It’s a curious thing that some holidaymakers are content to soak in the atmosphere and culture of their unfamiliar surroundings without so much as a guided tour, whilst others insist on gaining a historical insight into their selected destination. I find myself frequently in the former camp, though whenever I am enlightened on a country’s cultural beginnings I am genuinely fascinated. I realise that many of you out there will be intrigued by the prospect of a visit to Iceland, and to save you the hassle of extensive research prior to your departure, I’ve done all the hard work for you - below is a list of Icelandic place names and their historical meanings: 
Reykjavik - this translates literally to “Bay of Smokes”, in reference to the steam rising from hot springs in the region
Keflavik - though the origin of this name is unclear, the town is also known to locals as “Bitlabaerinn”, literally “the Beatle town”; referring to its rich source of musicians in the 60’s and 70’s
Leifur Eiriksson Airport Terminal - named after the first settler in Keflavik, Leif Ericson, an explorer and son of the legendary Viking “Erik the Red”
Hofn - a renowned fishing town, the name translates literally as “harbour”
Hveragerdi - this town is situated on an active geothermal field and consequently its name means “hot springs garden”
Lake Myvatn - The use of the word “lake” in the title is technically unnecessary, as the “vatn” in “Myvatn” is Icelandic for lake. “Myvatn” translates literally as “Lake of Midges”, something which is attributed to the overwhelming presence of flies (or midges) during the summer.
So, there you go! I hope this has been informative, and maybe even persuaded some of you to pay a visit to a country blessed with a rich cultural history.
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