Travel trivia: 10 countries famous for what they don’t have

There are many countries that are known around the world because of what they possess: impressive mountains, vast forests, notable rivers, and unique fauna. At the same time, there are several countries that draw attention precisely due to lack of something. It may be a lack of snakes, absence of rivers, airports, traffic lights, standing army, or any other things. Sometimes, peculiar features of nature or history are the reasons behind unusual lacks in certain countries. Here are some of the world’s most surprising countries defined by a very unusual “no.”

Despite its wetlands and cool summers, Iceland is famously free of mosquitoes. Scientists believe the country’s unique climate cycles prevent mosquito larvae from surviving long enough to establish populations. For travellers, this means hiking, camping, and exploring Iceland’s lakes and volcanic landscapes without constantly swatting insects.

Saudi Arabia does not have any rivers flowing through it permanently. Rather, the country relies on underground water sources, desalinated water produced in various facilities and temporary seasonal streams called wadis. Lack of permanent water sources makes the country's arid lands even more fascinating for tourists who visit Riyadh, AlUla, and the Rub' al-Khali.

As the world's smallest state, the Vatican has no airports at all. As the size of the Vatican is only 0.49 square kilometres located in Rome, people can simply walk to the country from Rome. Even though the country has no airport, it is among the most popular tourist attractions of the world because of places like St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel.

In 1948, Costa Rica disbanded its army and allocated all the resources towards healthcare services, educational establishments and nature conservation. Now, Costa Rica is recognized worldwide for eco-tourism, diversity, rainforests, volcanoes, and peaceful national character.

There are man-made lakes in Singapore but no natural lakes. In spite of being highly urbanized, Singapore has become one of the greenest urban destinations in the world through artificial parks, gardens, and lakes.

New Zealand’s isolated island geography helped it evolve without native land snakes. The country is extremely protective of its ecosystem because native birds and wildlife evolved without many land predators. For travellers, it means hiking through forests, fjords, and mountains without worrying about snake encounters.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is an exceptional example of a capital city that does not have any traffic light system. In fact, there have been no traffic lights in this city since police officers used to manage the traffic manually in decorated booths.

San Marino is one of the oldest republics in the world, yet there are no active railway stations here. Travellers come to the mountainous state via road transport from Italy. San Marino, thus, concentrates more on spectacular drives, picturesque streets, and stunning views.

Due to its desert climate, Qatar does not have any forests. There are only deserts and desert-like areas in the country. The contrasting nature of the country that combines its futuristic architecture with its barren desert has made tourism a notable aspect.

Greenland has towns and settlements, but almost no roads connecting them. Travel between communities mainly happens by boat, helicopter, or small aircraft. For travellers, this creates one of the world’s most remote and isolated travel experiences.