Many of the fjords in East Iceland are surrounded by tall mountains that block the low winter sun from reaching them for weeks and months in the winter. In East Iceland it became tradition to celebrate the return of the sun with pancakes. The tradition of sun pancakes is still honored in many households in East Iceland.

Iceland’s highest freestanding mountain is Mt. Snæfell. This king of Icelandic mountains stands 1833 meters tall or just over six thousand feet. It is actually a volcano and it is debated whether or not it should be classified as an active volcano.

East Icelands arguably biggest attraction is the country’s second highest waterfall, Hengifoss. It is so fabulous that it even has its own website.

Iceland is a country of myths and legends and we love to tell stories. The only difference between the stories in East Iceland and the rest of the country is that ours are all true.

An old Icelandic joke goes, what do you do if you get lost in an Icelandic forest? Well, you simply stand up. Having said that, the largest forest in Iceland is Hallormsstaðaskógur just outside Egilsstaðir. And it’s not enough to stand up if you get lost.

There are a few things you only find in East Iceland and not the rest of the country. The flower bluebell is only native to East Iceland and so are the reindeer that we are so very proud of.