Life in the Westfjords

Ísafjörður also has a good harbor (safe place for ships to stay). Having a harbor is important because:

  • A long time ago, before airplanes or even cars, boats were an important way to travel. When snow made traveling over the mountains dangerous or impossible, a boat might have been the only way to leave town.
  • Even today, the roads and airport can close in winter. Having a harbor means that supplies can arrive by ship instead. This means that the stores are less likely to run out of the things we use every day, like food, clothes and soap.
  • Today, Ísafjörður also depends a lot on tourists for money, just like Hawaiʻi. Many tourists come to Ísafjörður because it is the only town in the area that has a harbor for big cruise ships. Tourism is now as important as fishing for bringing money to Ísafjörður.

 

In sum, Ísafjörður exists because of the ocean. It is a source of food, travel and money for Ísfirðingar, and this is why it is important for them to take good care of it.

What challenges do people face living in this environment?:

Besides the wintertime transportation challenges, another challenge of living so far north is the seasonal changes in sunlight. Living close to the North Pole means that the sun never sets in the summer and only comes up for a short amount of time in the winter. In fact, the sun stays so low in the winter that for two months, Ísafjörður doesn't get any direct sunlight at all! The sun stays behind the mountains instead. Not getting enough sunlight can affect your mood and health, and having too much sunlight (like in the summer) can make it difficult to fall sleep at the right time. 

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