The blue whale is in Skjálfandi bay
Crew and passengers on board the whale watching boat Náttfari spotted a blue whale just before 11:00 am today.
Blue whale diving
According to captain Már Eyfjörð Höskuldsson, the blue whale seems to be feeding in the bay.
Skjálfandi bay is one of the few places in Iceland where the blue whale – this largest animal on earth – stops by regularly on his yearly migration feeding pattern travelling northward in the spring.
Oak ship Náttfari on a whale watching tour
Even though the blue whale is not a very common sight, a few animals have been spotted early spring for the past years in Skjálfandi bay. Traditionally – Icelanders regard the migrating bird European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) to be the signs of springtime.
Blue whale diving
However one could say the that the locals in Húsavík are now looking to the blue whale to bring some warmth and sun from the southern hemisphere even though there is considerable difference in size and weight, since an adult blue whale can be around 30 meters in length and weigh up to 200 tons.
Back of a blue whale
Regular whale watching started this season at North Sailing in Húsavík on March 15th and has gone off to a very good start.
