Grímsey, Iceland, 8/10/2021, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Iceland
Grímsey is the northernmost island off the coast of Iceland, 41km from the mainland. All but the Southern shoreline consists of steep cliffs, with basalt in many parts. Although it lies on the Arctic Circle, the island enjoys a mild climate and supports enormous bird colonies. About 155 people live in Grimsey all year around, working in fishing, agriculture, and egg harvesting.
Stefano is originally from Italy and nature has always been the greatest of his passions. Spending time outdoors is his daily priority with a special devotion rock climbing during summer, accompanied by ski and snowboarding during winter.
Greetings from Iceland! Today we continued our circumnavigation of this land of fire and ice, Iceland. National Geographic Explorer pulled into Djupivogur Harbor at 7:00am to a nice cool and calm morning greeting. Plenty had been planned for today, with guests choosing between a full day excursion to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, a black sand beach hike, a valley of the waterfalls 4x4 Jeep excursion, and a cultural walk. Guests were thrilled to get out and adventure in this eastern side of Iceland. Again, the weather was brilliant with periods of blue sky appearing through the clouds and the sunrays. I had the pleasure of accompanying our guests to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, which entailed a scenic bus excursion to the lagoon of icebergs, an amazing walk along Diamond Beach, and a very well-prepared Icelandic lunch before heading back to our home away from home, National Geographic Explorer. Lindblad Expeditions is about sharing unique moments and experiences and today was one of those days. It was absolutely beautiful.
This morning, we docked in the small town of Siglufjörður which is a small fishing town that grew significantly due to the herring boom in the 1900s. We spent the morning learning about the history of the herring fishery by visiting The Herring Era Museum and hearing the stories of the famous Herring Girls, who held a prominent role in the herring industry of Iceland. We also visited Skarðsdalsskógur, a local reforestation project focused on planting evergreen trees to help remedy the extreme deforestation that occurred since the settlement of the country. We were hosted by the local Siglufjörður Forest Commission volunteers to explore the trails and hear about their decades-long efforts to bring trees back to Iceland.
Visiting Dynjandi Waterfall and Vigur Island offered a unique blend of Iceland's natural beauty and wildlife. Dynjandi, the "jewel of the Westfjords," features a breathtaking series of waterfalls cascading 100 meters down a rugged cliffside. As we approached, the roar of the water grew, filling the air with mist and grandeur. The main waterfall, Fjallfoss, fanned out like a bridal veil. We hiked a well-marked path with smaller waterfalls along the way, each offering stunning views. Our journey continued to Vigur Island, a charming isle in Ísafjarðardjúp Bay. Vigur is a haven for birdlife, including puffins, eiders, and Arctic terns. The serene landscape dotted with traditional Icelandic houses taught us about the island's history and eiderdown production. The Arctic terns' intense nesting behavior led to unexpected adventures as we ducked and weaved to avoid their beaks. Despite this, visiting Dynjandi and Vigur Island was rewarding and unforgettable.
