Skálanes is a private sector heritage and conservation centre with a vision to create a place where the Icelandic environment and cultural history can be researched and interpreted at the same time as being a model for sustainable tourism. Built as a farmhouse in 1927 it was abandoned in the 1960's, recently restored in 2007 and equipped with modern facilities in order to provide a clean, comfortable and inspiring setting from which to study and manage the surrounding reserve.
The reserve is roughly 1250 ha in size and has the sea on the north and east. The main landmass of the reserve is to the south and west. The majority of the land slopes from the skyline (945m) in the south to the sea at the northern edge of the reserve. The coastline along the northern edge of the reserve makes up the southern side of the mouth of the Fjord called Seyðisfjorður, whilst the eastern section of coastline consists of sheer sea cliffs reaching up to 600 meters in height.
There are many habitat types found on the reserve including;
• Marine
• Marine
• Intertidal- rocky sea shore and pebble beach
• Cliffs
• Fresh water wetlands- pools, scrapes, flushes, bogs
• Dwarf scrub/woodland communities
• Scree slopes
I spent 5 weeks on the reserve in 2009 as part of an EU funded conservation placement. The reserve, wildlife and the people made a distinct impression on me and also helped me to develop valuable conservation and management skills. I look forward to returning to help run the reserve and the centre over the summer of 2011.
I have added a couple of photographs from my last trip below as a taste of what is to come.
View towards the Skalanes (looking west)
One of several black sandy beaches
Another view west towards the centre
Nesting Fulmar on the sea cliffs
Some of the many waterfalls
