At the western tip of Iceland lie the highest cliffs in the country, reaching a vertigo-inducing height of 441 meters. The cliffs are collectively known as Látrabjarg. It stretches some 14 km, so walking alongside it and back is a bit of a trek to say the least.

In the far distance is the light house at Látrabjarg.
In the far distance is the lighthouse at Látrabjarg.

It names refers to the seals that have their breeding grounds underneath the cliffs. “Látur” basically means the beach where seals have their cubs, and “Bjarg” means cliff. So literally the name of those magnificent cliffs is “Seal breeding ground cliff.”

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The Latrabjarg Cliff in all of its glory.
The Latrabjarg Cliff in all of its glory.

The bird megalopolis of Látrabjarg

Seals can often be seen resting on large rocks off the shore. If you are lucky, you can see whales blow their “steam” on the horizon. You will definately see sea birds as the cliffs are teeming with them.

As on several occasions before I performed a death defying manouvre to get a shot of birds perched on a ledge. All for your viewing pleasure.
As on several occasions before, I performed a death-defying maneuver to get a shot of birds perched on a ledge. All for your viewing pleasure.

The cliffs are home to massive flocks of razorbills (Látrabjarg is the largest razorbill habitat in the world), guillemots, auks, thick-billed Murre, kittiwakes, fulmars, and, of course, the priestly puffins.

 

Those puffins probably wouldn´t care if the photographer would venture too far on the edge and plummet to his death on the rocks 300 meters below. But here they are nevertheless.
Those puffins probably wouldn´t care if the photographer ventured too far on the edge and plummeted to his death on the rocks 300 meters below. But here they are nevertheless.

Death-defying food gathering
This massive bird habitat has always attracted human attention. These days, bird enthusiasts roam the edges of the cliffs taking pictures, but in the past, people from the nearby farmsteads would risk their lives and limbs to snare birds and collect eggs.

That is food to some.
That is food to some. Nice if you can get it.

Having this enormous food source was literally a lifesaver throughout the centuries. But don´t think for a second that lowering yourself down those massive cliffs is either easy or risk-free. The birds have a paradise in those cliffs; the sea provides food (although, with global climate change, some sea bird species are having a rough time as fish change their migratory behavior), and the cliffs are full of shelves, pillars, and crevices perfect for nesting.

Puffins and flowers. How very nice.
Puffins and flowers. How very nice.

Seafarers beware

Látrabjarg is a (literal) graveyard for ships. There have been countless shipwrecks below the cliffs. Most of the time these have been tragic affairs where all hands on board were lost, but there are also inspiring tales of heroism and rescue under hellish conditions. One example is the rescue of the crew of the British trawler Dhoon in 1947.

Please watch out

Should you ever visit Látrabjarg, please be careful. It´s a long way down, and the edge is liable to crumble at any time. With a drop of hundreds of meters, falling down will be the last thing you do.

What I was thinking when I took that picture I have no idea. But oh man it is a long way down.
What I was thinking when I took that picture, I have no idea. But oh man, it is a long way down.

How to get there
From the town of Vesturbyggd, take the road No. 612. On your way to Látrabjarg is Brunnaverstöð, where fishermen have had their base for hundreds of years.

When not busy chasing catfish fishermen would compete in lifting boulders. Or so the story goes. Here is a budding fisherwoman lifting one.
When not busy chasing catfish, fishermen would compete in lifting boulders. Or so the story goes. Here is a budding fisherwoman lifting one.

Here, there are hillocks which are reported to be the final resting place of Spanish pirates.


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Tags #Birds #Látrabjarg #Puffins #The West Fjords