This Stunning European Country Is The Only One Without Snakes
By Jen Mallia
VACATIONS
Iceland has plenty of points of interest: geothermal spas, stark natural beauty, Northern Lights spotting, and fascinating architecture. However, it has no snakes whatsoever.
Birds, bugs, and the Arctic fox are the only native species to the country. The subarctic climate is simply too cold for snakes' cold-blooded nature.
Hibernating over long winters would require ample fat storage to live on, which snakes struggle with, and there wouldn't be enough food to tide them over if they woke up.
Importing snakes is banned to avoid potentially spreading deadly salmonella. The only authorized snakes are those allowed under an extraordinary permit, such as those held by zoos.
Iceland is one of very few places with no snakes. Ireland is the most famously snake-free country, and stateside, only Alaska and Hawaii are completely snake-free.