Skálanes Nature Reserve, 8/9/2021, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Arctic
The ingredients in the recipe for today were calm seas, no wind, cold water and warm air. The result: a large bowl of fog. Cloaked in the mystery of this fog, we continued with our landing at Skálanes Nature Reserve. The landscape and stories of the people who have lived here in the past were brought to life as we walked with the archeologist who has excavated in this berry covered heath.
Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Linda and her Air Force family moved extensively throughout the U.S. when she was a child. Linda continues to travel and explore a broader spectrum of the world as a naturalist with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geogr...
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.
