Saturday, December 5, 2015

Ísafjarðardjúp (Westfjords, Iceland)



After our stay in Ísafjörður, we drove back toward Reykjavík. The drive along the northern coastline of the Westjords (around Ísafjarðardjúp) included some gorgeous views.


The waters of the fjord were still and calm, perfectly reflecting the mountains.


We stopped to see the colony of harbor seals that lives in Ísafjarðardjúp.  They were hanging out on the rocks and little islands in the fjord.


From the shore, it was hard to see the seals clearly -- another moment I wished I had brought binoculars -- but every once in a while, they would look up or flap a flipper.


After a lunch break at Litlibaer (more about that in my next post), we hiked out to a different part of the shoreline to look at the seals again.


There were birds, too, quarreling on a nearby island.


As we stood on the rocks at the edge of the water, one seal swam past us.


The little seal swam back and forth, disappearing underwater and reappearing. It was clearly curious about us, as it periodically poked up its head and looked at us.


It was quiet and peaceful on the shore. Watching the birds and seals on the calm waters, with snow-covered mountains in the distance, we enjoyed a long moment of communing with the fjord.

A little too long, actually, as the tide came in while we were out there, and we had to wade back a bit, getting our shoes and socks soaked. A minor price to pay, truly, and I can now say that I walked through a fjord in Iceland. 

Next up: Litlibaer

No comments:

Post a Comment