A humpback whale was found after drifting to shore in Arnarfjörður

Hilmar Einarsson captured pictures of a humpback whale which had drifted to the shore by Hringsdalur in Arnarfjörður. He says he has never been aware of whales drifting on shore in these parts.

"We had seen one humpback whale here by Hringsdal two years ago. We often see them jumping in the sea and it's great fun watching them in action. I think this might be the same whale," he says to mbl.is.

"It was a bit difficult to get to the whale at first. Two days ago it was deeper in the sea, but it was closer by the shore today. This is a big animal, like the humpback whales are."

Not far from an aquaculture farm

Hilmar does not know what caused the whale to drift to shore, but points out that there is an aquaculture farm not far from where the whale landed.

"It was not far from the farm, maybe it was checking it out. I have already contacted the Environmental Agency with in mind that they might get it out of the shore. That will be quite a feat and not easy at all. The whale is not directly in front of the farm but a bit further down the shore," he says.

"This is always a bit strange. I have not before encountered whales in Arnarfjörður this close to the shore, but the humpback whale is about in the sea in the fjord, usually in the latter part of summer."