Colours of Iceland 

Isolated and far away from any other land, an unkindly climate: everything contributes to a protected and preserved wildlife.
With such conditions, Iceland looks like the Galapagos island and it’s an unique chance to meet such a specific wildlife. Immediate result of this isolation: a lack of certain species.

For example, no reptiles and no batrachians live on the island. 1 300 species of insect are identified, mainly flies and midges, sometimes in quantities.

In Europe you often find an average of 15 000 insect species.

Myvatn lake midges are a true oddity : even if they do not bite, huge clouds surround animals and human beings. They quickly come on each part of your body and are so irritating that a net on your head and long sleeves are indispensable.

Iceland is one of the rare country where mosquitoes and ants are not living.

There is few terrestrial mammals: polar fox, wood mouse, rats and mouses. There are two kind of polar fox : a blue one and a white.

Some species have been directly introduced by man, sometimes recently : reindeer imported from Norway for milk and meat ( 3 000 currently living) . Minks were reared in farms and some escaped. Some rabbits used as pets or for farms also escaped. These species are closely watched to avoid that they become a prevailing species and brake an ever weak harmony.

The last polar bear would have been killed more than thirty years ago in Adalvik. From time to time, one ground on the north shore of the island, floatting on icebergs coming from Greenland: they are quickly captured or most of the time killed because they are very hungry and aggressive after this long journey.

On the other hand, marine mammals are plentiful and account for one of the wonders of Iceland : 17 species of cetaceans and 2 species of seals.

Whale hunting was stopped in Iceland in 1990 following international requests, and politic and economic pressure. In 1986, Sea Shepperd, and ecologist group, sank two boats in the Reykjavik bay.
A selective hunting resumed in 1999, for ‘scientific’ studies. Catch are limited : in 2004 “only” 24 little rorquals were captured.

The knowledge of Icelandic whale fishers has not been lost with the end of whale hunting. Today, whale photo safaris starts from Husavik, Keyflavik, Reykjavik harbours.

It doesn’t matter if the sea is calm or choppy, if it rains or if the wind blows hard, seeking your first whale is really amazing. Even a furtive sight of a head or a tail, or just some air rising in the air when they surface to breathe, is an unforgettable moment.

And when they come and play in front of your boat, or jump out of the sea, you’re like a child.

Seals are so curious that they come to you if you shout near the shore. You must be vigilant on many places of the shore (like the glacial lagoon for example) and you will see small and moustachioed heads out of the water, looking at you carefully and dive again.

Gray seals lives on rocky seacost. Common seals prefer lying on the beach.