Island Life: News From The Icelandic Countryside

Those of us in the big city have long grown weary of the constant building of hotels. Perhaps we could take a lesson from Stöðvarfjörður, a tiny village in Iceland’s Eastfjords. There, the local Planning and Environmental Committee rejected the permit for a proposed hotel, officially putting the kibosh on what would have been a 40-room hotel in this picturesque village. Áfram Stöðvarfjörður!

If you want to go reindeer hunting, you better not even try to fool the police. A man in East Iceland is currently facing criminal charges for having falsified a “hunting band,” a special numbered ribbon that hunters are to attach to reindeer they shoot, so that authorities can keep track of how many reindeer a hunter kills and maintain the quota. The accused apparently switched his own hunting band for someone else’s. This is a big no-no. Hunt accordingly to the law, people.

The picturesque peninsula of Snæfellsnes is going to remain beautiful, as three lighthouses have received official sanctuary status from local authorities. As such, they are not only protected from development; their care and maintenance will be continued so they stay beautiful.

Police in South Iceland have their work cut out for them these days. Earlier this week they took a helicopter over the Highlands and stopped three jeeps that were driving in the area. The Highlands are officially closed to the general public most of the year, and driving into the area during the off-season can be literally life-threatening. Readers, take note: keep your Super Jeeps off the Highlands unless it’s high summer.

For more “Island Life” articles, read here.