“Let me take you to the Westman Islands” ...the islands where adventures wait There are places in Iceland that simply have to be experienced. The Westman Islands are one of those places by virtue of their natural beauty, and by being historically and geologically one of Iceland’s most distinctive destinations. Heimaey may only be about 13 km2, but that small area contains enough magical scenery and birdlife to delight the visitor for days. The islands are part of a young and still active submarine volcanic system, most of them emerging some 10-20,000 years ago. The youngest of the group is Surtsey, which erupted from the sea floor in 1963. The famous eruption on Heimaey, the largest and sole inhabited island was, however, even more spectacular. In January 1973, Eldfell erupted and the island became 2.3 km2 larger, after lava flows and ash burned or buried almost 400 buildings. The remains of the eruption are among the island’s most fascinating attractions. A journey to the Westman Islands is neither more expensive nor difficult than travelling to many places on the mainland, though prior booking, whether by sea or air, is advisable. From Reykjavík the trip by air is 20 minutes, while from Bakki on the south coast it is only a 6-minute flight. The passenger and car ferry, Herjólfur, makes the trip from Þorlákshöfn in less than 3 hours. Other popular attractions are one of Iceland’s best 18-hole golf courses, deep-sea fishing, bird and whale watching, and natural history and folk museums. Hiking up volcanoes, over lava fields or along the shoreline is also a favorite pastime. Comfortable accommodation is available, and there is a good variety of restaurants and coffee houses. A short daytrip is, therefore, very much a thing of the past. The island’s tourism industry endeavours to make visitors feel welcome and hopes they will spend more time with us. For further information, contact Westman Island Tourist office [email protected] www.vestmannaeyjar.is