| |
Daybreak |
Dusk |
| Jan. |
10:03 |
16:59 |
| Feb. |
09:13 |
18:11 |
| March |
07:46 |
19:35 |
| April |
05:55 |
21:10 |
| May |
03:50 |
23:04 |
| June |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| July |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| Aug. |
03:06 |
23:57 |
| Sept. |
05:17 |
21:35 |
| Oct. |
06:50 |
19:43 |
| Nov. |
08:18 |
18:03 |
| Dec. |
09:36 |
16:57 |
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| Cultural activities |
| Iceland's rich heritage can be enjoyed in the many museums, churches and restored turf farms found around the country. Those familiar with the sagas may find ancient place names that feature on today's maps, though few historical buildings remain. Many cultural events and festivals take place in the summer, mostly in the Reykjavik area. |
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| Outdoor activities |
| iceland is paradise for hikers. Its National Parks and Conservation Areas have marked trails but you can walk in many other areas. Horse riding and fishing for char and trout can be arranged at farms throughout the country, while sea angling is offered from many of the fishing villages. A snowmobile ride is a thrilling experience in summer or winter, and can be arranged at several locations. For water sports, why not try river rafting or sea kayaking or a boat trip to one of the offshore islands, which are teeming with sea birds in the breeding season. Scenic flights, operating from many regional airports and airstrips, are a wonderful way of seeing a large part of the island and can be surprisingly economical. |
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| Whale and dolphin watching in Iceland |
In the last 8 years Iceland has become the premier whale watching destination in Europe. There are several reasons for this:
- the reliability of sightings - most locations have an enviable 90% of trips encountering one or more species.
- the number of species - four species are regularly sighted in Iceland's coastal waters: minke whale, humpback whale, white-beaked dolphin, and the largest of all, the mighty blue whale. Sightings of orca, fin and sei whale and harbour porpoise are also possible.
- the scenery - the mountainous backdrop to many a whale watching trip is, in a word, breathtaking.
It should be stressed that no sightings are guaranteed, such is nature and it is still early days to draw conclusions about where and when a particular species may be seen. These are the locations currently offering the best whale watching opportunities:
Husavik:
minke whale, white beaked dolphin (May to September).
Reykjavik:
minke whale, orca, humpback whale, dolphins, porpoises.
Olafsvik on Snaefellsnes:
blue whale, humpback whale, orca.
Keflavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula:
minke whale, white beaked dolphin.
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| © RTH Sigurdsson |
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Iceland
