The small town of Husavik in northern Iceland is well known as Europe’s whale watching capital and it is from there that some of the best whale sightings anywhere can be enjoyed.
Discover the World pioneered whale watching holidays in Iceland and we are very happy to see how successful it has become.
So far 2009 looks like being one of the best seasons in history for Husavik sightings. Just last week, blue and humpback whales where sighted on almost every whale watching voyage. You can read a report of one of those exciting days here, a blue whale frolicking alongside the boat in the extraordinary light of the midnight sun.
The blue whale is believed to be the largest animal ever to have existed, growing up to over 30 metres in length. It’s heart alone can weigh the same as ten men and the whale itself can be as heavy as more than 200 Nissan Micra cars! A newly born calf however is only the size of a fully grown hippopotamus! To say the least – these are big mammals!
The humpback is positively diminutive compared to the blue whale, coming in at a “measly” 12-15 metres in length. However, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with dramatic leaps and acrobatic breaching, as well as a remarkable head covered in bumpy hair follicles. The sight is as arresting as the noise; when in season, a humpback whale may give off a whale song lasting a number of hours - it’s not quite tuneful enough for the X Factor but it’s certainly an incredible racket!
For an even better taste of the whale watching experience, here is a fantastic video from our whale watching partners in Iceland, North Sailing. If all this has whetted your appetite for your own voyage of discovery, take a look at our whale watching holiday options here.
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