Skjálfandi

The Skjálfandi Bay is located in the north of Iceland.

Name

The name means earthquake bay ( Isl Skjálfandafljót or Skjálfandi literally the Trembling ). Here many columns of the active volcanic zone of Theistareykir on the Reykjafjöll and Tjörnes peninsula reach out into the sea where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge undersea continues in the direction of Kolbeinseyjar - back. As might be expected in such a zone, earthquakes are common, though usually for the people do not even noticeable.

Geography and fauna

The almost uninhabited western side of the bay (part of Flateyjarskagi peninsula ) with the Víknarfjöll and Kinnarfjöll is very mountainous, while the landscape on the east side, on which is located the embossed on the fishing and tourist port town of Húsavík, is rather determined by hills.

Two major rivers flow on the south side of the bay, the salmon river Laxa í Aðaldal, a swelling river, and the Skjálfandafljót, a glacier river. In the bay are the islands Flatey and Lundey whose name (German Puffin Island) indicates the number of puffin.

Famous are the very nutrient-rich bay is also for the frequent appearance of whales of different sizes, which can be seen on a whale-watching.