Vestmannaeyjar webcam online - an archipelago south of Iceland

You can watch Vestmannaeyjar webcam online on the website. The location is also known as the Westman Islands, which is an archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. Vestmannaeyjar consists of 15 islands and 30 skerries, as well as sea stacks. The only settlement in which people live throughout the year is Heimaei, or "Home Island".

The first mention of the Westman Islands can be found in the Landnámabók (Book of Settlements), compiled by the first permanent resident, Ingolfur Arnarson.

The book tells how Ingolfur swore to settle on the first shore, to which the gods would lead him. As a result, this place turned out to be Reykjavik. Before that, he spent one winter on Ingolfshöfdi, a cape located on the south coast, where along the way he came across the body of his brother Hjorleifur.
Hjorleifur was killed by his Irish slaves, whom Ingolfur saw heading towards the islands south of Landejar. At this time, the Scandinavians referred to the Irish as "Western people" and so the islands were named Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands). Ingolfur pursued the slaves and killed them. These murders left such a strong impression that many places around the archipelago were named after them: Helgafell is named after Helgi, who fled from there, and Dufttekya on Heimaklettur is named after the slave Duftaki, because he jumped down when Ingolfur tried to kill him.

However, the first settler of Vestmannaeyjar was Herjolfur Bardarson, who lived in the valley of Herjolfsdalur.

It is claimed that he was the first person to throw a party in Herjolfsdalur. Year-round habitation on these islands began around 920; until that time no one wanted to stay in these parts in the winter. At some point, a fishing station appeared here, where local residents have periodically fished since then.
Up to the XII century. Vestmannaeyjar belonged to the farmers. Immediately after 1400, the archipelago became the private property of the King of Norway, and then the King of Denmark. The islands were a special region and even had their own laws, which were different from the mainland. Some might say that since then, he has remained a little apart. The islands were the property of the Crown throughout the Middle Ages until 1874, and brought considerable income to the kingdom.
Over the centuries, the local population had to endure three big blows. First, the population was halved when about 300 people were captured during the Turkish invasion in 1627. The second was associated with a wave of infant deaths in the 18th century. Then, in the XX century. Heimaey erupted, which in 1973 led to a mass evacuation. Within six months, the population was reduced from 5,100 people to just 200. Today, about 4,300 people live on the islands.

Vestmannaeyjar webcams allow you to watch online the picturesque landscapes of Iceland's nature.

One of the famous sights of the island is the top of the Cliff. To be more precise, this is the name of two mountains on the northern cliffs of Heimaey: Stora Clif and Little Cliff ("Big Rock" and "Small Rock"). Stora Cliff can be climbed, but the route can be very difficult, so if there is desire to visit this beautiful corner, it is worth talking with the locals first. Stora Cliff is located northeast of Little Cliff.
You should also definitely see an unusual building - a birdwatching hut. It is located in Storhöfdy. Here you can admire the surrounding nature, well protected from wind and rain. In the hut, you can open small windows to look out and enjoy the surrounding nature. The hut is a good place to get close to the bird colony without disturbing them. To get to the hut, you need to drive up to the Stórhöfði peninsula and park your car at the first turn. There you will see steps through the fence, from where the path to the hut lies through the sheep pen.
No less picturesque is the Stafsnes peninsula. Here you can enjoy incredible views of the outlying islands to the south. The most beautiful landscapes open in the late summer evening. The peninsula is long and extends from Dalfell, forming a small fjord. The trip to Stafnes is worth the effort despite not being the most convenient route. To get there, you need to walk from Herjolfsdalur to Dalfell. From there, take a steep descent to Stafsnes. You need to be careful, because. the ascent is quite difficult, the slopes are almost vertical in some places. The waters of the fjord beckon to swim in them, but this is not recommended, because. the currents in the area are strong and can be very dangerous.

Vestmannaeyjar webcams make it possible to watch online the impressive mountain landscapes of the islands.