Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on foot into the wilderness of the
Hornstrandir Peninsula
. Beautifully located on the
north coast,
Akureyri
is rightfully known as the capital of the north and functions as
Iceland's second city. With a string of bars and restaurants, it can make a refreshing
change from the small villages hereabouts. From here it's easy to reach the island of
Grímsey
, the only part of Icelandic territory actually within the
Arctic Circle
; and the
country's biggest tourist attraction outside the capital,
Lake Mývatn
. The lake is a
favourite nesting place for many species of duck and other waterfowl and is
surrounded by an electrifying proliferation of volcanic activity. Nearby
Húsavík
is one
of the best places in the country to organize summer whale-watching cruises, while
just inland, the wilds of
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park
offer superlative hiking along
deep river gorges to the spectacular
Dettifoss
, Europe's most powerful waterfall. South
of here,
Höfn
is a good base from which to visit Europe's biggest glacier, the mighty
Vatnajökull, either on a skidoo trip or on foot through Skaftafell National Park,
whilst the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon offers the surreal chance to cruise alongside
floating icebergs.
TO WHALE OR NOT TO WHALE
The Icelandic government's decision to resume
commercial whaling
in late 2006 drove a
wedge through Icelandic public opinion. Most of the population views whaling as a virtual
birthright and is only too keen to turn a nationalistic blind eye to international protest, but it is
also true that the nation's burgeoning
tourism industry
has led to a decline in its near-total
dependence on the fishing industry. Consequently, promoters of tourism lost no time in
pointing out that foreigners have flocked to Iceland in recent years to
watch whales
in their
natural habitat, not to see them unceremoniously sliced up for the dinner table - and despite
a seeming nonchalance, Icelanders are painfully aware that their tiny country on the very edge
of Europe can ill afford any kind of international boycott.
ABOVE
WHALING SHIPS, REYKJAVÍK
OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
FISHERMAN IN TRADITIONAL SEAL
SKIN SUIT;
REPLICA VIKING LONGSHIP; SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR