Last week we here at Tinna Adventure achieved the prestigious Vakinn Quality Certification in tourism and Vakinn Environmental Certification. To be granted this certification one must adhere to strict standards regarding business practices, quality service and responsible practices towards the environment and the local community. To achieve […]
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When living in a small village in Iceland, visitors often ask us about what we do in the winter. Many even wonder if it is possible to live here in winter. And it’s not just the tourists, even people from Reykjavík sometimes wonder how life works […]
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Reindeer are the largest wild, land mammals in Iceland and like most mammals in Iceland, they are not native to the island. You will find that they are stunning insight and surprisingly agile and poised considering their size.
The state first imported Reindeer into Iceland between 1771-1787 from Norway. To begin with, they were placed in the Westman islands, south-west Iceland, North-east and East Iceland. But they have only been able to thrive in East Iceland, and now that is the only place in Iceland where you can see them.
Reindeer are herd animals. You will rarely find a lone reindeer, but the size of the heard depends on the season. In winter you can often see large herds of up to a few hundred deer. But in summer time the groups are smaller, and sometimes you can even find just 1-3 male deer on their own.
The deer are strong and powerful. The adult male deer are up to twice as heavy as female deer with the male weighing about 80 to 100 kilograms and the females only about 40 kilograms. The reindeer are also the only herd animals, where both males and females have antlers. They grow new horns each year and shed the horns between November and Mars. The only exceptions are the cows with calf's; they shed the antlers after giving birth in May. While growing the horns are soft and have dark flannel-like skin on them. When fully grown the horns turn hard and loose the skin. Soon after, the deer shed the antlers.
The best time to see the Reindeer is in the winter time. That is because this is the time when the herds head down to lowland in search of food. In summer they tend to stay far in the highlands, away from human contact. This is when the calves are young and dependent on the mother and therefore need an isolated environment. This is also the time when food is sufficient, even in the highlands. For this reason, it is harder to find reindeer in summer.
For those interested in wildlife East Iceland is a great place. Besides the reindeer, the Arctic Fox can also be found here, as well as many species of birds.
If you are hoping to find Reindeer while visiting East Iceland, you can also join our Wild Reindeer Experience tour. On this tour, we take you searching for the deer in places where they are most likely to be found.
In this blog, we use information from the web of the East Iceland Nature Research Center for reference.
Now that the New Year is about to arrive there is an interesting myth in Iceland related to New Year’s Eve. According to old folk tales, elves and hidden people roam around more than on a normal day. In the past, it was customary to leave […]
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In the minds of many, winter in Iceland is freezing and harsh. It is not uncommon for people to imagine something similar to a Siberian winter. In reality, the Icelandic winter has an average temperature of 0° C (32°F), which is less than many cities in the […]
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Last night there was a pair of sun dogs on each side of the sun. This was seen in Breiðdalsvík soon before sunset. Both sun dogs and solar halos were seen several places all over East Iceland that night. What a spectacular sight.
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Now we have entered the best season for super jeep and snow tours. For winter travels the time from beginning of March through mid April is the very best time since it combines great quality of the snow for driving and a good chance of nice weather. […]
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East Iceland is an area of many charms. But it´s an area that has not reached the same fame as the south-east or the north of Iceland. Here are 10 reasons why you should make East Iceland a destination on its own and stop by if […]
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Last nights northern lights show made it ever so evident why Iceland in wintertime is worth the while. To stand under the northern lights enjoying the moment is a unique feeling unlike anything else. Come join us on a Northern Lights tour. There we will take you […]
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The Icelandic winter may be unpredictable but at the same time, it is incredibly beautiful. Even if it takes extra care and flexibility to travel in Iceland during wintertime it is worth all the while. As long as you prepare for the journey and bring your spirit of adventure. […]
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