Iceland generates nearly 100% of its electricity from renewable sources — a mix of geothermal and hydroelectric power that makes it one of the greenest nations on Earth. From erupting volcanoes and vast glaciers to Viking sagas and a thriving modern culture, this North Atlantic island punches well above its weight. Our 50-question quiz covers everything from Icelandic geology to quirky cultural traditions.
Each round presents 10 randomized multiple-choice questions drawn from a pool of 50, so every playthrough is different. You get instant feedback with explanations after each answer, plus a shareable score at the end.
This quiz spans Icelandic geography, volcanic activity, Norse settlement history, the Althing parliament, the unique patronymic naming system, famous Icelanders like Björk, and plenty of surprising facts — did you know Iceland has no McDonald's restaurants? Play through a few rounds and you'll pick up plenty of facts like that.
Iceland benefits from the warm North Atlantic Current (part of the Gulf Stream), which gives it a milder climate than its name suggests. Greenland, on the other hand, sits mostly above the Arctic Circle and is covered by a massive ice sheet. The names are partly historical — Norse settlers may have called Greenland "green" to attract colonists, while Iceland's name reportedly came from early settlers encountering drift ice.
The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull sent a massive ash cloud into the atmosphere, grounding flights across Europe for about six days in April 2010. Over 100,000 flights were cancelled, affecting roughly 10 million passengers. The eruption highlighted how volcanic activity in Iceland can have far-reaching global consequences.
Iceland uses a patronymic (or sometimes matronymic) naming system rather than family surnames. A child's last name is formed from their father's first name plus "-son" (for boys) or "-dóttir" (for girls). For example, if a man named Jón has a daughter, she would be called [First Name] Jónsdóttir. This means that members of the same family often have different last names, and Icelanders are listed by first name in the phone book.
Last updated: March 2026