On Monday September 1 a new cohort of Coastal and Marine Management masters students went on a field trip to Jökulfirðir (in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve) and Ísafjarðardjúp fjord system. The field trip was a part of the introductory course Iceland’s Environment and Natural Resources that has been ongoing the past couple of weeks. The group sailed with the passanger boat Ingólfur from the boat company Sjóferðir Hafsteins og Kiddýjar and stopes made at Hesteyri in Jökulfirðir and the Island Vigur in Ísafjarðardjúp. In Vigur students enjoyed some delicious cake and coffee provided by the coffee house that is run in the island.

The nature of the Westfjords and Iceland was introduced to the students during the trip as well as the cultural heritage of the area. This opportunity was also used to give students a brief introduction to the diverse research that previous students have done in the Westfjords in their master’s theses. This introduction has most likely planted some seeds for ideas about research topics that can be done here in the Westfjords. After the trip students and teacher Dagný Arnarsdóttir delved deeper into the various topics discussed during the trip in the classroom.  

Nature greeted the students with stunning weather and some memorable events. Within an hour the group had seen whales, seals and arctic foxes. Some people in the group mentioned that this was unbelievable and wondered what would be next? Aurora borealis perhaps? Students also wondered what they would have been up to at this moment in time had they decided to pick a different school, perhaps in a big city? No doubt a boat trip with whales, seals and foxes would not have been on the agenda.

More photos from the trip are available in a gallery.