Wildlife

Iceland is rich of birds and marine mammals but as only 1/3 of the country is not covered in lava fields, deserts and glaciers, the land mammals are very few.

Due to the isolation of the country, there has been little change in its animal life. Most of the animal species have been introduced and it is thought that only one type of mammal, the Arctic fox, had its home in Iceland prior to human settlement.

The sea is rich of different whale species, which has resulted in a new tourist related industry: Whale watching.

To read more about the animal life in Iceland, click on the relevant links on the left side of the page.