Fishing has always been the predominant activity of the Westfjords. The earliest fisherman would row out into the water using rocks for achors and crude hooks to cath the fish
Once the fishing declined many moved on from the area as commerce declined and it became more and more remote
But not everyone is gone, and a spirit of resilience remains
Much of the old fish oil factory remains rusting quietly away
For twenty years from the 1930s to the 1950s it was a bustling place, but by 1954 the fish were gone (over fished) and soon thereafter the people as well
Driiving through the many fjords of the area one is never far from either the water or a dramatic rocky view
But for a photographer it is the beautiful sunrises and sunsets of the far north that provide the attraction
Truly golden sunset ight
This is the famed Viking Boat near Hellnar on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, it's not part of the Westfjords, but we passed by on the way
Not only dramatic rocks, but dramatic flowers as well
These are the cliffs at Latrabjarg which are famous as the home to puffins and other birds
Dramatic views of clouds and sky are frequent in the Westfjords
There are sharp cliff faces and widespread composite boulders remnants of volcanic activity everywhere, yet flat spots are often farmed
The dramatic high a low tides make for seemingly endless mudflats when the tide is out but they disappear when the tide comes in
Iceland is famous for its waterfalls and the Westfjords are not to be left out with Dynjandi clamouring for attention
Even in mid June one might find it snowing
But the ubiquitous Icelandic horses seem unimpressed
Small and low to the ground flowers are abundant even among the rocks
While some of the abandoned machinery seems just 'interesting'
a quick peak through the inlet pipe of the old storage tank seems inviting
Bellying through the pipe one emerges inside with endless echoes reverberating. A famous Icelandic rock group dragged their equipment here to record an album
WestfordsIcelandold machinerypipes