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Iceland

The exhibition in the Boathouse provides an impression of a typical North Iceland herring port during the period from 1938-1954. Eleven boats of various types and sizes lie at the dock

Norwegian fishermen came sailing on their herring vessels during the summer of 1903, and thereby the Herring Adventure had started. Within forty years this once tiny little village had transformed into a thriving town of more than three thousand inhabitants. For years the entire life of Siglufjörður centered on the herring catch and its processing - the town's twenty-three salting stations and five reducing factories were a living reminder of that. Siglufjörður was also one of the most important ports in Iceland and on more than one occasion the herring exported from the town accounted for over 20% of the nation's total exports.

Visitors can take a walk along the piers where ten boats and ships are docked, and you'll hear the sound of seagulls and waves breaking.

Iceland's herring towns, indeed the country's entire employment and economic sectors, suffered a severe blow with the disappearance of the herring. During the late 1960s, herring accounted for up to half of Iceland's export income, and was crucial in powering the country's dizzying economic growth. The great herring adventure was over.

When bad weather and storms broke, the sheltered waters of the fjord became home to a massed fleet of hundreds of herring ships

What an amazing museum. Walking the dock area you had the feeling you were right among the fisherman. The photos show the real stories of life Herring fishing.

As the herring adventure progressed, a goldrush-like atmosphere settled over the town, leading to Siglufjörður been dubbed the "Atlantic Klondike".

Mývatn is a shallow lake situated in an area of active volcanism in the north of Iceland, not far from Krafla volcano. It has a high amount of biological activity.

Visiting the lava formations of Dimmuborgir were we visit the "black Castles". This is where a lonely troll is said to have lived.

Beggi our guide is explaing the legend of the lonely Troll. According legend, he was paid a visit by his friends, and they stayed up dancing and celebrating all night long --until the light of morning turned them to stone.

The lake and the surrounding wetlands provides a habitat for a number of waterbirds, especially ducks.gyrfalcons, plovers, ptarmigns, and more.

We have now flown back to Reykjavik and left the city to enjoy the Southern Iceland to discover Iceland's marvels as we circumnavigate the Golden Circle, a ring of natural highlighs. This is Thingvellir National Park, Geyser hot springs area and Gullfoss waterfall.

Thingvellir National Park is the location of a major rift between two tectonic plates. The European and North American which creates a dramatic and growing fissure in the land.

Thingvellir is the National Park where the, Althing,, an open-air assembly representing the whole of Iceland, was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798.

Over two weeks a year, the assembly set laws - seen as a covenant between free men - and settled disputes.

It is interesting in that these fissures in the earth continually have erupted for centuries. Its history dating back to the establishment of the Alþing gives insight into how a Viking Age pioneer community organized its society from scratch and evolved towards the modern world.

Geysir, the name of the Geysers, erupts frequently in dramatic columns of water that shoot into the air.

In this area of intense geothermal activity, puddles of water on the ground literally boil.

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