Passengers on L’Austral were tendered in to Grimsey Island and tenders would run every 15 minutes until the ship sailed for Akureyi, the next port of call. (Each tender holds 60 people.) Grimsey Island (pop: 100) is located off the coast on the northernmost inhabited part of Iceland and on the Arctic Circle. Although there are no trees on the island, the impressive sea cliffs, rich marshland, grass and moss are an ideal environment for Arctic Terns, Kittiwake colonies and Puffins.
The island has a small village by the harbor with: two guesthouses, an all-in-one grocery store/post office, a ferry calls three times a week, and there are regular flights to the mainland. Grimsey’s teeny airport is located right next to the Arctic Circle line and a gazillion Arctic Terns nesting in the grass.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Relatively few people live north of the circle due to the climate and the largest communities are: Murmansk, Russia (325,100); Norilsk, Siberia (135,000); Vorkuta Gular, Russia (85,000); Tromso, Norway (62,000); and Barrow, Alaska (4,000); Rovaniemi, Finland (58,000) lies slightly south of the line. Marine Steve and I have flown across the Arctic Circle, cruised across the Arctic Circle but walking across the Arctic Circle in a single step is a first.
It’s also interesting to know that land on the Arctic Circle is divided among eight countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, The United States (Alaska), Canada and Denmark (Greenland) and the small Icelandic Island of Grimsey.
tendering into Grimsey Island, Iceland
L’Austral offshore Grimsey Island, Iceland
large baseball size mushrooms, Grimsey Island, Iceland
Passengers tendered into Grimsey and began walking up the road to the Arctic Circle marker for photographs. There is no transportation in Grimsey! All passengers were given certificates to show they walked across the Arctic Circle. (I’ll just add it to all the other certificates to be thrown in the trash when Marine Steve and I take our final breath.)
TravelsWithSheila and Marine Steve on the Arctic Circle, Grimsey Island, Iceland
L’Austral floating on a calm sea, Grimsey Island, Iceland
airport building on Grimsey Island, Iceland
zodiac ride off Grimsey Island, Iceland
As if sunshine, Puffins and walking across Arctic Circle wasn’t enough to make Grimsey fantastic, genial Captain Lemaire lowered the zodiacs and took passengers for a 30-minute ride along the cliffs! The sea was as smooth as glass and the Captain met each zodiac with 8-10 people aboard along the cliffs with a glass of champagne!
baby Kittiwakes along Grimsey Island cliffs, Iceland
Puffins on Grimsey Island cliffs, Iceland
L’Austral Captain Lemaire with champagne – Grimsey Island, Iceland
A stupendous day that I will always treasure…
champagne on a perfect day off Grimsey Island, Iceland