ASK ICELAND REVIEW

Q1 When and where are the September sheep roundups scheduled?

As you may have noticed from driving around Iceland’s countryside, there are many sheep. Historically, sheep were put to pasture in the highlands during the summer and then, as the weather turned for the worse, they were gathered up to be housed in sheds on the farmstead.

Farmers still live by this seasonal pattern in Iceland, letting their sheep roam the countryside and then rounding them up in the middle of September, the end of Iceland’s summer.

These roundups, or réttir, will vary depending on the community,

Q2 What can you tell me about North Iceland?

Traditionally, Iceland was divided into four quarters: North, South, East, and West. This was of course a geographical division, but it also had important implications for the legal system in medieval Iceland. Each district had its own legal assemblies where local matters would be solved. More important matters, and issues of unclear jurisdiction, would be brought before Alþingi, the national assembly.

Today, Iceland is organised differently, but when people talk of “going North” or to other regions, the modern usage still conforms largely to the historical boundaries of these districts.

The largest settlement in North Iceland is by far Akureyri, with some 20,000 inhabitants. In fact, Akureyri is the largest settlement outside of the capital region. Akureyri is a charming town with a but they all generally happen in early September. Your best bet is to check the agricultural and farmers’ newspaper, Bændablaðið. Réttir are a time when an entire community comes together to pitch in. It’s a lot of hard work to collect and wrangle all of the livestock, but many communities will also have a big party afterwards, called a Réttarball. There tends to be plenty of singing, dancing, and drinking at these celebrations since it’s the last gasp of summer fun before the winter!

bustling but modest walking district. We recommend seeing the church, botanical gardens, and harbour. For winter visitors, Akureyri also has some excellent ski slopes.

Húsavík is also another small but important settlement. A historical fishing and whaling village, it remains an excellent place to go whale watching and is a very popular summer destination. North Iceland also has numerous natural features, such as Dettioss and Goðafoss waterfalls, lake Mývatn, the Dimmuborgir lava fields, and Ásbyrgi, an impressive horse-shoe shaped canyon near Húsavík.

Besides that, North Iceland is also known rather surprisingly for its summers, which are often warmer and clearer than in the capital region.