanders today can still read stories written a thousand years ago. That is pretty remarkable for any language. Icelandic has some sounds that are tricky for outsiders to learn, and some of the place names are wonderfully long and tongue-twisting. The good news is that the Bible has been translated into Icelandic, so people there can read about Jesus in their own language. Herman and Rusty think that is something worth celebrating — God's Word reaching people in the very tongue they grew up speaking.

What's a famous place to visit in Iceland?

One of the most famous places in Iceland is the Golden Circle — a route that takes you past a massive geyser called Strokkur, which shoots boiling hot water about 30 meters into the air every few minutes. It also passes Gullfoss, a thundering waterfall that pours into a deep canyon carved into the earth. Iceland sits on top of a very active part of the earth's crust, so the land itself is always shifting and steaming. People have lived on this dramatic island for over a thousand years, and today many Icelanders have access to the Bible and churches — which is a real gift. Not every country in the world has that, so it is worth being grateful for.

Iceland — Kids Missions Explorer

Atlantic Puffin

Puffins nest in Iceland's cliffs by the millions each summer and can carry dozens of small fish crosswise in their bright, striped beaks at one time.

Arctic Fox

Iceland's only native land mammal, the Arctic fox turns white in winter to blend into the snow and has survived on the island for thousands of years without any predators to fear.

Icelandic Horse

The Icelandic horse is a small, sturdy breed brought by Viking settlers over a thousand years ago, and by law no horse may be imported to Iceland, keeping the breed completely pure.

Skyr

Skyr is a thick, creamy dairy product similar to yogurt that Icelanders have eaten since the Viking age and today enjoy plain or with berries for breakfast.

Lamb Soup (Kjötsúpa)

This hearty stew made from free-range Icelandic lamb, root vegetables, and herbs has warmed families through long, dark winters for generations.

Rye Bread (Rúgbrauð)

Icelanders near geothermal areas traditionally bake this dense, slightly sweet dark bread by burying a pot of dough in the ground near a hot spring and leaving it overnight.

Iceland

Things you should know about Iceland

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Iceland

Missions in Iceland

Pray for Iceland