There are nine countries whose names begin with the letter I. They are Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, and the Ivory Coast.
# IcelandWith its location in the North Atlantic, Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe. Apart from ice, the country is also famous for its volcanic features. The glaciers and volcanoes have earned Iceland the nickname “the land of fire and ice.” The country experiences long days during the summer with almost 24 hours of sunshine. The Gullfoss waterfall on the Hvita River is one of the main tourist attractions in Iceland. Other beautiful sites include Thingvellir Park, Latrabjarg Sea Cliffs, Lake Myvatn, and the Dettifoss waterfalls.
# IndiaIndia is a South Asian country with the second largest population in the world. India’s capital, New Delhi, hosts over 9 million people out of the over 1.2 billion people living in the entire country. The name “India” was derived from the River Indus. The country is known for its numerous festivals including Diwali, Durga Puja, Rakshabandhan, among others. India celebrates and adheres to festivals of all religions. Tourists from across the world travel to India to experience these celebrations. The inexplicable love for spices and jewelry among Indians also puts India on the global map. Bollywood, India’s movie industry, is one of the largest movie industries in the world.
# IndonesiaIf you are a lover of good coffee, Indonesia is a country to visit. Java Coffee was born in Indonesia having being named after the island of Java. Sumatra coffee is also from Indonesia. Komodo Island in Indonesia is home to the Komodo dragon that is found nowhere else in the world. Indonesia is also famous for its diverse cuisine. The country is home to more than 250 million people who hail from different ethnic groups.
# IranDespite the wars and armed conflicts in Iran, the country holds 10% of the world’s oil reserves. Iran pumps almost 4 million barrels of oil daily. After oil, Iranian second largest export commodity is carpet. Iranian carpets are known throughout the world for their unique embroidery. Iran is an Islamic state hence Islamic culture is widely adhered to. Islamic practices such as wearing hijabs are followed strictly. Unbelievably, Iran has the highest rate of nose jobs in the world, with Iranian women often seeking this cosmetic surgery. The Iranians’ pursuit for the perfect nose is said to be attributed to the hijab dress code which puts a larger focus on the face.
# Iraq
This middle eastern country is thought to be home to the Biblical Garden of Eden. It is also said that Abraham hailed from Iraq since the Bible says he was from Ur, which is in southern Iraq. Arabs constitute 80% of Iraq’s population, followed by Kurds, Turkomen, Chaldean, and Assyrians. Despite the brutalities of war experienced in Iraq, the country is trying to rebuild itself from constant terrorist attacks. The country still remains rich with its glorious history. Some of the concepts invented in Iraq over 100 years ago include Algebra, pediatrics, and the famous story ‘Alibaba and the Forty Thieves’.
# IrelandAlso known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is rated second in the world in consuming beer. Ireland has famous breweries like Guinness, Harp Lager, and Smithwick’s. Whiskey was also invented in Ireland by Irish monks in the 12th century. The country is also known for the Saint Patrick Day celebration and the fact that Ireland is a snake-free island. Ireland boasts world-class golf destinations such as the Royal Portrush Golf Club. Other sports common in Ireland are rugby, horse racing, and football. The Galway Races, held every year, is a popular horse racing event in the country.
# IsraelIsrael is regarded by Christians as the Biblical Holy Land. The Israeli town of Jerusalem has many sacred sites for Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Such sites include Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and The Temple Mount. This Middle Eastern country has encountered a lot of conflicts with its Arabic neighbors and has emerged victorious in almost all these wars. Famous attraction sites in Israel include the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Sea of Galilee, Eilat, Bahai Gardens among other sites.
# ItalyItaly is a European country famous for its culture, art and delectable cuisine. Pizza, a popular fast food consumed worldwide, traces its origins in Italy. It was invented in the Italian city of Naples. In the fashion industry, Italy is known for producing big labels such as Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and Gucci. Fashion week, one of the world's biggest fashion events is held in Milan every year. Italy also produces wine and olive oil. The city of Rome is a famous tourist destination due to its rich historical sites.
# Ivory CoastLocated in West Africa, Ivory Coast is also referred to as Cote d’Ivoire in the French language. The name Ivory Coast was adopted from the country’s trade in ivory which ended in the 18th century. The country is the world’s largest cocoa producer. Ivory Coast is also home to the world’s biggest church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace located in Yamoussoukro. Beautiful national parks such as Tai and Camoe National Parks are spectacular tourist destinations in the Ivory Coast. The iconic Nimba Mountain is also a sight to behold. Yamoussoukro is the political capital and Abidjan serves as the economic capital of the country.