The Natural History Museum at Bolungarvik provides a comprehensive overview of the bird and mammal life indigenous to the Westfjords region. It also houses an impressive mineral collection along with one of Iceland’s largest taxidermy animal collections. A stuffed polar bear, that drifted from Greenland on pack ice, is also a part of the museum’s collection.
The museum, founded in 1998, is located in the centre of Bolungarvik. It has on display a variety of natural items such as stuffed land and sea mammals. The bird collection consists of more then 250 stuffed birds. These birds are both Icelandic breeders with their eggs and many vagrants.
Rocks and ravens
The numerous rocks and minerals on display are mainly from the collection of a local geologist Steinn Emilsson. Some are millions year old pieces of lignite testimonials of the ancient Icelandic forest.
The jaw from the biggest blue whale known to have been caught and thus the biggest animal ever known goes together with a series of poster regarding whale and whaling in Iceland. The display is a joint project between the Natural history Museum and Skrudur, the botanical garden in Dyrafjordur.
A display about raven includes not only a real nest but artifacts and stories telling the relationship between this wonderful bird and the Icelandic culture over the centuries.
Opening hours of the Natural History Museum at Bolungarvik
Temporarily closed due to renovations
Where is the Natural History Museum at Bolungarvik?
The museum is located in the center of Bolungarvik village
Check out our complete guide to the Westfjords.
