40 kilometers north of the coast of Iceland, we find Grímsey, a tiny “lost” island inhabited by just 20 people, but home to a million seabirds.
This remote corner, within the Arctic Circle, attracts travelers in search of extreme landscapes and a unique connection with nature, as Michelle Gross describes in a report for the BBC.
Nature and Wildlife in Grímsey
The freezing winds that sweep through this 6.5 square kilometer island seem to want to erase any human trace. Despite the harsh conditions, Grímsey fascinates with its wildlife and the warmth of its community.
Birds, led by puffins and arctic terns, dominate the landscape. The latter are known for their protective nature, even “bombing” unsuspecting visitors who get too close to their nests.
Life on the “Lost” Island
Halla Ingolfsdottir, a tour guide and one of the few residents of the island, describes her life in this place as a balance between challenges and wonders. “The nature here is very powerful; each season has its magic, from the northern lights and the winter storms to the arrival of light and birds in spring,” she explains.
Ingolfsdottir also manages a guesthouse and collaborates in maintaining the island’s energy, which depends on a diesel generator.
Grímsey celebrates its location with two monuments marking the Arctic Circle, including a 3,447 kg cement globe that must be moved annually to adjust to the latitude line. This monument will be pushed into the ocean in 2047 due to the displacement of the Earth’s axis.
Adaptation and Community
Daily life in Grímsey requires flexibility. The community has a basic emergency system and receives medical visits every three weeks.
According to Ingolfsdottir, the key to adapting to this extreme solitude is the ability to find beauty in the small details and in human connection. The island is preparing to host a creative retreat next summer, designed for writers and artists seeking inspiration in this remote enclave.
Sustainable Tourism
The residents want to maintain small-scale tourism, preserving the tranquility and authenticity that make this island a unique place. Grímsey is a lesson in resilience and respect for nature, a balance that its inhabitants have known how to care for over the centuries.
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