Iceland: Day 6 - The West Fjords (1)

June 30, 2004

The West Fjords are one of the most sparsely populated regions of Iceland and also the least visited. This peninsula of 8600 square kilometres stretches out into the icy waters of the Denmark Strait, with dramatic fjords cutting deep inland as the result of intense glaciation. The unforgiving geography makes travel difficult and convoluted and the roads are often gravel tracks with deep potholes. We were lucky to have beautiful weather for our drive through this spectacular landscape but the wind at night made us realize how unforgiving the weather can be here.

With new road construction, occasionally a shortcut gets built across the fjords that stretch inland.

One of the few farms in the West Fjords where people typically lived off the sea.

A sheep round up circle - the sheep here roam freely throughout the year.
Every September they get rounded up and sorted in these circular structures according to their owners for their annual sheep shearing.

Hmm, this doesn't seem like a very warm or comfy spot for a nap.

Sheepishly they saunter off.

 
This 'module' was listed as a guest hut/emergency shelter on our map.
It had a little phone, a heater, beds, candles and a guest book.
The previous residents had stayed here after having lost the poles for their tent.

Another pretty waterfall.

The rugged shoreline.

Lots of ducks and geese with their young ones.

Rubby playing on an old abandoned ship.

The shoreline.

Danger of falling rocks? No kidding!

[ Iceland Vacation Home Page ]