Guests on whale watching trips in North Iceland have been getting their money's worth in recent weeks: A large number of humpback whales has been staying in Eyjafjörður fjord, while an unusually large number of blue whales has been seen in Skjálfandaflói bay.
Read more: Watch: Record number of humpback whales in Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland
A number of whale watching firms operates from Akureyri, the largest town along the shores of Eyjafjörður, and Húsavík, the largest (and only) town by Skjálfandaflói bay.
Unusual behaviour
Guides on whale watching tours in Skjálfandaflói bay have counted as many as six different blue whales on whale watching tours. Among the blue whales who are staying in Skjálfandaflói is a cow with a calve. It is unusual to see so many blue whales together, as the blue whales are solitary animals who rarely travel in groups.
Other behaviours by the blue whales of Skjálfandi have caught the attention of biologists and whale watching guides. The blue whales usually arrive in June, but they are arriving unusually late this year. We saw one animal in March, but then nothing more. But then they all arrived at the same time a few days ago, a Huld Hafliðadóttir at the Húsavík Whale Museum told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið.
Tourism and science support one another
Scientists at the Whale Museum are working on research into the behavior of great whales in Skjálfandi, including the calls of blue whales. The scientists at the Whale Museum work closely with the local whale watching firms, frequently tagging along on whale watching trips.
The whale watching boats provide an excellent platform to study the whales, as the scientists can join the tours. And then the research enriches the experience of the guests on the whale watching tours, as it provides the most up to date knowledge of the behaviour of the whales.
Guests on whale watching trips in North Iceland have been getting their money's worth in recent weeks: A large number of humpback whales has been staying in Eyjafjörður fjord, while an unusually large number of blue whales has been seen in Skjálfandaflói bay.
Read more: Watch: Record number of humpback whales in Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland
A number of whale watching firms operates from Akureyri, the largest town along the shores of Eyjafjörður, and Húsavík, the largest (and only) town by Skjálfandaflói bay.
Unusual behaviour
Guides on whale watching tours in Skjálfandaflói bay have counted as many as six different blue whales on whale watching tours. Among the blue whales who are staying in Skjálfandaflói is a cow with a calve. It is unusual to see so many blue whales together, as the blue whales are solitary animals who rarely travel in groups.
Other behaviours by the blue whales of Skjálfandi have caught the attention of biologists and whale watching guides. The blue whales usually arrive in June, but they are arriving unusually late this year. We saw one animal in March, but then nothing more. But then they all arrived at the same time a few days ago, a Huld Hafliðadóttir at the Húsavík Whale Museum told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið.
Tourism and science support one another
Scientists at the Whale Museum are working on research into the behavior of great whales in Skjálfandi, including the calls of blue whales. The scientists at the Whale Museum work closely with the local whale watching firms, frequently tagging along on whale watching trips.
The whale watching boats provide an excellent platform to study the whales, as the scientists can join the tours. And then the research enriches the experience of the guests on the whale watching tours, as it provides the most up to date knowledge of the behaviour of the whales.
