The skeleton of a whale which washed ashore in Seltjarnarnes, a suburb to the west of Reykjavík, in late November, will not be removed from the beach, the municipal authorities have decided. The skeleton, which is easily accessible, “adds a certain charm” the head of public Parks in Seltjarnarnes argues.
The skeleton is of a dead whale which washed ashore on the morning of November 26. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the carcass was already in a serious state of decomposition when it washed ashore, making it difficult to identify the species with certainty, but it appears to be of a minke whale. A whale specialist who studied the carcass determined the whale had died at sea. It was impossible to tell how old the whale was or what had killed it, but it might have died of injuries suffered due to a collision with a ship, as the spinal column had been severed.
The stench from the decomposing carcass caused nearby residents considerable discomfort, but the municipal authorities nevertheless decided against having the carcass removed. The elements and birds who flocked to the site to pick at the bones, quickly cleaned up the site, leaving the bare skeleton. Gísli Hermansson the head of the environmental department of Seltjarnarnes municipality told RÚV that the carcass was left in place due to environmental considerations: “There is no need to rob the birds of their winter feast.”
The skeleton, which is seven meters long and clearly visible and accessible to visitors, lies half buried in the sand in the beach at the westernmost tip of Seltjarnarnes, just by the breakwater opposite the lighthouse which is located on an island just off the coast. Seltjarnarnes, which translates as “Seal Pond Peninsula” is a suburb of Reykjavík on the westernmost tip of peninsula on which Reykjavík stands – the geographic name of this peninsula is actually Seltjarnarnes. The Seal Pond, after which the entire peninsula is named is the small bay by which the whale skeleton now lies.
The skeleton of a whale which washed ashore in Seltjarnarnes, a suburb to the west of Reykjavík, in late November, will not be removed from the beach, the municipal authorities have decided. The skeleton, which is easily accessible, “adds a certain charm” the head of public Parks in Seltjarnarnes argues.
The skeleton is of a dead whale which washed ashore on the morning of November 26. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the carcass was already in a serious state of decomposition when it washed ashore, making it difficult to identify the species with certainty, but it appears to be of a minke whale. A whale specialist who studied the carcass determined the whale had died at sea. It was impossible to tell how old the whale was or what had killed it, but it might have died of injuries suffered due to a collision with a ship, as the spinal column had been severed.
The stench from the decomposing carcass caused nearby residents considerable discomfort, but the municipal authorities nevertheless decided against having the carcass removed. The elements and birds who flocked to the site to pick at the bones, quickly cleaned up the site, leaving the bare skeleton. Gísli Hermansson the head of the environmental department of Seltjarnarnes municipality told RÚV that the carcass was left in place due to environmental considerations: “There is no need to rob the birds of their winter feast.”
The skeleton, which is seven meters long and clearly visible and accessible to visitors, lies half buried in the sand in the beach at the westernmost tip of Seltjarnarnes, just by the breakwater opposite the lighthouse which is located on an island just off the coast. Seltjarnarnes, which translates as “Seal Pond Peninsula” is a suburb of Reykjavík on the westernmost tip of peninsula on which Reykjavík stands – the geographic name of this peninsula is actually Seltjarnarnes. The Seal Pond, after which the entire peninsula is named is the small bay by which the whale skeleton now lies.
