Day 4 Back Roads' Day 3: Gri'msey
Gri'msey is an island of Iceland that is far north at the Artic Circle. There are about 30 people who currently live permanently on Gri'msey. During the summer, it is home to more than 60 species of birds including the Puffin, although it, as well as most of the migratory birds, have left.
Gri'msey sits 66°33' and has 24 hr. of light during the summer and 24 hr. of dark during the winter.
The first settler was Grim who came from Norway. The oldest church was 11 C, soon after the conversion of Iceland to Christianity. Story has it that at one time there were even less settlers: 4 men including the priest and several widows. The men set out toward a main town, but after several months, the widows followed and found out that they had never reached a town. The widows managed to talk several single men to return with them.
Hatlla, our guide, who is one of 30 inhabitants
Birds that nest year-round are Northern Fulmar who are seen nesting here.
Although the puffins have migrated. This baby puffin lost its mother and is being raised by one of the residents of Gri'msey. They will try to release it with others when it is old enough.
Telephoto shot of the Northern Fulmar
Old marker (1973 - recently) for the Artic Circle designation
The current Artic Circle monument is a 8 million ton cement ball that supposedly could be rolled by the island's community as the Artic Circle moved. It is moved with the annual measurement at the summer soltice, but not manually, but rather by a form of a crane.
Our ship had to anchor out from Gri'msey and we were tendered in by small boats
Gri'msey sits 66°33' and has 24 hr. of light during the summer and 24 hr. of dark during the winter.
The first settler was Grim who came from Norway. The oldest church was 11 C, soon after the conversion of Iceland to Christianity. Story has it that at one time there were even less settlers: 4 men including the priest and several widows. The men set out toward a main town, but after several months, the widows followed and found out that they had never reached a town. The widows managed to talk several single men to return with them.
Hatlla, our guide, who is one of 30 inhabitants
Birds that nest year-round are Northern Fulmar who are seen nesting here.
Although the puffins have migrated. This baby puffin lost its mother and is being raised by one of the residents of Gri'msey. They will try to release it with others when it is old enough.
Telephoto shot of the Northern Fulmar
Old marker (1973 - recently) for the Artic Circle designation
The current Artic Circle monument is a 8 million ton cement ball that supposedly could be rolled by the island's community as the Artic Circle moved. It is moved with the annual measurement at the summer soltice, but not manually, but rather by a form of a crane.
Our ship had to anchor out from Gri'msey and we were tendered in by small boats
Are you hiking? Would like to see a pix of your boat. Am loving your blog....great photos.
ReplyDelete