Day 6 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019): Fishing Villages and Puffins (from Egilsstadir to Lake Myvatn)
On this day we used Egilsstadir as a starting point and made two side trips to two fishing villages in the Eastern Fjords.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
The first one we went to was Seydisfjordur. We have been to quite a few fishing villages on this trip, but this is one of our favorites. Like most Icelandic fishing villages, it sits at the innermost point of a fjord (in most cases, as in this one, of the same name). Unlike others, though, this one has a ferry that connects it with Denmark. The village is very lovely in the picturesque fjord setting.
Seydisfjordur
Seydisfjordur
The village is also known for its rainbow-colored street in front of the Blue Church that reflects its artsy identity and tolerant attitude.
Seydisfjordur
The boutique shops and restaurants are tastefully decorated, such as the Gullabuid and Kaffi Lara.
Gullabuid
Kaffi Lara
The Blue Church and the residential houses are also lovely in a backdrop of glacier-covered mountains.
Blue Church
Seydisfjordur
On our way out of town, we made a stop at the view point of Gufufoss (the name means "Steam Falls") on the mountain slope just above town.
Gufufoss
Gufufoss
From here, we looked back at the glacier-covered mountains and the village and fjord of Seydisfjordur.
Seydisfjordur
Seydisfjordur
Our second fishing village of the day was Borgarfjordur Eystri. We had to take a partially unpaved road to get to this tiny remote village (population: 100), but our car, a Kia Rio, held up. The village is, of course, picturesque.
Borgarfjordur Eystri
Borgarfjordur Eystri
Borgarfjordur Eystri
After a lunch in "town" we drove outside the village, to Hofn Borgarfjordur Eystri (the harbor). At first glance, this small working harbor does not look anything interesting.
Hofn Borgarfjordur Eystri
But on the rock beyond the harbor, there is a Atlantic Puffin colony. Hundreds (if not more) of these pretty (and comic) birds nest in burrows on the rock slope. And here I had the most intense experience photographing birds on this trip -- at times I did not know which bird to take picture of, or look at. Time was the only limiting factor (we still had to drive to Lake Myvatn on this day, more than 200 KM away). I only had less an hour there, but took hundreds of pictures.
Puffin colony
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Other sea birds, such as the Black-legged Kittiwakes and Northern Fulmars, also nest there. They are opportunists and bullies (especially the fulmars) that would steal fish from the puffins.
Black-legged Kittiwake
Northern Fulmar
We made one more stop in Borgarfjordur Eystri, to look at a model Icelandic Turf House, etc.
Turf House
Then we drove back to Egilsstadir, then on to Lake Myvatn. We drove through stretches of barren volcanic plains and slopes, sometime through sand and dust storms.
Volcanic Plain
As we approached the valley where Lake Myvatn lies, fumaroles and other geothermal feature became visible in the landscape.
Valley
Another revelation of the geothermal nature of this area are mineral deposits on the side of the hills. This again reminded us of Yellowstone and the Painted Hills of eastern Oregon.
Painted Hills around Lake Myvatn
Painted Hills around Lake Myvatn
Painted Hills around Lake Myvatn
At last, we arrived at our hotel on the shore of Lake Myvatn.
Lake Myvatn
Lake Myvatn
The table mountain Mount Blafjall and the crater Hverfjall are two of the several prominent features around Lake Myvatn. The lingering Arctic sun allowed us to view the lake and surroudings in the golden light for a long time.
Mount Blafjall
Hverfjall
Click the image below to return to the index page of 2019 trip to Iceland:
