Humpback whales surround boaters in Iceland. Then black fins appear, photos show
Tour guides with Láki Tours in Iceland were close to canceling a recent whale-watching tour due to strong winds. They were grateful they didn’t.
A trio of humpback whales approached the boat and led them to a calmer part of the Hólmavík fjord where the boat was surrounded by more of the massive creatures, according to an Oct. 4 Facebook post from the tour agency.
That’s when black fins appeared from the waves. It was a pod of orcas.
“They were travelling really fast into the fjord, a great direction for us to follow them with the wind behind,” the post said. “They took us almost back to the harbour before we left them and headed home, cold but very happy!”
Photos show the creatures diving and flopping their tails.
The encounter marked only the second time this whale-watching season that the agency has seen orcas in the area, according to their post.
Killer whales are found regularly around Iceland, but researchers are working to better understand their habits and behaviors, according to the Icelandic Orca Project. Scientists have learned that some whales stay year-round while others travel seasonally to Scotland. They’ve also discovered that orcas in Iceland produce unique sounds.
Hólmavík is in northwestern Iceland, about 145 miles north of Reykjavík.
This story was originally published October 4, 2023 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Humpback whales surround boaters in Iceland. Then black fins appear, photos show."
