Iceland’s unofficial tagline and ultimate cliché is the land of ice and fire. This is an obvious reference to the country’s many glaciers and active volcanos. But a rather more apt description would be the land of contrasts. This is a place with contrasting extremes, not only in terms of glacial icecaps and fiery lava but also the cold air vs. hot geothermal springs as well as the endless light in summer and long hours of darkness in winter.
It’s a common misunderstanding that Icelanders suffer through their dark winters in moody depression, wishing only for a new spring. While most Icelanders will celebrate more daylight, more warmth and the midnight sun of summer, deep down, they adore their dark winters. Why? Because of the lights of course.