Vivid Wildlife
“In the ocean, whales and orcas can often be spotted from the coastline as they circle the coast around the Peninsula.”
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is known for its vivid wildlife. All around it and in the surrounding bays of Breiðafjörður and Faxaflói are prosperous fishing grounds that have sustained the population throughout the times.
The peninsula is a haven for bird lovers. About 60 species nest here, most notably Common Eiders, Arctic Terns, Fulmars, Guillemots and Seagulls. Additional passage migrants also stop here on their route between Europe and Greenland or Canada.
If lucky, you can even spot one of the big ones, the White-tailed Eagle, Slavonian Grebe or Shoveler.
In the ocean, whales and orcas can often be spotted from the coastline as they circle the coast around the Peninsula. Harbor seals and grey seals are a common sight.
When hiking, you might encounter the only native terrestrial mammal on the peninsula, the Arctic Fox. But keep your eyes open, the color of the foxes’ coat changes to reflect the passing seasons.
The sheep, you’ll see a lot of them. They outnumber locals 15000 to 3900.
The untouched nature of our home, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, leaves no one untouched. Home to natural wonders such as the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, Kirkjufell mountain and the archipelago of Breiðafjörður Bay. The variety is endless. Here… read more
The magical beauty of Snæfellsjökull has affected people spiritually, and has been an inspiration for novelists, painters, and other artists. The Icelandic Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness’s Under the Glacier takes place at the outskirts of… read more
Snæfellsjökull National Park was established on June 28, 2001. It covers about 170 km2 of the westmost tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The park takes its name from the beautifully shaped glacier and stratovolcano, Snæfellsjökull,… read more
Drápuhlíðarfjall, 527 m high, greets those passing by with a colorful smile. Its rhyolitic rock gives the mountain its variety of colors with different shades of golden, red, blue, gray and green, depending on the… read more